Somali Women Association (SWA)
SWA is one of the oldest non-profit, women-led NGOs in Somalia. The organization was founded in 1993 by a group of intellectual Women who united their efforts and resources to help the vulnerable Groups of women, children and the poor people particularly, the internally displaced and the returnees.
What We do?
SWA programs covers various thematic areas that directly affect its target beneficiaries, namely women and children. To date, We have implemented 50 major projects that fill the following categories
Education
Education is the cornerstone of any nation. Challenges confronting the education sector are the direct consequence of protracted emergencies over the past two decades stemming from conflict, drought and flooding. Together, the multi-pronged emergencies have had a significant impact on the education systems and on the lives of children and youth in Somalia. The challenges facing the sector are daunting, including lack of access and widespread inequity. In addition, the education provision is of low quality, mainly due to the high number of unqualified and untrained teachers, multiple curricula, poor education infrastructure and weak capacity for service delivery.
Health
Public health in Somalia has been impacted directly (civil unrest and violence) and indirectly (diseases and/or malnutrition) from both man-made and natural disasters, most acutely since the collapse of the central Somali government in 1990. Most susceptible to the constant threat of concurrent droughts, food insecurity and civil unrest have been the most vulnerable in society, namely women, children, old people and people living in poverty. Malnutrition in Somalia is at a crisis level, and it has been projected by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) that over 900,000 children were faced with acute malnourishment in 2019, a quarter of them likely to be severely affected.
WASH
Health, well-being and social development is closely tied to access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. In the case of Somalia, erratic rainfall, protracted conflict and lack of adequate water sources have created barriers to access. Inadequate access to water, lack of sanitation and poor hygiene have helped to accelerate the increasing rate of disease in Somalia. A strategic, comprehensive approach is required to set up a sustainable water availability system in order to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable populations that are already suffering from other challenges.
LIVELIHOOD
The Somali community is largely dependent on agriculture, livestock and income from remittances. The food security situation has been deteriorating in many rural areas to recurrent droughts. Recurring and drastic climate changes and armed conflict in Somalia have led to the displacement of large populations and disruption of agricultural production as many farmers have been forced off their farms. This will ultimately result in low food production, escalating food prices and dropping of livestock prices resulting in rural unemployment. All these will have direct and indirect consequences for the households in the form of losing their livelihoods and being displaced.
PROTECTION
The effects of drought, famine and armed conflict on children in Somalia have been devastating. Including the loss of many young lives, Somali children live with severe long-term effects on their development, arising from psychological trauma and lack of proper nutrients at critical stages of their lives. Decades of civil war and conflict have left many children in Somalia uprooted from their homes or deprived of their parents or both at the same time. Whereas traditionally children would be cared for by other family members, this has not been the case due primarily to the breakdown of family structures amidst civil unrest and migration caused by drought or violence. Hundreds of thousands of children have been left alone to fend for themselves, mired in poverty and exposed to all kinds of risks and dangers.
Peacebuilding & Governance
The effects of drought, famine and armed conflict on children in Somalia have been devastating. Including the loss of many young lives, Somali children live with severe long-term effects on their development, arising from psychological trauma and lack of proper nutrients at critical stages of their lives. Decades of civil war and conflict have left many children in Somalia uprooted from their homes or deprived of their parents or both at the same time. Whereas traditionally children would be cared for by other family members, this has not been the case due primarily to the breakdown of family structures amidst civil unrest and migration caused by drought or violence. Hundreds of thousands of children have been left alone to fend for themselves, mired in poverty and exposed to all kinds of risks and dangers.
Target Populations
IDPs and Returnees
Internally displaced persons (IDP) and returnees face substantial challenging in integrating with their new environments. SWA works with them providing life-saving assistances
MINORITIES
Minorities constitute 20% of Somalia's population, SWA works with them to provide humanitarian support.
WoMEN AND CHILDREN
Somali women and children are among the most marginalized groups in Somalia. Year of conflicts have them target for the armed conflicts.
DISABLED PERSONS
disabled persons are 19% of the general population. they are most overlooked groups in the humanitarian programs in Somalia.
Would you like to start a project with us?
We are one most reputable and effective organizations in Somalia, we welcome partnerships from reputable and like-minded organizations around the world.
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How to find our Office
Address
KAG ZB 23, Garowe, Puntland, Somalia
Phone
+(252) 90 - 774 7312
+(252) 90 - 77947312
info@swasomalia.org
swasomalia@gmail.com