Somalia continues to face a deepening humanitarian crisis driven by climate change, environmental degradation, conflict, and economic inflation. For many families, the struggle is no longer about recovering from isolated shocks — but about enduring an escalating cycle of extreme climatic events. HIRDO has been at the frontlines of emergency response across southern and central Somalia since its inception, delivering life-saving assistance while building the long-term resilience of vulnerable communities.
HIRDO's emergency response and resilience-building interventions prioritize older people, persons with disabilities, women-headed households, and drought-affected IDP communities — ensuring that the most vulnerable receive timely and inclusive assistance.
Emergency Response Interventions
HIRDO has delivered multiple rounds of emergency response and resilience-building interventions under the GEF programme across the Benadir Region:
Emergency Response & Resilience Building — Kahda District
HIRDO strengthened disaster preparedness and resilience among 185 households (1,110 individuals) in Kahda District, prioritizing older people, persons with disabilities, and women-headed households affected by drought.
- Strengthened community awareness on disaster risks and preparedness measures
- Built local capacity for emergency response and early action
- Promoted inclusive approaches to ensure participation of older people and persons with disabilities
- Enhanced community resilience to drought and future shocks
Emergency Response & Resilience Building — Benadir Region
A follow-on emergency response intervention targeting drought-affected and displacement-affected households in Benadir Region, continuing HIRDO's inclusive anticipatory action approach.
Inclusive Anticipatory Emergency Response — Kahda & Daynile Districts
HIRDO implemented an inclusive anticipatory emergency response in Kahda and Daynile districts, targeting older people, persons with disabilities, and drought-affected IDP communities through a multi-sectoral approach.
- Reached 596 households (3,576 individuals) through integrated emergency support
- Provided unconditional cash transfers to 250 households, improving access to basic needs
- Distributed age- and disability-friendly NFI kits to 126 households
- Reached 220 households with inclusive early warning and preparedness messages
- Established 15 community early warning groups (≥40% older people & persons with disabilities)
- Over 70% of beneficiaries reported improved food security and resilience
- Strengthened AAP mechanisms and ensured compliance with SPHERE, CHS, and CWG standards
Overall Impact
HIRDO's emergency response interventions have contributed to:
- Improved household food security and purchasing power for drought-affected families
- Reduced reliance on negative coping mechanisms among the most vulnerable
- Enhanced dignity, flexibility, and resilience among older people, persons with disabilities, and women-headed households
- Strengthened community early warning and disaster preparedness systems
- Improved access to basic needs, mobility, safety, and protection for IDP communities
HIRDO's Approach
HIRDO applies a community-driven and inclusive approach to emergency response — engaging older people's associations (OPAs), local leaders, and communities throughout the full intervention cycle, from needs assessment to evaluation.
HIRDO acts before crises peak using early warning data and anticipatory action frameworks to reach the most vulnerable communities before conditions worsen. Age, gender, and disability inclusion (AGDI) are embedded in all response designs.
Emergency responses combine cash transfers, non-food items (NFIs), early warning systems, and protection services, addressing the interconnected needs of crisis-affected households in a single integrated intervention.
HIRDO establishes and strengthens community-based early warning groups, ensuring at least 40% membership from older people and persons with disabilities to build local capacity for anticipating, preparing for, and responding to future shocks.
All emergency interventions are implemented in compliance with SPHERE Standards, Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), and Cash Working Group (CWG) guidelines. HIRDO maintains robust accountability to affected populations (AAP) through feedback and complaint mechanisms throughout the response.
