Organisational capacity assessment - Danish Assistance to Afghan Rehabilitation and Technical Training (DAARTT)

1. BACKGROUNDDanish Assistance to Afghan Rehabilitation and Technical Training (DAARTT), under Danish People’s Aid (DPA), has operated in Afghanistan for over 20 years with headquarters in Denmark, a main office in Kabul, and programme offices close to operations’ locations. Its mission is to promote equitable development through planning, design, and construction of essential infrastructure, while building local capacity for sustainability and community ownership.DAARTT specializes in school construction and has also built clinics, dormitories, justice buildings, and shelters. It directly manages all infrastructure projects, procurement, and quality assurance through technical staff. Core competencies include capacity building of government engineers, community training in maintenance, and monitoring and evaluation, including independent third-party oversight for donors such as the World Bank and DANIDA. DAARTT also delivers humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations, including displaced persons and returnees.Key achievements include constructing over 200 facilities nationwide, supporting the Ministry of Education in school design for national programmes like Citizen’s Charter and EQRA, and monitoring more than 100 donor-funded projects. Recent work has focused on schools’ construction, shelter repair and transitional housing in Faryab Province.Over the years DAARTT collaborated with major partners such as NORAD, Norwegian MFA, World Bank, DANIDA, EU, UNODC, UNHCR, OCHA, and the Danish Refugee Council, reinforcing its reputation for technical excellence and humanitarian responsivenessAs the organization evolves, there is a need to critically assess its current capacity, structure, and programme implementation model to ensure alignment with strategic priorities, donor opportunities and expectations, and the changing operational environment. In light of Afghanistan’s evolving context, still characterized by challenges such as limited environmental access, banking and regulatory restrictions, and gender-based constraints on staffing and programme delivery, DAARTT seeks an organizational capacity assessment to review its structure, roles, donor opportunities and expectations, and programme model, ensuring resilience, efficiency, and continued impact in both infrastructure and humanitarian programming.2. PURPOSE OF THE ASSESSMENTThe assessment aims to:Assess DAARTT’s current and near-term capacity to deliver construction and humanitarian programming under existing contextual and organizational constraints, and identify targeted, realistic organizational adjustments.3. OBJECTIVESThe assessment will:- Review the existing organizational structure, governance, management, and decision-making processes.- Assess staff roles, responsibilities, and capacities in relation to the current humanitarian and constructions programme needs, and internal procedures (i.e., and not limited to, procurement, contractor oversight, quality assurance, etc.).- Examine staff roles, responsibilities, and skills in relation to potential expansions in programme delivery models.- Analyze organizational resilience: risk management, compliance, and remote management models.- Recommend practical options for structures that integrate infrastructure and humanitarian programming, while safeguarding gender and inclusion.4. SCOPE OF WORKThe consultant/assessment team will:- Conduct a desk review of organizational documents (i.e. policies, organogram & JD review, last 2–3 project cycles, procurement & QA SOPs, reporting samples, recent audits / donor feedback).- Interview selected key stakeholders (6-8 internal KIIs): i.e. Director, Deputy Director/CFO, Humanitarian Programme manager, Construction Programme Manager, HR Manager, Senior Engineer, NAC representative, community proxy) as well as DPA Head of Finance and Head of International Department.- Facilitate a participatory workshop to validate findings and co-create recommendations.- Benchmark against peer INGOs and national/international standards.- Provide a comparative analysis of alternative structures and models.5. METHODOLOGY- Document Review: Policies, Strategic frameworks, HR manuals, programme reports.- Targeted sample of Key Informant Interviews: Senior management, engineers, project/humanitarian staff, partners, communities’ representatives, donors.- Assessment to be undertaken in Kabul with optional visit to Faryab office/authorities.- Validation and recommendation sessions: one in Kabul or remote, one with DPA.- light, desk based, benchmarking, using 2-3 comparable NGOs as examples of best practices.6. DELIVERABLES- Inception note (by the 08/04/2026): 5-6 pages, scope confirmation, tools, interview list.- Assessment Report (by the 22/05/2026): in English, 25-30 pages max, Findings, DAARTT specific risks, concrete short term/medium term adjustment options.- Action Matrix: recommendation, responsibility, timeline, cost/effort level.7. TIMELINEThe assessment will be conducted over the course of 2 months starting on the 01/04/2026 and concluding by the 29/05/2026. Timelines will account for:- Security incidents or access restrictions.- Donor reporting cycles and funding decisions.8. REQUIRED EXPERTISEThe consultant/team should have:- Proven experience in organizational development in fragile/conflict-affected states.- Technical expertise in construction management and humanitarian programme delivery.- Familiarity with Afghan regulatory frameworks and operational challenges.- Strong understanding of gender, inclusion, and community engagement in education.- Excellent facilitation and communication skills.- Fluency in English9. REPORTING & MANAGEMENTThe consultant/team will report to DAARTT Director and to DPA Head of International Department. Regular updates will be provided throughout the assessment period.10. BUDGET & LOGISTICSAn all-inclusive budget offer is expected covering the Consultancy Fees, however, with the following exception provided by DAARTT:1. Travel and Accommodation 1. Domestic travel within Afghanistan for site visits (Kabul, Faryab). 2. Accommodation during field visit in Faryab (3 days). 2. Workshops and Stakeholder Engagement 1. Costs associated with a workshops with staff.Note that 1 x international travel incl. visa to Afghanistan should be part of the budget offer as well as any relevant medical/insurance costs. In addition, DAARTT will provide:- Security briefings and logistical support (office space, staff time, local transport coordination).- Access to documents, staff, and external stakeholders.- Translation and facilitation support during meetings.- Remote access tools for interviews and workshops.HOW TO APPLYSubmit application and budget (note budget guidance in section 10) before CoB 13/3 to [email protected]