HPRO background 
The Health Protection and Research Organization (HPRO) is a national non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) registered with Ministries of Economy, Women’s Affairs and Public Health, of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and is comprised of professionals with specializations in research evaluation and institutional building. The organization was established in 2008 with the specific aim of assisting the government of Afghanistan and its partners by conducting research and evaluation designed to inform policy makers, program managers and practitioners for the purpose of improving program implementation that can ultimately ensure overall development of Afghanistan and the wider region. HPRO is the compatible and competent research company to conduct this engine assessment. The relevant evaluation and research experience is shortly described in the coming paragraphs.
HPRO began its work with an initial mandate to conduct research, quality training, and evaluations in the country when there were fewer local entities for such services. Over a period of a decade and half of operations, HPRO has developed a pool of resources including a broad network of funding agencies, technical experts, materials, collaborating universities and INGOs.
After more than a decade of work, and in view of the evolved local context i.e. needs, capacities and opportunities, HPRO strategically adapted its mission and vision. This transformation takes HPRO to the next level; enabling it to step into a subsequent provision of a larger array of services including the delivery of health, nutrition and WASH services, capacity building, emergency preparedness and response, and community awareness and social behavior change programs.
The organization is supported by a board of directors/trustees that are external to HPRO and act as volunteers that oversees HPRO conducts and foster professionalism in the work the organization performs. The organization is led by Dr. Ghulam Farooq Mansoor a public health epidemiology specialist with Master of Public Health from The University of Queensland Australia who gained two decades of experience in leading humanitarian services, research monitoring and evaluations for UN organizations, government and bilateral organizations. Other experts of HPRO include both nationals and expats and possess masters’ and PhD degrees in nutrition, food security, epidemiology biostatistics, social science and in qualitative research with over a decade experience in monitoring evaluation and management of survey and M&E data. Also, HPRO has a vast network of free-lancers in the provinces who could be mobilized quickly for any assignment it may be entrusted with.
HPRO is a member in the UN emergency health cluster and is currently helping a number of NGOs from Japan in Third Party Monitoring of various humanitarian response projects and provide real time data on aid distribution to people in need. The monitoring among others look at the Core Humanitarian Standards; it also uses the various tools to produce food consumption Index and coping strategies.
HPRO closely works with the NGOs during selection of beneficiaries, distribution of aid and post distribution to monitor how the aid is being utilized at Household level. HPRO has recently signed a contract with the Japan Platform (a Japanese NGO network) to conduct evaluation of various humanitarian projects by its 5 Japanese Implementing partners in different provinces in Afghanistan. In addition, HPRO conducted a rapid assessment on both operational and thematic areas to better inform the formulation of prospective JPF projects planned by the member NGOs for Afghan internally displaced persons, returnees and undocumented cross-border returnees.
HPRO has conducted a number of health system research and evaluations that were designed to inform donors, policies and, and programs. The organization has completed more than thirty five program evaluation and research projects ranging from assessment of Health facility functionality and rationality which also included private clinics that implemented some public health services through the Public Private Partnership mechanism, a national assessment of blood safety and transfusion services in the private, public and military sector health facilities across Afghanistan, baseline and end-line evaluations of maternal and child health and nutrition in various provinces.
HPRO currently affiliates HPRO is currently affiliated with KIT/Particip to conduct TPM of the UNICEF HER project. HPRO is assigned to do quality assurance of the TPM data collected by Particip teams in the provinces. HPRO also is affiliated with MgtWell Consulting Services and provide the Management Accompaniment Services for the UNICEF HER project Service providing NGOs. In the MA scope HPRO developed guidelines and template for data packs, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Performance Improvement Plan, and monitoring of the PIPs. In addition, it helps UINCEF conduct performance reviews of the Health Emergency Response (HER) project Service Providing NGOs. In Addition, HPRO is the Third-Party Monitoring Agent for the UNFPA country programs services that are provided through more than 700 Service delivery points across the country. Furthermore, HPRO collaborates with the Nossal Institute (Melbourn University) and conducts endline evaluation of the Family Health House Implemented by the UNFPA.
Donors include United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Health Organization (WHO), UNDP, UNODC, UNICEF, WFP, The Japan Platform, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Henry M Jackson Foundation (HJF), US Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU), U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, World Vision International, Save the Children International and International Medical Corps.