Galguduud Women
Development Organization
GAWDO — Women-Led Civil Society · Central Somalia · Est. 1995
"For over three decades, Somali women have been the solution. We need the world to invest in them."
30+
Years of Service
1995
Year Founded
80–90%
Children Dependent on Mothers
8+
Documented Projects
Who We Are
A Women-Led Force for Change in Central Somalia
Galguduud Women Development Organization (GAWDO) is a non-governmental, non-profit, women-led civil society organisation established in 1995 by a group of Somali professional women. For over thirty years, GAWDO has worked to improve the lives of women and children in the Galguduud region of central Somalia (Galmudug State).
GAWDO is rooted in the communities it serves — combining medical professionals, teachers, farmers, and community practitioners to mobilise a wide range of expertise for development. It serves as the official Focal Point for women's affairs in Galmudug State and as a voice for the voiceless.
Our Vision
"A peaceful, healthy and self-reliant Somali society in which the women and children of Galguduud enjoy their rights, education, and economic opportunity."
🌺 Our Founding Story
In 1995, a group of courageous Somali professional women — including Zainab Farah, Xaliimo Warsame Mohamed, Yasmiin Mohamed, and colleagues — came together with a singular conviction: the women and children of Galguduud deserved health, education, dignity, and peace.
They founded GAWDO not from resources, but from commitment. Over 30 years, with minimal external funding and maximum community spirit, they delivered maternal health services, literacy programmes for IDP women, conflict-resolution training, FGM eradication workshops, and WASH initiatives across dozens of communities.
Today, GAWDO stands ready to scale. With governance frameworks aligned to UN and EU standards, a seasoned board, and deep community trust — what GAWDO needs is a funding partner who believes in what local women-led organisations can do.
Our Mission
To improve the socio-economic situation of the Somali people — especially women and children — through food security, health, education, environmental protection, and human rights advocacy.
Our Leader
Meet the Executive Director
Zainab Farah
Co-Founder · Executive Director since 1995 · Galguduud Region
Zainab Farah is the Executive Director and co-founder of GAWDO. A dedicated Somali women's rights advocate with over 30 years of experience in community development, she has led GAWDO's programmes in health, education, peacebuilding, and economic empowerment across Galguduud Region since the organisation's founding in 1995.
"For over three decades, Somali women have been the solution. We need the world to invest in them."
Historical Background
Three Decades of Unbroken Service
From SOSCENSA to SONSA — A Platform That Grew With Us
GAWDO is a long-standing civil society organisation rooted in Galguduud. When it was founded, it became an active member of SOSCENSA — the South-Central Non-State Actors platform, a major coordination body established with EU support. Over the years SOSCENSA underwent a structural transformation and emerged as SONSA (Somali Non-State Actors), now operating at all state levels across Somalia with 90+ member organisations. GAWDO has remained a permanent, active member throughout — from regional platform to national network — serving as the designated Focal Point for Galguduud Region.
National Civil Society Platform
SONSA / SOSCENSA Membership
GAWDO is an active, long-standing member of the Somali Non-State Actors (SONSA) platform — formerly the South-Central Non-State Actors platform (SOSCENSA). Established in 2008 with European Union support, SONSA brings together more than 90 Somali civil society organisations as the recognised focal point for policy dialogue between non-state actors, the Federal Government, regional states, and the international community. Through this membership, GAWDO contributes to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and women's political participation — including its role in the SOSCENSA thematic working group on conflict and reconciliation in Dhuusamarreeb.
Status
Active Permanent Member
Role
Focal Point — Galguduud Region
Members
90+ Somali CSOs
Founded
2008 (EU-supported)
Organisation Timeline
A group of courageous Somali professional women establish GAWDO in Dhusamareb
GAWDO joins SOSCENSA — South-Central Non-State Actors civil society platform
Maternal health, FGM eradication, women's literacy, conflict resolution across Galguduud
Platform restructures into SONSA — EU-supported, 90+ member CSOs, nationwide
GAWDO leads Dhusamareb reconciliation working group through SONSA network
Financial management training, strategic plan 2025–30, UNDP proposal submitted
Somali Mothers Are Carrying Somalia's Future — Alone
Decades of civil war, displacement, and conflict have left an estimated 80–90% of Somali children entirely dependent on their mothers for survival, food, and education. Many men were lost to war or remain displaced; unemployment is pervasive. The weight of rebuilding Somalia falls on women — and GAWDO exists to ensure they do not carry it alone.
