Consultancy to facilitate the revision of DACAAR’s Strategic Program Framework 2021-2024

Terms of Reference

Consultancy to facilitate the revision of DACAAR’s Strategic Program Framework 2021-2024

Background:

The objective of the task is to revise DACAAR’s Strategic Program Framework 2021-2024 to ensure that the remaining 2 years (2023-2024) of the ongoing strategy period remain relevant to the changing context and need in Afghanistan.

DACAAR is a Danish non-political, non-governmental, non-profit humanitarian and developmental organisation working to improve the lives of the Afghan people since 1984. DACAAR addresses the acute needs of the most vulnerable and support early recovery and sustainable development for all Afghans. DACAAR projects can be categorized under the following four broad thematic areas; a) Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), b) Natural Resources Management (NRM), c) Small Scale Enterprise Development (SSED), d) Women’s Empowerment (WE). Please visit our website www.dacaar.org

The DACAAR Strategy Framework 2021-2024 is the foundation for DACAAR work. The Strategy Planning Consultant will review the DACAAR Strategic Framework Document (2021-2024) and consider adjustments to ensure its future relevance. During this short-term intermittent assignment (over a 2 month timeframe), the consultant will engage in desk research, interview key donor, NGO and Afghan Government stakeholders, and conduct brainstorming sessions with DACAAR Senior Management and other key staff in Kabul and regional offices as well as the Secretariate and the Governing Board in Copenhagen to discuss and come up with conclusions on possible scenarios unfolding in security, political, social, economic and aid and development context of Afghanistan during the coming strategic period. Based on this analysis the consultant will facilitate a process to come up with a revised strategy plan (2023-2024) on how DACAAR can gear up to meet the future challenges in the operational environment during and to deliver programs and projects most relevant to the needs of the Afghan population. The end product of this assignment will be a strategic planning documents endorsed at different levels of the organization- particularly the Governing Board and Senior Management Team. To promote ownership, the strategic planning process will have to be participatory, involving managerial and technical staff at different layers of the organization.

Purpose:

The aim of this assignment is to help DACAAR revising the current Programme Strategic Framework for 2021-2024 in a participatory process involving key staff and stakeholders. The end result of this assignment shall be a strategic planning document endorse both by the DACAAR Governing Board and the Senior Management Team in Kabul and Copenhagen.

Scope and Responsibilities:

• Develop a realistic work plan together with the DACAAR Head of Secretariat in Copenhagen, Senior Management Team in Kabul for DACAAR strategic planning process
• Undertake desk research on key DACAAR as well as national level data and information available from various reliable sources including donor and Afghan government policy papers, reputable national and international NGOs and research organizations to identify key information and conclusions in support of DACAAR strategic framework 2021-2024.
• Facilitate participatory planning processes with the key DACAAR staff in Copenhagen, Kabul, Regional offices and to discuss the possible security, political, social and economic scenarios unfolding in the coming period and draw conclusions on how the operational environment could be altered by these changes and how the needs for humanitarian and development interventions will manifest themselves in the coming period.
• Draft, re-draft based on internal comments and finalize the DACAAR strategic framework for 2021-2024.
• Facilitate a process to develop a realistic donor engagement strategy in support of the above strategic framework
• Facilitate a process to develop a realistic organizational development plan in support of the above strategic plan
• Facilitate the development of a results framework and M&E framework in support of the DACAAR strategic framework document.
• Remain flexible and open-minded to adaptations and changes as the strategic planning process moves forward, engage in and encourage constructive and open dialogue among DACAAR managers.

Expected Deliverables

• A planning document outlining scope of work, disposition, timeline for the strategy process including weekly status meetings with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Head of Secretariat Copenhagen, bilateral meetings with the SMT, head of Secretariat Copenhagen and senior staff (To be shared with SMT for approval after 3 weeks)
• A final draft of revised strategy document of 10 -15 pages providing short but clear goals and guidance to where DACAAR wants to be by end 2024. Focus should be on the 4 programmes, and cross cutting issues like gender, climate change, disaster preparedness, SDGs, triple nexus, partnerships, innovation etc (To be discussed with the SMT and head of secretariat on weekly SMT meetings and finally approved by DACAAR Governing Board.
• The final draft strategy should be supported by annexes with analysis and studies including references to national strategy, donor strategies, SDG’s etc for internal use.
• Results framework, M&E framework and donor engagement plan in support of the new strategy.

General Conditions of the consultancy

• The assignment is expected to start as soon as possible. Part of the assignment can be done remotely while the consultant will be required to facilitate strategic planning processes in Copenhagen and Kabul.
• The consultant(s) should have their own lap-top to complete the work.
• Flight/travel to and from the country of residence and visa costs shall be paid by DACAAR based on receipt.
• Accommodation will be provided by DACAAR in Copenhagen and Kabul in compliance with DACAAR’s policy, while the consultant(s) will cover fully his/her food subsistence related costs.
• The consultant shall be paid via check or bank transfer upon successful completion of the assignment. Taxes will be levied on the payments to the consultant as per the Afghanistan Laws.

Security

The Country Director as the person responsible for security will make the final decision on travel plans of the Consultant based on security assessments. The Consultant must accept the Country Director’s decision and must adhere to all DACAAR security protocols while in the country.

Qualifications and traits of the lead consultant

• Advanced degree in a relevant field
• Proven experience of similar assignments with reputable NGOs and/or UN organizations
• Excellent communications skills including English language writing skills
• Good facilitator
• Good research background and experience
• Open and flexible
• Prior experience of working in Afghanistan (similar assignments or lead positions with reputable NGOs)