KAALO Aid and Development was founded in 1991, just after the collapse of Somalia’s central government. Based in Garowe, it works mainly in the Puntland region and occasionally in Somaliland.

The organisation focuses on relief, rehabilitation and development programs, working on a wide range of sectors such as: education, health, agriculture and livelihood, rural development, and governance (peace, human rights, gender, democracy and psychosocial issues). Its mission is to improve the livelihood of Somali citizens, providing basic needs with an environmentally sustainable and human rights based approach.

KAALO’s main achievements include the implementation of the largest programme run by a civil society organisation in Puntland. In 2001, it distributed nearly 60 tons of books, journals, and hospital equipment (beds, wheelchairs, crunches, etc.) to communities across Somalia. It also implemented many WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) programmes and helped communities affected by drought.

In partnership with DAKONIA, it has worked on several peacebuilding projects, such as the workshop “Positive interaction between the police and civilians” in May 2013 and the 2012 Peace Convention in Galkayo, where it brought together two conflicting groups that were competing to control the town.