About Us

In 2008, a group of Somali women, deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict and violence ravaging their homeland, came together to establish Peace and Development Action (PDA), a nongovernmental organisation based in Somali. Their vision emerged during one of the most challenging periods in Somalia’s history. The country, still reeling from the collapse of its central government in 1991, was embroiled in protracted civil conflict that left millions displaced, hungry, and struggling to access basic services. Droughts exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, while clan rivalries further fueled instability. Despite these immense challenges, these women from diverse professional and social backgrounds were united by their belief that addressing the root causes of the conflict was key to building a brighter, more peaceful future for their nation. PDA is a reflection of their unwavering resolve to drive meaningful change.

The organization’s first initiative was a peacebuilding program designed to bring together young people from different communities to foster trust and understanding. This effort was instrumental in laying the groundwork for PDA’s future work, showcasing the transformative potential of dialogue and collaboration in healing fractured communities.

PDA adopts the triple nexus approach, integrating humanitarian assistance, development initiatives, and peacebuilding as the foundation of its programming and the rationale behind its name. “Peace” reflects the organization’s focus on conflict resolution and social cohesion, “Development” signifies its efforts to build resilient communities, and “Action” underscores its commitment to responding to urgent humanitarian needs. By addressing immediate crises while tackling systemic challenges, PDA ensures its work is both impactful and sustainable.

Planned nutrition and health programs in Somalia will focus on combating malnutrition, which is a critical issue, particularly among children under five and pregnant and lactating women. PDA will implement therapeutic feeding programs, maternal health support, and immunization campaigns to address the nutrition crisis exacerbated by Driving peace, fostering development, and transforming lives in Somalia. 

conflict, drought, and food insecurity. GBV prevention and protection efforts will focus on providing psychosocial support, establishing safe spaces for survivors, and running community awareness campaigns to challenge harmful traditional practices that fuel violence against women and children in Somalia’s conflict-affected areas.

Food security and livelihoods initiatives will aim to promote kitchen gardens, vocational training, small-scale business development, and cash-for-work programs to foster economic resilience among vulnerable communities. Cash-for-work interventions will provide short-term employment opportunities that enable households to earn an income while contributing to community rehabilitation projects, such as restoring agricultural lands, building water catchments, and improving local infrastructure. These initiatives will directly support Somali families in building self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on humanitarian aid. Cash and voucher assistance programs will provide immediate financial relief to households, helping them meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, and shelter while stimulating local economies.

PDA’s climate action efforts will focus on climate justice and adaptation strategies for Somali communities that are among the most vulnerable to climate-induced displacement and drought. PDA plans to promote sustainable agricultural practices, enhance disaster resilience, and help communities affected by climate change to adapt by supporting livelihood diversification and water conservation practices.

In education, PDA will enhance access to quality education for Somali children and youth, particularly displaced populations and girls, by supporting school infrastructure, providing teacher training, and promoting alternative education programs. Somalia’s education sector faces challenges of access, quality, and gender disparity, making PDA’s interventions crucial to improving learning outcomes.

In the WASH sector, PDA intends to improve access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, which are prevalent in Somalia due to inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure. These efforts will improve overall community health and well-being.

Peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in Somalia will focus on strengthening community cohesion through dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms to foster peaceful coexistence among communities affected by decades of conflict. PDA’s programs will support local peace initiatives that help reduce tensions and build trust between different clans and communities, promoting social harmony and political stability.

Citizen engagement in governance and democracy will be a critical focus in a country where political instability and lack of access to governance structures often leave communities marginalized. PDA will work to ensure civic education, promote community participation in decision-making processes, and facilitate engagement with local authorities. This approach will empower Somali citizens, especially women and youth, to advocate for their rights and influence policies that affect their communities.

Through camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), PDA seeks to improve living conditions in displacement camps across Somalia, especially in regions with high levels of displacement due to conflict and natural disasters. PDA will focus on safe camp planning, service coordination, and community participation to enhance humanitarian responses, ensuring safe and dignified living conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. Driving peace, fostering development, and transforming lives in Somalia.