About us

15+

Years Of Experience

About Our NGO

15 Years of Humanitarian Impact Across Somalia

Horn International Relief and Development Organization (HIRDO) is a dedicated humanitarian and development organization that has been supporting vulnerable communities in Somalia for the past 15 years. We prioritize assisting women, children, elderly individuals, and persons with disabilities across health, education, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.

Inclusive & Rights-Based Programming

  • We actively advocate for older people, persons with disabilities, and gender equality across all our programs in Somalia.
Our Approach

Community-Led, Inclusive, and Accountable Action

HIRDO applies a participatory, transparent, and accountable approach — working hand in hand with communities, local authorities, and international partners to design and deliver inclusive, contextually relevant programs across Somalia.

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Our Mission

Deliver inclusive, rights-based, and gender-sensitive humanitarian and development programs that strengthen the lives, livelihoods, and resilience of vulnerable populations across Somalia.

  • Empowering communities through locally-led, sustainable interventions.

Our Vision

An empowered Somali society that is peaceful, self-sufficient, and equitable, where every person can achieve their full potential and live in a dignified manner.

  • A Somalia where no one is left behind.

Our Values

We uphold accountability, quality, and meaningful impact in every initiative — operating with integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to affected communities.

  • Trusted by communities and donors for consistent, results-driven delivery.
Our Impact

Transforming Lives Across Somalia

Through over 20 large-scale projects, HIRDO has delivered life-saving assistance and lasting development outcomes for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Somalis.

20+

Large-Scale Projects

Delivered across southern and central Somalia since inception.

30+

Professional Staff

A skilled, diverse team — 50% women — driving inclusive program delivery.

How We Work

Participatory, Transparent, and Accountable at Every Step

Assess & Understand

We conduct needs assessments and context analyses, engaging communities to identify priorities and gaps.

01

Design & Partner

We co-design inclusive, rights-based interventions with communities, local authorities, and international partners.

02

Implement, Monitor & Learn

We deliver programs using a robust MEAL system, ensuring data-driven decisions, accountability, and continuous improvement.

03

Our Causes

Delivering Integrated Humanitarian & Development Programs

HIRDO works across multiple sectors to address the interconnected needs of vulnerable communities in Somalia — from emergency response to long-term resilience building.

Health & Nutrition

Treating acute malnutrition and improving healthcare access for children, mothers, and older people through TSFP and OTP programs.

WASH

Providing safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services to over 10,000 beneficiaries across Benadir and beyond.

Protection & GBV

Psychosocial support, GBV prevention, and child protection for displaced and crisis-affected communities.

Food Security & Livelihoods

Emergency cash assistance and resilience-building programs for drought-affected and displaced families across Somalia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding HIRDO and Our Work in Somalia

HIRDO's mission is to deliver inclusive, rights-based, and gender-sensitive humanitarian and development programs that strengthen the lives, livelihoods, and resilience of vulnerable populations across Somalia.

HIRDO operates across the Benadir region and the states of Southwest, Hirshabelle, and Galmudug, serving both urban and rural communities including those affected by displacement. The organization also maintains a coordination hub in Nairobi.

HIRDO collaborates with UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), WHO, OXFAM GB, the Global Fund, HelpAge International, No Means No World, and Somalia's Ministry of Health, among other international and local partners.

HIRDO prioritizes women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), pastoralists, smallholder farmers, and communities affected by drought, floods, or conflict across Somalia.

HIRDO upholds SPHERE Standards, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), and Humanitarian Inclusion Standards. The organization serves as the SPHERE focal point in Somalia and maintains transparent feedback and complaint mechanisms across all programs.

HIRDO's thematic areas include emergency response, food security and livelihoods, health and nutrition, protection and human rights, education and skills development, WASH, and cash assistance programs.

Yes. HIRDO is officially registered under the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Government of Somalia. It is also a member of the Somali NGOs Consortium, Somalia Non-State Actors Consortium, GBV Prevention Network, CHS Alliance, and the HelpAge Global Network.

HIRDO is governed by a Board of Directors comprising five members — three men and two women — who provide strategic leadership and financial oversight. An Executive Director appointed by the Board oversees day-to-day operations and strategic delivery.