GAWDO is actively gathering field data, photographs, and evidence to document this reality — backing these statistics with verifiable ground-level proof for donors and policy makers.
What These Mothers Do to Survive
Selling vegetables and small food items in local markets — long hours, slim margins, but feeding families.
Selling milk and dairy — a cornerstone of pastoral Somali livelihoods, carried to market daily by women.
Small informal tables and stalls in Dhusamareb and surrounding towns — women's enterprise on the margins of survival.
Funding Structure
How GAWDO Has Been Funded
Community Trust, Diaspora Solidarity & Transparent Impact
Somali Diaspora
Community contributions from Somalis abroad — particularly the Minnesota diaspora — have been GAWDO's primary funding engine since 1995. FGM eradication workshops, WASH surveys, and literacy programmes were all diaspora-funded.
Charity & Gifts
Direct charitable donations from philanthropic individuals who believe in Somali women's potential. No institutional overhead — just community solidarity turned into real impact on the ground.
Visual Accountability
Every donation is accounted for through photographs and videos sent back to donors — showing real women, real activities, and real outcomes. This grassroots accountability model builds lasting trust.
GAWDO does not rely on fixed institutional grants. Historically the organisation has been sustained by two sources: contributions from the Somali diaspora, and charitable gifts from philanthropic individuals. Because funding is entirely voluntary, there is no rigid audit bureaucracy — instead, GAWDO maintains transparency through the most direct method possible: donors receive clear photographs and videos showing exactly how and where every contribution was used.
💰 Fund Allocation
All funds are explicitly directed to support small-scale women's entrepreneurship — equipping mothers with the resources they need to feed, educate, and raise their children.
📋 Next Phase
GAWDO is now in its donor-readiness phase: developing audited financials, a formal registration certificate, and a full M&E framework to meet UN and EU institutional donor requirements.
Our Programs
Thematic Areas of Work
GAWDO's programming addresses the intersecting challenges facing women and children in a fragile, pastoralist context — from survival needs to rights, peace, and empowerment.
Maternal & Child Health
Safe delivery, family planning, primary health care, and nutrition for mothers and children across Galguduud.
WASH & Environment
Clean water access, sanitation awareness, and hygiene promotion across villages and IDP settlements.
Education & Literacy
Literacy programmes for women including pastoralist, nomadic, and IDP camp communities; IT skills development.
Peacebuilding & Dialogue
Conflict resolution training, reconciliation working groups, election advocacy, and participation in national peace processes.
Women's Rights & Protection
Rights advocacy, FGM eradication, HIV/AIDS prevention, protection from gender-based violence, and serving as voice for the voiceless.
Micro-Business & Livelihoods
Supporting mothers who sustain families through street market micro-businesses — vegetables, milk stalls, and small retail.
Capacity Building
Strengthening women's groups, community institutions, and staff through local and international training.
Infrastructure
Rehabilitation of schools, health facilities, and community infrastructure in underserved districts.
GAWDO women programme participants
International Day of Midwives — GMTI graduates
Somali diaspora engagement event
Photo Gallery
GAWDO In Action
Real photographs from the field — women's programmes, advocacy events, capacity-building workshops, and community mobilisation across Galguduud Region.
