DACAAR is pleased to announce the appointment of Jan de Waal as the new Director, effective January 1, 2025. Jan brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to humanitarian work, which aligns perfectly with DACAAR's mission to provide essential services and support to communities in need.

Jan hails from Cape Town, South Africa and have more than three decades of experience in the International non-profit sector in countries in Africa and Asia as Country Director and also in Regional senior management roles. Jan has a specific interest in Poverty Reduction Strategies and Programming and aims to work with host governments, donors, project teams and external stakeholders in an integrated manner to achieve impact for targeted beneficiary communities to improve their quality of life. Jan also has experience in leading Emergency Responses during humanitarian disasters and designing recovery and sustainable development programs to achieve long term results for vulnerable groups and communities in fragile contexts. Jan subscribes to the importance of strategic planning and to execute such plans successfully. Jan holds qualifications in Social Development, Management and Commerce and has worked for a number of International NGOs with head quarters in Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, the UK and Australia.