Organizational Capacity Assessment Mechanism

The MAEIN Initiative offers an integrated institutional evaluation mechanism based on a clear goal: to support the localization of humanitarian work by enhancing the efficiency of local partners in accordance with the best international standards while adapting them to the specificities of national contexts. The mechanism does more than simply measure the current situation; rather, it transforms the evaluation into a gateway to actual development and documentation of eligibility for partnership and funding. It thus bridges a common gap between donor requirements and international standards on the one hand, and the field reality of local organizations on the other.

The core of the mechanism is the MOAD (Organizational Assessment and Development for NGOs) framework, a toolkit based on quantitative and qualitative evidence to capture the true picture of an organization's performance. The framework is built on internationally recognized standards: Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), PM4NGOs Project DPro, MEAL DPro, and Finance DPro, Human Resources (SPHRi) standards, USAID requirements, and the CMMI Capacity Maturity Framework, along with Sphere, the UK Charity Governance Standard (CGC), and the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) standards. These references are translated into measurement questions covering the pillars of governance, human resources, programs and projects, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL), reputation and advocacy, finance, supply chain and procurement, resource mobilization, partnerships, and grants, safety and security, and localization. The goal: to accurately identify gaps and develop actionable development plans.

The mechanism is implemented through a systematic, sequential process that ensures accuracy and transparency:

1. Preparation and notification: Study the context, define the evaluation objectives, and formally communicate with the organization.

2. Due diligence, initial data collection, and evaluation scope determination.

3. Electronic self-assessment via the MAEIN platform, where the organization answers standardized questions and submits supporting evidence.

4. Desk review by evaluators and specialized experts to compare answers with evidence and identify gaps.

5. Field assessment at the organization’s headquarters to conduct interviews, operational verification, and adjust the results according to reality.

6. Expert arbitration and matching of results with documents and methodology.

7. Final report and discussion with the organization and the donor.

This sequence produces a reliable picture of institutional performance and forms the basis for making sound partnership and financing decisions.


To increase the objectivity of measurement, MOAD adopts a maturity ladder with four interconnected, progressive levels:

F - Foundational (existence of policies and procedures), P - Practical (extent of actual application), R - Flexibility and Independence (resistance to unhealthy interference and ability to adhere to the institution's methodology),  I - Influence (extent of institutional excellence's impact on partners and society). 
The system automatically blocks advanced questions if the minimum threshold is not met at the previous level, ensuring results are highly consistent and reliable.


Mechanism outputs and benefits



  • • A detailed diagnostic report highlighting the strengths and improvement opportunities for each axis, with practical recommendations arranged in order of priority.
  • • An institutional capacity development plan directly linked to measurement results, an implementation timeline, and an indicator monitoring matrix.
  • • Periodic follow-up and evaluation of progress to ensure impact and adjust course when necessary.
  • • Certificates of accreditation and excellence after completing the follow-up stages, proving that the required maturity levels have been met.

This methodology provides organizations with a practical roadmap for institutional advancement, and donors with benchmarks for making evidence-based partnership and funding decisions.

The mechanism is supported by an interactive digital platform launched in 2025 that simplifies the evaluation process from registration to reporting: online self-assessment, analytical reports with dashboards and graphs, and automatic linking of results to training and development pathways. Work is currently underway to design specialized sector-specific evaluation tools (education, health, economic empowerment, etc.) to ensure that evaluation and training are tailored to the nature of each partner organization's programs and fields.