GAWDO programme participants, Dhusamareb
Community
Women mobilised across Galguduud communities
Community
International Day of Midwives — GMTI graduates
Health
Midwifery graduation ceremony, Galmudug State
Health
Women attending GAWDO community programme
Community
Capacity-building workshop, Dhusamareb
Capacity
Policy dialogue — Mogadishu civil society forum
Advocacy
Leadership meeting — Galmudug women's network
Advocacy
Somali Diaspora Support Office launch event
Diaspora
GAWDO programme planning session
Capacity
Women's rights advocacy and awareness session
Advocacy
Community reconciliation dialogue
Peace
Economic empowerment programme, Galguduud
Livelihoods
Field activity, central Somalia
Community
Somali women gathering for GAWDO programme
Community
Training session — women's development programme
CapacityAll photographs are authentic GAWDO field and programme images — real women, real work, real impact.
Partners & Networks
Who We Work With
GAWDO's reach is strengthened through deep institutional partnerships — from Somalia's national civil society platform to clinical midwifery training in Galmudug.
GAWDO is an active, long-standing member of the Somali Non-State Actors (SONSA) platform — formerly the South-Central Non-State Actors platform (SOSCENSA). Established in 2008 with European Union support, SONSA brings together more than 90 Somali civil society organisations as the recognised focal point for policy dialogue between non-state actors, the Federal Government, regional states, and the international community. Through this membership, GAWDO contributes to peacebuilding, reconciliation, and women's political participation — including its role in the SOSCENSA thematic working group on conflict and reconciliation in Dhuusamarreeb.
Status
Active Permanent Member
Role
Focal Point — Galguduud Region
Members
90+ Somali CSOs
Founded
2008 (EU-supported)
GAWDO works in collaboration with GMTI — a Dhuusamarreeb-based institution that trains skilled midwives to reduce maternal and newborn mortality across Galmudug State. The two organisations cooperate on maternal and reproductive health activities, linking GAWDO's community-level women's programmes with professional clinical training.
Vision
A leading midwifery training centre in Galmudug, recognised for excellence in education, clinical practice, and community health.
Mission
To reduce maternal mortality in Somalia by producing skilled midwives with evidence-based knowledge, clinical skills, and culturally sensitive care.
2026 Departmental Performance
Clinical Leadership & Management
Admin & HR
Doctors & Teachers
Security & Guard Services
Support Services
Evidence of Impact
30 Years of Delivery — Track Record
Despite operating in a fragile, under-resourced context with minimal external funding, GAWDO has consistently delivered on the ground.
| Period | Project | Sector | Location | Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Maternal Health & FGM Awareness | Health | Guriceel District | Somali Diaspora |
| 1998–99 | Conflict Resolution Training | Peace | Dhusamareb | Community Elders |
| 2003–05 | Literacy for IDP Camp Women | Education | Guriceel District | Business Women Network |
| 2007–08 | FGM Eradication Workshops | Rights | Guriceel & Dhusamareb | Diaspora (Minnesota) |
| Mar 2009 | Water & Sanitation Awareness Campaign | WASH | 12 villages, Galguduud | GAWDO |
| Mar 2009 | WASH Survey — 6 Areas | WASH | Guriceel District | Diaspora & GAWDO |
| 2015–16 | Reconciliation Working Group (SONSA) | Peace | Dhusamareb | SOSCENSA → SONSA |
| 2023 | Financial Management Training | Capacity | Dhusamareb | Urur Kaab / FCG Sweden |
| 2023–24 | Joint Justice Programme Proposal (UNDP) | Peace | Galmudug State | UNDP Somalia |
All projects implemented with minimal or no institutional donor funding — demonstrating GAWDO's ability to deliver under resource-constrained conditions.
Organisational Integrity
Governance & Compliance
GAWDO maintains a full suite of governance policies aligned to UN and EU donor requirements.
Organisational Structure
Supreme body; elects Board of Directors; provides strategic oversight
Policy-making; approves annual master plan; meets quarterly
Day-to-day management, programme delivery, external relations
Budgeting, reporting, procurement compliance
Field implementation across health, WASH, education, and peace
Policies & Compliance Status
Resource Library
Documents & Downloads
Everything a donor needs — concept notes, strategic plan, annual report, compliance checklist, and active proposals.
Funding Portfolio
✓ ReadyComplete visual overview for donor meetings — photos, track record, donor map, and contact details.
