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About ERDO
Founded by humanitarian activists in 2018, ERDO has been a trusted force for resilience and development across Somaliland.
What Drives Us
Our Vision
A Somaliland where people are assisted, supported and empowered — from natural disasters and poverty toward sustainable livelihoods and prosperous lives.
Our Mission
To serve the well-being of the suffering human population and advance the socio-economic development of the nation through capacity building, enhancement, and effective human development measures.
Our Purpose
To serve Somaliland’s suffering population during natural disasters, droughts, and emergencies — and to empower communities through capacity building, income generation, health promotion, protection, peace, and gender equality.
From Vision to Impact
ERDO was founded on 23rd October 2018 by a group of humanitarian activists who recognized the urgent need for a capable, accountable local organization in Somaliland. They witnessed the devastation of prolonged and recurrent droughts — and the limited number of local organizations able to respond to rudimentary community needs.
From its headquarters in Erigavo, Somaliland, ERDO has grown into a multi-sector organization serving marginalized people, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees, persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, and children across Somaliland.
Milestones
- October 2018 — ERDO founded by humanitarian activists in Erigavo, Somaliland.
- 2021–2022 — First WASH project: sanitation in Garadag & Eilafweyn (AL-RAHMA, $10K).
- 2022–2023 — Education & fisheries expansion: school in Badhigelis (DRC-DiPS, $65K) + fish cold chain ($75K).
- 2023–2024 — IDP comprehensive response with World Concern ($120K) covering WASH, peace, women.
- 2024 — Dhoob MCH facility opens; continued scaling across Somaliland.
How We Work
Participatory
Beneficiaries actively participate from needs assessment through implementation, evaluation, and benefit sharing.
People-Centered
People are central to all services. Every development effort begins and ends with the communities we serve.
Collaborative
We work with government and NGO partners at grassroots, district, national, and international levels.
Transparent
All program activities and budgets are transparent to stakeholders and accessible upon request at any time.
Needs-Driven
Programs are never imposed top-down. Activities are selected based on demand from beneficiaries and affected populations.
What We Stand For
Integration
Holistic, integrated approaches are the most effective model of community empowerment.
Gender Equality & Social Inclusion
Centering women, children, and underprivileged groups in the frontline of development.
Human Rights
All activities observe international human rights standards.
HDI/MPI & Cluster
Project areas selected using HDI and MPI for maximum impact.
Ownership & Sharing
Local stakeholders involved in decision-making; community participation builds accountability.
Bottom-Up
Local actors participate in strategy and priority selection for better outcomes.
Sustainability
Benefits are designed to be realized, maintained, and continued after projects close.