Horn International Relief and Development Organization (HIRDO) participated in the SHAPE Programme — Strategic Humanitarian Assessment for Participatory Empowerment — a three-year organizational capacity strengthening initiative implemented from 2023 to 2025 and led by HelpAge International.
The programme strengthened HIRDO's ability to plan, influence, and deliver inclusive, locally led humanitarian action. Through SHAPE, HIRDO enhanced its institutional systems, operational effectiveness, and capacity to provide accountable, rights-based, and inclusive humanitarian and development programmes across Somalia.
SHAPE supported a long-term internal transformation process combining technical learning with organizational development — focusing on governance, human resources, finance, leadership, programme design, implementation, accountability, and inclusion. The process was partner-led and context-driven, allowing HIRDO to identify its own priorities, define organizational goals, and implement sustainable improvements aligned with community needs.
Key Areas of Capacity Strengthening
Through the SHAPE programme, HIRDO made significant progress across four core organizational areas, each designed to build lasting institutional strength and programme quality.
Strategic Planning
HIRDO reviewed and strengthened its strategic framework, improving organizational direction, priority setting, and alignment with humanitarian principles, community needs, and global standards.
Human Resource Systems
The programme supported improvements in HR policies, staff management, safeguarding practices, and organizational structures — contributing to a skilled, inclusive, and gender-sensitive workforce.
Financial Management
HIRDO strengthened internal controls, accountability mechanisms, financial procedures, and resource management practices — improving transparency, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Programme Quality & Inclusion
SHAPE strengthened HIRDO's ability to deliver inclusive, rights-based programming — including age and disability inclusion, gender sensitivity, community participation, AAP, and protection mainstreaming.
Current Capacity Strengthening Initiative
9-Month Programme — Supported by HelpAge InternationalBuilding on the three-year SHAPE process, HIRDO is implementing a nine-month capacity strengthening project supported by HelpAge International. This initiative focuses on consolidating and extending the gains of SHAPE into lasting institutional systems.
- Strengthening governance and management systems
- Improving accountability and compliance mechanisms
- Enhancing efficient use of organizational resources
- Building sustainable systems for long-term programme delivery
- Strengthening localization and inclusive humanitarian action
Staff Development & Continuous Learning
As part of SHAPE, HIRDO senior management and technical staff participated in structured training programmes covering the full spectrum of humanitarian standards and inclusive programming approaches. This continuous learning approach has strengthened HIRDO's institutional capacity to deliver high-quality, accountable, and community-centred interventions across Somalia.
Overall Impact & Added Value
Strengthened governance, leadership, and accountability systems across the organization
Improved programme quality, age and disability inclusion, and community participation
Enhanced staff capacity and a stronger institutional culture of continuous learning
Improved emergency preparedness, response capacity, and financial management systems
HIRDO's Approach & Added Value
HIRDO's participation in SHAPE is guided by a participatory, partner-led, and community-centred approach — ensuring that all capacity improvements are practical, sustainable, and institutionalized across the organization.
Participatory & Partner-Led Learning
HIRDO defines its own capacity-strengthening priorities and pace. The process is internally driven, ensuring relevance, ownership, and long-term sustainability of all improvements.
Peer-to-Peer Exchange & Collaboration
HIRDO engages in peer learning with other HelpAge partners, sharing experiences, tools, and lessons to improve collective humanitarian action and regional response systems.
Localization & Inclusive Humanitarian Action
SHAPE aligns HIRDO's growth with localization principles, empowering community-centred, context-specific and inclusive humanitarian action across Somalia.
Lead Partner: HelpAge International
HelpAge International provides mentoring, learning resources, technical guidance, and support for inclusive humanitarian standards and localization frameworks.