View Document →Case for Support
✓ ReadyCompelling 8-section funding narrative — problem, solution, impact, funding need, and governance.
View Document →Strategic Plan 2025–2030
✓ ReadyFull 5-year plan with Theory of Change, 5 strategic pillars, budget framework, and M&E architecture.
View Document →WASH Concept Note
✓ ReadyReady-to-submit proposal — USD 185,000 / 18 months / Guriceel District — full logframe included.
View Document →Maternal Health Concept Note
✓ ReadyReady-to-submit proposal — USD 240,000 / 24 months — with FGM component and full Gantt chart.
View Document →Donor Readiness Checklist
✓ ReadyInternal compliance tracker — what's in place, what's pending, and a 90-day action plan.
View Document →UNDP Joint Justice Programme
✓ ReadyActive $40,000 proposal to UNDP Somalia — peacebuilding, rule of law, and women's political participation.
View Document →Annual Report 2023–2024
✓ ReadyProgrammes delivered, partnerships, funding pipeline, and a message from the Executive Director.
View Document →M&E Framework 2025–2030
✓ ReadyFull monitoring & evaluation framework — logframe, indicators, data tools, and reporting schedule.
View Document →Formal Registration Certificate
⏳ PendingOfficial registration — certificate number retrieval in progress.
Coming SoonAudited Financial Statements
🔧 In DevelopmentExternal auditor engaged — audit in progress. Required for UN, EU, and major institutional donors.
Coming SoonInvestment Areas
Where Your Funding Goes
Every dollar invested in GAWDO reaches Somali women directly — through programmes they designed, delivered by people they trust.
Health & WASH Programming
Scale maternal health, safe delivery, and clean water programmes across Galguduud's five districts.
Education & Literacy
Expand women's literacy — especially for pastoralist and IDP women — and establish education centres.
Peace & Rights
Sustain peacebuilding, FGM eradication campaigns, and women's political participation.
Economic Empowerment
Launch income-generation and entrepreneurship programmes for women.
Institutional Strengthening
Core funding for governance, M&E, financial management, staff capacity, and compliance.
Multi-Year Partnerships
Sustained, multi-year programmatic partnerships allowing measurable, lasting community impact.
Funding Pipeline
Priority Donor Targets
GAWDO's donor readiness map — identifying the most aligned funding opportunities by priority level.
SONSA / SOSCENSA Network
🔴 ImmediateGAWDO is a founding member and Galguduud focal point. Gateway to sub-grants and coalition funding.
Urur Kaab (EU / FCG Sweden)
🔴 ImmediateActive partner — Financial Management Training (May 2023). Office in Dhusamareb, direct fit for sub-grants.
UNDP Somalia
🔴 ImmediateActive proposal submitted — Joint Justice Programme ($40,000), Galmudug State.
Global Fund for Women
🔴 HighDesigned for women-led organisations; flexible core funding
UN Women
🔴 HighDirectly aligned with GAWDO's women-led mission and WPS work
UNFPA Somalia
🔴 HighReproductive health, FGM abolition — strong programme match
UNICEF Somalia
🔴 HighChild health, education, WASH — direct programme fit
Somalia Humanitarian Fund
🔵 MediumWASH, health, GBV humanitarian response
Mama Cash
🔵 MediumGrassroots feminist movement funding — perfect fit
AWDF
🔵 MediumPan-African women's rights fund
Somali Diaspora Networks
🔵 MediumHistorical primary funder — diaspora contributions and charitable gifts have sustained GAWDO since 1995.
Get In Touch
Partner With GAWDO
GAWDO is ready to engage with institutional donors, foundations, diaspora networks, and multi-lateral agencies. Contact us to discuss partnership opportunities.
Location
Dhusamareb, Galguduud Region, Galmudug State, Central Somalia
Recommended Next Steps
Contact Urur Kaab in Dhusamareb (info@ururkaab.org)
Apply to Global Fund for Women (globalfundforwomen.org)
Register on UN Partner Portal (unpartnerportal.org)
Register on EU PADOR for EU grant eligibility