Kaashif Development Initiatives
Strategic and sectoral focus areas

Integrated programmes from emergency response to long-term resilience

Our programmes respond to conflict and displacement, recurrent drought and floods, poverty, limited access to basic services and weak local systems — combining humanitarian response, recovery, resilience and development.

Our programme areas are aligned with Somalia’s national development priorities and policy frameworks, relevant sector standards, humanitarian principles and recognised international frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus.

Focus area 01Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

We support communities affected by water scarcity, displacement, drought and floods to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. Our WASH experience includes construction and rehabilitation of water systems and water points, emergency WASH response, sanitation facilities, hygiene promotion and menstrual hygiene support. We also strengthen community management and maintenance of WASH facilities and incorporate climate considerations into water and sanitation solutions.

Focus area 02Health and Nutrition

We support access to essential health and nutrition services, particularly for underserved populations. Our work includes community health outreach, maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition screening and referral, infant and young child feeding promotion, disease prevention and immunisation awareness. We strengthen links between communities and available health services and incorporate psychosocial support and referral where relevant.

Focus area 03Child Protection and Well-being

We work with families, communities and relevant institutions to address risks faced by children affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, family separation and interrupted education. Our work includes community-based protection, safe spaces, identification and referral of protection concerns, strengthening community protection structures, birth registration awareness, and prevention of harmful practices and safeguarding.

Focus area 04Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

We support women and girls to expand their economic opportunities, leadership and participation in household and community decisions. Our work includes livelihoods and skills development, income generation, savings initiatives, leadership and civic participation, GBV prevention and referral, engagement with men and community leaders on harmful gender norms, and strengthening women-led groups and organisations.

Focus area 05Education and Life Skills

We support children and young people facing barriers to education, including displacement, poverty, insecurity and inadequate learning opportunities. Our work includes support for vulnerable and out-of-school learners, girls’ education and retention, learning environments, teacher and facilitator support, non-formal learning, early childhood development, and life-skills and health education.

Focus area 06Livelihoods and Food Security

We help households affected by poverty, displacement, drought and economic shocks to restore livelihoods, improve food security and strengthen income opportunities. Our work includes climate-smart agriculture, vocational and market-oriented skills, entrepreneurship, small-business support, productive assets, savings groups, financial inclusion and market linkages.

Focus area 07Youth Engagement and Skills Development

We connect youth skills development with employment, entrepreneurship, leadership and civic participation. Our work includes technical and vocational training, digital and soft skills, mentoring, enterprise development and youth-led community initiatives. We also engage young people in peacebuilding and other activities that strengthen their contribution to community life.

Focus area 08Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion

We support dialogue, cooperation and peaceful management of local tensions. Our work includes community dialogue and mediation, locally recognised dispute-resolution mechanisms, social cohesion between displaced and host communities, and participation of women and youth in peacebuilding. Conflict sensitivity is incorporated across programmes to reduce the risk of reinforcing existing tensions or exclusion.

Focus area 09Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)

We provide cash assistance where it is appropriate and markets can support it, enabling vulnerable households to meet priority needs with choice and dignity. Delivery includes vulnerability assessment, targeting and verification, market assessment, appropriate payment systems, protection and safeguarding, complaints and feedback, post-distribution monitoring and financial controls. Where feasible, cash support is linked to recovery and livelihood opportunities.

Focus area 10Durable Solutions and Resilience

We support IDPs, returnees and host communities to strengthen self-reliance, access essential services and build more stable livelihoods. Our approach brings together livelihood recovery, productive assets, basic services, community infrastructure, social cohesion, local governance and disaster preparedness.

Focus area 11Climate Change Adaptation and Environmental Sustainability

We integrate climate resilience into programmes affected by drought, floods, water scarcity and environmental degradation. This includes climate-resilient WASH and infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture and livelihoods, disaster-risk reduction, preparedness, sustainable natural-resource management, renewable-energy solutions and environmental restoration.

Focus area 12Emergency Response

Emergency response draws on our sector capabilities, community networks and operational relationships. We undertake rapid needs assessment and mobilisation and provide assistance in areas such as WASH, food, health, nutrition, protection, shelter and cash. Where conditions permit, emergency assistance is linked to early recovery, livelihoods and resilience.

Focus area 13Locally Led Development and Localization

Localization shapes how programmes are designed and delivered. We work through community structures, local institutions and national organisations, strengthen local capacity and involve communities in decisions that affect them. Partnerships with international organisations are used to complement local resources, expertise and reach while maintaining clear local roles in implementation, accountability and sustainability.

Focus area 14Cross-Cutting Practices

Across all sectors, we integrate gender equality, disability and social inclusion; child safeguarding and protection; accountability to affected populations; conflict sensitivity and do-no-harm; climate and environmental responsibility; and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning. These are applied through programme design, community engagement, risk management, feedback and complaints mechanisms, safeguarding procedures and continuous learning.

Institutional commitment

Cross-cutting priorities built into how we work

Gender equality, disability inclusion, child safeguarding, protection, accountability, conflict sensitivity, climate resilience and localization are considered in programme design, budgeting, staffing and implementation.

We use appropriate disaggregated data, community feedback and monitoring to identify gaps and adjust programmes. This commitment is reflected in our systems, resources and day-to-day practice, rather than treated as a separate project requirement.

  • Gender equality
  • Disability inclusion
  • Child safeguarding
  • Protection
  • Accountability to affected populations
  • Conflict sensitivity & do-no-harm
  • Climate resilience
  • Localization
Communities we serve

Prioritising people facing the greatest barriers

KDI works with communities affected by poverty, displacement, conflict, drought, floods and limited access to essential services and economic opportunities.

  • IDPs, returnees & host communities
  • Women and girls
  • Children & adolescents
  • Youth
  • Persons with disabilities
  • Older people
  • Shock-affected households
  • Pastoralists
  • Smallholder farmers

Targeting is based on context-specific needs and vulnerability, using community participation, needs assessments and programme data. Gender, age, disability, displacement, socioeconomic conditions and protection risks are considered to promote fair access, dignity, inclusion and accountability.

KDI staff distributing dignity kits and water containers to women at a displacement site

Need a field-ready implementing partner?

We combine sector expertise, community networks and operational relationships to deliver in hard-to-reach areas.

Partner with KDI See our experience