IIDA Women's Development Organisation

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IIDA Women's Development Organisation
Founded25 May 1991
FounderHalima Abdi Arush
Starlin Abdi Arush
TypeNon-profit
NGO
Headquarters Mogadishu, Somalia
Fieldspeacebuilding, active citizenship for women, training
Website www.iida.so

IIDA Women's Development Organisation (IIDA) is a non-governmental organisation founded in Mogadishu, Somalia by a group of Somali women leaders to provide relief and emergency services to women and children affected by the civil war in Somalia. Over the years, IIDA has evolved to focus on policy development and strengthening accountability of government institutions. The organisation advocates for the rights of vulnerable children, youth, and women; and promotes peace among communities.

Contents

Establishment

The IIDA Women's Development Organisation NGO was founded in Mogadishu on 25 May 1991 by a group of Somali women activists led by the sisters Halima and Starlin Arush. [1] Halima Arush was a former education inspector whose husband had been killed during the civil war in Somalia. The organisation's aim was to create an interface organization enabling action in favour of peacebuilding, humanitarianism and women's rights. The word iida in the Somali language means "woman born on a feast day". It was chosen by the late Amina Abdullahi Haji Fiqow, [2] [3] a Somali human rights activist. [4]

Mission

To advocate for the socio-economic rights of vulnerable children, youth, and women, promote peace among warring communities, and foster their integration into society. We work towards non-violent conflict resolution, policy formulation and implementation, women empowerment, transparency and accountability, high standards of service delivery, education, economic self-sustenance, and improvement of health. We conduct research, defend rights, reduce mortality rate, establish partnerships, and mobilize communities towards gender equality, human rights, peace, development, and reconciliation

Offices

IIDA is currently maintains three branches in Somalia (Mogadishu, Merca, Dhusamareb). It also has an office one in Nairobi, Kenya (since December 2007), and one in Turin, Italy.

Main projects

IIDA's main projects encompass peacebuilding, active citizenship for women, and other initiatives in the education, health and economy sectors.

Projects have included:

Tahrib newsletter

Since June 2008, IIDA Italia has published Tahrib, an online newsletter aimed at raising awareness on the sociopolitical situation in Somalia. Contributors to the newsletter include Somalian MP Maryan Shekh Osman, President of the Italian section of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Giovanna Pagani, and journalist Kenneth Oduor.

Awards

IIDA has received various international awards for its peacebuilding, human rights and development work:

Memberships

IIDA is a member of the following networks:

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References

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