The Social-life and Agricultural Development Organization (SADO) was established in 1994 by a group of Somali professionals after the withdrawal of UN agencies and international NGOs from Somalia. The organisation aims to release the potential of the Somali people to change their own lives through a sustainable, integrated, and people-centred development strategy. SADO is geared towards the improvement of the living standards of the people with concern for the long-term viability of development programs.

SADO has established a network of branches for effective coordination and facilitation backed up by qualified and well trained technical personnel. SADO has a good presence in the community and has gained acceptance based on mutual benefit.

Strategic objectives

Agricultural Production/Food Security

1. To ensure continued food security to at least 100,000 pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in South/Central Somalia through skills development, the creation of linkages and provision of farm inputs and other appropriate agricultural support.
2. To increase the incomes of 5,000 households in South/Central Somalia by at least 15% from sales of livestock & livestock products through facilitating better livestock husbandry practices and market access.
3. To ease vulnerability and save the lives of at least 10,000 vulnerable persons affected by disasters (natural or man-made) through the provision of food aid & other emergency relief support.

Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH)

1. To facilitate sustained access to safe water for at least 50,000 households (for human and livestock use) in South/Central Somalia by developing and/or rehabilitating various water points and sources.
2. To save lives, reduce vulnerabilities and enhance the resilience of at least 25,000 vulnerable, drought-affected households in South/Central Somalia between 2009 and 2013, through the provision of emergency water supplies.
3. To reduce water accessibility distances to 2 kilometres.
4. To contribute towards a safer environment of at least 44,000 households living in South/Central Somalia through the provision of hygiene and sanitation information, facilities and skills.
5. To reduce water borne and sanitation-related instances of disease by 10% 2013 in South/Central Somalia, through community training & sanitation infrastructural development support.

Education

1. To increase the enrollment of school aged children in primary schools by 3,000 (1,000 girls and 2,000 boys) in South/Central Somalia, by supporting seven primary schools.
2. To contribute towards increasing the retention rates in schools by at least 50% through equal opportunity access to quality education in village based evening/shepherd classes.
3. To reduce incidences of harmful cultural practices by at least 10% through awareness-raising work with parents on child rights and their roles and responsibilities towards girls and children.

 Good Governance

1. To contribute towards creating an atmosphere of sustainable trust and harmonious co-existence in South/Central Somalia through facilitating conflict resolution, mediation and the strengthening of local community governance institutions.

Organisation development

1. To become a dynamic organisation able to deliver sustainable, quality, and relevant services to the community through proper fundraising, the establishment of good systems & structures as well as staff and board development.

Main projects

SADO has to date successfully implemented various programmes in the areas of:

• Economic opportunities for disaster affected households.
• Food security and livelihood support, WATSAN, education and gender empowerment.
• Integrated communication approaches during emergencies for enhanced community responses.
• Rehabilitation of communal water points.
• Population tracking, through an information and data gathering project.
• Human rights awareness project and training.
• Community Capacity Development.
• Facilitating peace and reconciliation initiatives.
• Strengthening civil society.
• Providing safe drinking water to drought affected people.
• Community mobilisation and awareness raising on HIV/Aids.
• Rehabilitation of schools.