Our story
Formed in 1984 as an initiative to help and support the growing number of Afghans, who had fled their country during the first years of the Soviet occupation, the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR) was founded as an umbrella organisation for The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Danish People's Aid (DPA), Danish Association for International Co-operation (MS) and Caritas Denmark. Starting from a small sewing centre employing female Afghan refugees living in Peshawar, Pakistan, the organisation now has over 800 staff carrying out projects in 27 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces.
1980s
In July 1986 DACAAR expands its remit and takes over responsibility for the water supply programme for Afghan refugees in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan. By the end of 1987 DACAAR is responsible for the maintenance of water supply and water distribution systems in most of the camps in the whole of NWFP.
1989 marks the Soviet withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. It is only now that DACAAR is able to expand its geographical reach and begin to work inside Afghanistan. Initial projects focus on relief work relating to the provision of safe water, infrastructure, schools, irrigation canals and agriculture extension. The main office remains in Peshawar but over the coming years, field offices are gradually opened across the Afghanistan.
1990s
1994 sees the emergence of the Taliban and by 1996 all of DACAAR's activities find themselves in Taliban controlled areas. Despite significant challenges, DACAAR continues to implement projects where the security and political situation enables the organisation to reach its target groups and implement projects according to core principles such as efficiency, participation and quality.
Despite increased restrictions, whilst working under the Taliban regime, DACAAR is able to introduce its health education programme in Afghanistan in 1996.
By the late 1990s DACAAR is moving away from relief work to more development focused activities with an increased emphasis on encouraging active community participation in projects.
Post 2001
Late 2001 sees the fall of the Taliban regime and the formation of a new government in Kabul. With more and more day-to-day decisions and meetings taking place in the Afghan capital, in November 2002 the main office moves from Peshawar to Kabul.
To ensure a strong focus on core activities and to keep in line with DACAAR's policy of creating self-sufficient agencies wherever feasible, DACAAR’s school construction capacity is spun off to become the independent Afghan NGO, Danish Assistance to Afghan Rehabilitation and Technical Training (DAARTT). The following year, in 2005, DACAAR's microfinance project, Microfinance Agency for Development and Rehabilitation of Afghan Communities (MADRAC), and DACAAR's Sewing Centre (now known as Zardozi) follow suite and are established as independent Afghan NGOs.
By 2006 DACAAR completely phases out its work in Pakistan to focus solely on its development activities in Afghanistan.
2009 and beyond
2009 sees DACAAR celebrate its 25th anniversary of working side by side with the Afghan people. To date, DACAAR has constructed over 38,000 water points across 27 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces, providing over six million Afghans with access to safe water.
Its core activities remain water and sanitation projects and rural development activities. Emphasis is placed on meaningful community participation in projects and the involvement of all community members, including women, in the decision making process. Gender mainstreaming is also being promoted, both internally and externally, through a newly established Gender Unit.
