Kaalmo Relief and Development is a local organization based and registered in Somalia as a local Non-profit.

Mission Statement: KRD’s mission is to facilitate the participation of the poor people of Somalia in the development process.

Vision Statement: KRD’s vision is to secure enhanced livelihood and food security for the poor communities and bring positive changes to the worsening humanitarian crisis situations in key areas of interventions through institutional capacity building and policy change for human development.

Kaalmo Relief and Development Organization is non-profit making, non-sectarian, humanitarian relief and development organization that was established and registered in 2005 as a local non-governmental organization (LNGO) in Somalia. KRD operates in south central Somalia in general with a particular focus on Gedo, Bay, Bakool and Lower Jubba. Its top priority is to create an environment that is conducive to sustainable development by helping communities to secure peace, sustainable development and attain self-reliance. Above all, the organization has operated quite freely in the area of Gedo Region in general with full cooperation of the local authorities – political, traditional and religious elders and women groups. The association’s operation cuts through the faulty and dividing lines of sub-clans and we are seen to be impartial trustworthy, operating with integrity and enduring convictions. Some of the key staff leading the organization are people with extensive knowledge and experience in the dynamics of the Somalia humanitarian context as they have worked with the UN and international organizations operating in Somalia, particularly south- central zone. The diversity of the staff and Board members of the organization in terms of experience and background is one of the strengths of the organization.Conclusively KRD has strong grass-root presence, good knowledge and understanding of the day to day happenings in the area of operation (local context), good rapport with the local community and the local authority, vast experience in community based programmes and the understanding of the operational challenges. The organization is above all concerned with project implementation activities only.

The origin of KRD can be traced to a group of former UN and international NGO workers who saw the need to dedicate themselves to support the under privileged and disadvantaged local communities. The organization has offices in Belet-Hawa, Dolow and Nairobi. KRD works with local communities to ensure that vulnerable and poverty stricken people are offered the necessary assistance they require to enable them improve their living conditions. This can be achieved through enabling these communities to actively participate in and influence socio-economic and political processes. KRD believes that peaceful co-existence among communities is vital for sustainable development. The main aim of the organization is therefore to improve the livelihood systems, quality of life and the status of the vulnerable and poverty stricken populations in south central Somalia more so pastoral, agro-pastoral, women, men, boys and girls through facilitation of sustainable community peace, humanitarian and development initiates. The organization is governed by five well experienced, active and strong board members who have been elected on the basis of integrity, willingness to render voluntary services, professional experience regarding management of development and humanitarian entities, expertise in resource mobilization, contacts at the national, regional and international level while considering diversity in gender, geographical, community and special interest group representation. KRD has been involved in various sectors such as livelihood support, primary healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), education, health, peace building and conflict management, good governance and child protection. KRD has a head office in Belet-Hawa and a liaison office in Nairobi Kenya at 11th floor, Standard Street, Kenyatta Avenue, city Centre.

Primary objectives include:

1. To participate in the community development and meet post-conflict reconstruction needs by fulfilling the major needs of the communities that have suffered and continue to suffer diverse and numerous Vulnerabilities and inadequacies in the fulfillment of their basic needs and rights.

2. To serve as a focal point for community development and transformation by partnering with local and international agencies to plan and coordinate the development efforts intended to improve the living conditions of the people.

3. To facilitate genuine peace, reconciliation, behavioral change and development issue by arranging effective and continuous communication within the community and between the community and other development stakeholders.

4. To encourage the exchange of ideas on peace, reconciliation, governance, human rights, gender, behavioral change and development by providing to the community appropriate internal and external sources of information and knowledge.

5. To promote, encourage and support the use of multi-sectoral approach, information sharing and knowledge in designing and implementing community development programs and projects.

6. To promote self-reliance by building community and institutional capacity to tapping and orienting the community’s human, technical, financial, material and natural resources, while at the same time lobbying local, regional national and international groups to work with and invest in the community.

7. Improve capacities of the private sector through skills development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) enabling them to participate effectively in community development.

Improve the skills of the youth through vocational and skills training and capacity building.
Improve education through the provision of teachers to the early childhood centres and adult literacy programs.
Improve protection of vulnerable groups from marginalization, abuse and human rights violations through the advancement of human rights and democracy.