From a development perspective, the social fabric of the Somali region of Ethiopia disintegrated largely because of the civil strife and endemic conflict in the region with huge needs for housing, water, health facilities, food security/livelihood, education, and employment opportunities.  A whole generation of young people pastoralists and agro-pastoralists do not have access to proper schooling and health facilities. In this respect, diseases such as malaria and malnutrition have become endemic and recurrent in the region and have taken away the lives of many people, among them children.

In this context, WDRO committed to delivering the much-needed humanitarian and development service in emergency times while also advocating for protection of human rights.

Since the commencement of its operations, WDRO has been in the frontline delivering humanitarian and development support.  WDRO mobilizes resource through fundraising by local and international nongovernmental organizations and has managed to reach the frontline with both humanitarian and development support to the vulnerable communities living in these regions.

Our approach is participatory, practical, creative and collaborative.  We listen and integrate our beneficiaries’ experiences in designing practical interventions in a dynamic development environment.  Our focus is on meeting beneficiary needs through practical interventions.  We have a core team of professional staff who offer technical knowledge, insights and expertise in overall development programming.  We ensure quality control, value for money and better results to both beneficiaries and donors.

WDRO Key Sectors Include

WDRO seeks to empower communities and strengthen systems to prevent malnutrition before it occurs.  It works with the local authorities and partners to implement nutrition interventions that address malnutrition in Somali region of Ethiopia including; Ensuring access to quality health care for pregnant women; providing food stuffs to household with pregnant women and young children; undertaking hygiene promotion among beneficiaries; educating mothers on how to adequately feed their children; and providing access to clean water and sanitation.  WDRO also focusses on systematic identification and referral of acutely malnourished cases within the local health facilities.