About DACAAR
Since its establishment in 1984, DACAAR has been a prominent name in the humanitarian and development sectors in Afghanistan. As a non-political, non-governmental, non-profit organization, it works to improve the lives of the Afghan people by addressing the acute needs of the most vulnerable and supporting early recovery and sustainable development for all.
DACAAR’s emergency response interventions aim at life-saving in early stages of a crisis targeting internally displaced people, returning refugees, and communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters. Over the past years, DACAAR has endeavored to be among the first responders to people affected by shocks across Afghanistan.
DACAAR’s early recovery and developmental interventions are aimed at building resilience, enhancing capacity and improving livelihoods for protracted internally displaced people and returning refugees and their vulnerable host communities.
We apply a holistic and integrated approach to our interventions with an emphasis on sustainability and real and positive changes for our beneficiaries. We consider our beneficiaries as the most important stakeholders and the main drivers of our interventions. While maintaining our Danish roots, we are deeply embedded in the Afghan society and have access and long-term relationships with thousands of communities across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.
Our Vision
Empowered Afghan communities achieve sustainable well-being, dignity, and resilience.
Our Mission
To deliver integrated, inclusive, and community-driven humanitarian and development assistance, grounded in dignity, equality, and resilience
Core Values
Integrity: We act transparently and honestly.
Inclusiveness: We value diversity, gender equality, and participation
Respect: We honor Afghan traditions, dignity, and cultural diversity.
Collaboration: We work in partnerships across sectors and stakeholders.
Learning and Adaptation: We commit to innovation, evidence-based programming, and continuous learning.
Our Community Based Approch:
The core principles outlined below are supported by DACAAR’s existing policy environment. The organization’s comprehensive policy framework, including the PSEA Policy, Protection Guidelines, Conflict Sensitivity Policy, Environmental Policy, and Anti-Terrorism and Sanctions Compliance Policy, operationalizes these principles across all areas of programming and internal governance. This alignment ensures that DACAAR’s 3-Year Strategy is grounded in ethical, inclusive, and rights-based approaches, while maintaining operational integrity, legal compliance, and community trust in Afghanistan’s complex and high-risk context. Humanitarian Principles (Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality, Independence)
- Humanitarian Principles (Humanity, Neutrality, Impartiality, Independence)
- Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
- Accountability to Affected Populations
- Safeguarding and Protection
- Data Security and Privacy
Basic Facts
| Organisation Name | DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Established | 1984 | ||
| Agency Type | International NGO | ||
| Country of Affiliation | Denmark | ||
| DACAAR Governing Board | Astrid Coyne Jensen, International Media Support (IMS) Mads Bugge Madsen,The Danish Trade Union Development Agency (DTDA) Aase Elin Petersen, The Danish Afghanistan Committee (DAC) Niels Vestergaard Knudsen, Danish People’s Aid (DPA) Claus Hélix-Nielsen, Danish Technical University (DTU) | ||
| Employees | Around 1,000 national staff and 7 international staff | ||
| Director | Peder Thorning, Main Office in Kabul | ||
| Secretary General | Klaus Løkkegaard, Office in Copenhagen | ||
| Registered with | Ministry of Economy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Reg # 24 National Danish Register of Companies (CVR), Reg # 29902488 | ||
| Main Office | Kabul, Afghanistan | ||
| Regional Offices | Kabul (CRO) Herat (WRO) Kandahar (SRO) Jalalabad (ERO) Kunduz (NERO) Maimana (NWRO) | ||
| Secretariat in Europe | Copenhagen, Denmark | ||
