The CRAFT Methodology
From diagnosis to durable execution.
ICARF v4.0 assesses institutions across 5 tiers and 20 domains, then drives a closed loop of accreditation, strengthening, and monitoring.
A universal fiduciary core runs through every assessment, while archetype-specific questions adapt it to Public Sector, Civil Society and Private Sector institutions - and optional thematic lenses extend it to climate, emergency and research mandates.
Assessment
Diagnose institutional readiness across 5 tiers and 20 domains using a 0–5 maturity scale backed by a 7-point evidence matrix.
Accreditation
Compute a Level A–E rating. The Paper Compliance Penalty Engine caps the level when implementation evidence is weak.
Strengthening
Convert every gap into a costed, owned, and time-bound action within a 24-month Capacity Improvement Plan.
Monitoring
Track validated execution over time, re-scoring as evidence matures and donor frameworks evolve.
The Paper Compliance Penalty Engine
A perfect policy manual is not the same as a working control. CRAFT separates what an institution documents from what it enforces. Each maturity score is backed by a 7-point evidence matrix that measures system-enforced implementation.
// Penalty rule
if (implementationEvidence < 50%) {
accreditationLevel = min(accreditationLevel, "C") // capped
}
When implementation evidence falls below 50%, accreditation is mathematically capped. No volume of paperwork can lift an institution into the top tiers without demonstrable execution.