The Somali Initiative for Humanitarian and Development Organisation (SIHDO) was born out of urgency, hope, and a deep commitment to community. On November 6th, 2013, in the heart of Baidoa, a city grappling with humanitarian collapse, SIHDO was established to stand in the gap. At a time when healthcare systems had all but crumbled, and disease outbreaks loomed, our founders chose action over silence. SIHDO began with a simple conviction:

“If we can’t solve the problem alone, we will connect it to those who can.”

That mindset fueled our early efforts, mobilizing communities, bridging local needs with available support, and responding with empathy and determination. By 2017, we had moved from vision to action, addressing health challenges while planting seeds of change across Baidoa and Southwest State Somalia. Today, we’ve grown far beyond health alone. Our programs now span education, livelihoods, and protection, because we understand that poverty, inequality, and injustice are deeply interconnected. From a grassroots movement to a trusted force for change, SIHDO continues to rise—not just as a responder to crises, but as a builder of futures, a defender of rights, and a catalyst for lasting transformation.