Intervention area

HIRDA will focus on the following intervention areas in the next five-year period from 2011 to 2015:

1. Education
In Somalia and among Somali ethnic groups in neighboring countries, enrollment rates in primary education are still very low. HIRDA aims to provide school-aged children with education. Its focus will be on promoting equal access for boys and girls and to favor a more child-friendly learning environment. Improved access to and enhanced quality of education will result in better job opportunities for school graduates.

2. Gender and identity related issues
HIRDA recognizes the important role that women play in development. They provide food for the family, raise the children, and are often the binding factor between families in the community. There is a lot to enhance in the overall situation of Somali women in Somalia and the East African region, as well as amongst the Diaspora. Poverty, lack of access to education and primary healthcare, high-risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality during delivery, harmful traditional, cultural, and social practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), gender-based violence, lack of access and control of economic resources, and lack of participation in decision-making processes are the main issues that HIRDA will address.

3. Humanitarian response
Somalia has suffered from 18 years of civil war and severe natural calamities such as drought and flooding. These disasters directly affect the degree of self-reliance of communities and the access to primary education. Therefore, HIRDA aims to provide relief services to minimize the impact of these calamities on their projects.

4. Sustainable livelihoods
Interventions in this area will mostly focus on adaptation of rural livelihoods to climate change and to build resilience of communities against climate change and frequent disasters.

5. Diaspora engagement
The interest and engagement of the Somali Diaspora in the development of Somalia and other East African regions where Somalia ethnic groups are living is crucial in order to stimulate development. However, engaging the Somali Diaspora to take an active role in the development is a difficult and challenging task. The divisional and destructive attitude that exists between Somali communities living in Somalia and other parts of East Africa also exists amongst the Diaspora communities in Europe or the United States. HIRDA seeks to help alleviate these detrimental attitudes and bring the different communities together.

6. Remittances
Remittances, which are the main economic source of the Somali community, are not shared equally. Rural communities do not have equal access to the funding sent by their families abroad because most overseas contributions are used to benefit only urban areas. HIRDA will use its relationship with financial institutions to help create a more equal distribution of remittances. The organization will also help facilitate Hawala (remittance transfer networks).

However, HIRDA does not believe remittances are a lasting solution to Somali development because they induce dependence. Also, future generations living in the Diaspora, especially in the United States and Europe, will have an increased detachment from their country of origin and may be less likely to send money.