Introduction
The Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief and Development (ACBAR) is an independent forum founded in 1988 in response to the demand from NGOs working with Afghan refugees in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan to more efficiently coordinate assistance and delivery of services. With its main office in Kabul since 2002, ACBAR brings together 211 National and International NGOs working in in all sectors of humanitarian assistance and development in Afghanistan. Based on our three strategic pillars of Information and Coordination, Advocacy and Enabling Environment, and Capacity Building, ACBAR’s activities focus heavily on sharing information with members, coordination of members and the aid community in general, at the national and regional levels, carrying out advocacy on issues affecting the work of its members and other NNGO in Afghanistan, and helping to building capacity in national actors to facilitate more inclusive partnerships that help INGO’s and NNGO’s to work in greater cooperation. . ACBAR has a mission to provide an efficient platform for members to carry out effective humanitarian, development, and peace building activities in Afghanistan. The members are the drive behind ACBAR, and their active participation is essential to ACBAR’s continuous dynamism.
Accountability to Affected Peoples and the AAP Working Group (AAP WG)
Through its members and as the co-chair of AAP Working Group (hosting the AAP WG Coordinator), ACBAR has been a key contributor to improving accountability for programs for all stakeholders at the provincial and community level in Afghanistan. ACBAR also leads the Localisation Technical Working Group (LTWG), which is supporting greater focus on delivering the Grand Bargain promises to prioritize locally-led programs aid and development sectors. Focus continues to shift on how the aid community, donors, government and wide range of stakeholders are better empowering local actors and community leaders to own locally-led solutions for the systematic and chronic challenges which face their people and further entrench vulnerability. As it does, AAP is an essential piece in ensuring that localisation succeeds. True accountability to affected peoples starts with putting Afghans in the driver’s seat, including Afghan voices traditionally marginalized or under recognized. ACBAR, as the largest coordinating body of national NGO’s in Afghanistan, is working to bring together more robust discussions and strategies on how humanitarian and development programs are more meaningfully accountable to the Afghan people in their purpose, design, delivery and quality.
Objective:
ACBAR is committed to improving coordination among our members and the NGO committed overall. This includes improved access to AAP Coordination Mechanisms in Afghanistan, ensuring that existing and future coordination bodies are fit for purpose for NGO’s in Afghanistan, and that they deliver on their intended promises to support more transparent, relevant, quality programming that empowers local actors and Afghan communities. To further this effort, ACBAR is seeking a highly qualified consultant to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the AAP coordination mechanisms in Afghanistan. The purpose of this assessment is to review the following questions, but may also consider other related questions as agreed upon between ACBAR and the consultant:
- Do the current AAP coordination mechanisms, including the current AAP WG structure, adequately support NGO’s accountability to and engagement with local communities and affected populations?
- What aspects of accountability to affected populations and transparency to local communities in Afghanistan could be improved by NGO’s and within the overall coordination mechanism?
- What support do NGO’s, communities, and local actors need from an AAP coordination mechanism that would better support meaningful accountability to and participation by local populations in all aspects of the delivery of humanitarian and development programs?
- How can AAP coordination mechanisms better reflect leadership and input from national NGO’s and other local actors?
- How can the current AAP coordination mechanisms be refreshed or reset to better reflect the needs of the NGO’s and local actors?
Scope of Work:
The consultant will be responsible to complete the following tasks:
- Co-Development of Assessment Plan: At the outset of assessment, the consultant will develop an assessment plan in cooperation with ACBAR, including a full research methodology and work plan.
- Desk Review: The consultant should complete a review of available literature, reports, documents, terms of reference, and other artifacts relevant to AAP in Afghanistan that will further inform original data collection as part of the assessment. A draft report will be produced, that will be incorporated into the final report.
- Data Collection and Analysis: The consultant will facilitate the collection of data relevant to the research questions through targeted quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as recommended by the consultant. Subsequent to the data collection, the consultant will be responsible to analyze the data and produce a draft report, that will be incorporated into the final report.
- Development and Delivery of Written Reports: The consultant will produce a draft of the final report, which will be shared with ACBAR for feedback and inputs. The final report will incorporate provided feedback and will be delivered to ACBAR in accordance with the finalized assessment workplan. The final report should incorporate the desk review, data collection methodology and analysis of the data, and should include discussions and recommendation sections. Other relevant sections and/or annexes may be included at the recommendation of the consultant in coordination with ACBAR.
- Presentation of Findings to Research Participants and Key Stakeholders: The consultant should prepare presentation materials based on the findings and recommendations of the report, and be available for facilitate one presentation to relevant and interested stakeholders as recommended by ACBAR.
The consultant is asked the complete the deliverables according to the recommended timelines in the full RFP: https://download.acbar.org/files/files/5482963048.pdf
Location and Duration
Applicants outside of Afghanistan may complete work remotely, but applicants based in Afghanistan, or who can travel to Afghanistan, will be strongly preferred.
It is expected that work will commence on the assessment no later than November 15, 2025 or within one week of signature of contract between the consultant and ACBAR. All work for the assessment must be completed no later than March 15, 2026.
Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will report to the ACBAR Head of Programs and work closely with the AAP WG Coordinator and other members of ACBAR Senior Management and ACBAR’s NGO members, as required.
How to apply
Applications
Interested applicants (individuals or organizations) are requested to submit a proposal that includes the following components:
- Cover Letter
- CV of the proposed consultant which demonstrates capacity to conduct the assessment as outlined in the SOW. The CV should also demonstrate the applicants experience working in the Afghanistan context and familiarity with humanitarian and development programs.
- At least two written samples of previously completed assessment reports.
- At least three letters of recommendation.
- A short, proposed work plan
- Proposed budget for services provided.
Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be selected based upon evaluation of the following criteria:
- Experience and qualifications of the applicant/consultant.
- Verification of relevant experience based on recommendations
- Quality of the provided written report samples.
- Value for Money
Applications must be submitted electronically sent to applications@acbar.org. All applications should reference “ACBAR AAP Assessment” in the subject line of the e-mail.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 17, 2025 by 11:59 PM.