The organization conducts evaluations of development and humanitarian operations, policies, strategies, projects and programs. DARA works in various regions. Some of the larger projects DARA has undertaken include participation in the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition, after the 2004 disaster in South East Asia; the creation of the Humanitarian Response Index; and the evaluation of the European Commission´s Disaster preparedness Plans in Central America. The main activities undertaken in DARA are the following: Evaluation and Technical Assistance
Real-Time Evaluations meant to assist decision-making while a humanitarian crisis is still unfolding.
System-wide evaluations that identify the policies and measures that humanitarians need to address to ensure enhanced performance and impact of humanitarian aid.
The Humanitarian Response Index The HRI is an independent assessment of donor performance, to assist the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Development Assistance Committee government donors in ensuring that their humanitarian funding has impact for people in critical need of aid. The HRI measures the individual performance of government donors against Good Humanitarian Donorship Principles drafted in recent years by various United Nations, public and private stakeholders . The 2010 edition was launched in December 2010 in Brussels, Belgium at the European Development Days event. Climate Vulnerability Monitor Co-published by DARA and the Climate Vulnerable Forum, The Climate Vulnerability Monitor was initiated in 2009 by the Government of the Maldives, the “Climate Vulnerability Monitor” provides an overview of countries´ susceptibility to short-term climate change, by using a barometer to assess the estimated effects on each country’s health, weather disasters, human habitat loss and economic stresses. The 2010 report was presented at the UN Cancun Summit in December, 2010. The Risk Reduction Initiative This program examines factors and conditions that contribute to the generation of risk. It is meant to provides guidance for effective risk reduction in vulnerable and hazard-prone areas across the world. Findings and lessons learned from the Humanitarian Response Index are used to create a Risk Reduction Index, meant to measure the effectiveness of risk management policies, strategies and activities for reducing the impact of natural disasters on local communities. Its stated aim is to promote learning and sharing of lessons from risk reduction interventions.
Leadership
DARA was founded by Silvia Hidalgo in 2003 and served as the Director General of DARA until January 2010. Ross Mountain, former Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator for the UN system for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, served as Director General of DARA from January 2010 until December 2012. A former Chief Executive is Ed Schenkenberg
