Najma Hussen Abdi
Volunteer
The Somali Women Initiative is a non-governmental, non-profit, purely humanitarian, social, voluntary and developmental Organization based in Mogadishu. It was set formed in 2022 by groups of Somali intellectual women. SWIFAO intends to assist vulnerable/marginalized groups in the country through organizing, fundraising, self-help scheme within the concerned communities and indirectly through coordination of relief and development efforts to the international NGOs, Governments and UN Agencies operating in Somalia and ensure these in SWIFAO will. SWIFAO is officially registered NGO with the government authorities and it has created collaborating networks. The organizations main goals are to provide and facilitate emergency relief responses to the target vulnerable groups, with the collaboration of International NGOs and Communities, Authorities and Donors by building partnership.
SWIFAO Vision is to become the leading women initiated nongovernmental organization, at the forefront of saving lives, providing livelihoods and works toward eliminating extreme poverty, violence against women & youth by achieving ever-lasting peace in Somalia and beyond.
SWIFAO will save lives and provide livelihoods through well managed resilience, relief, recovery and development programs in Somalia in partnering with key governmental, non-governmental and international communities/agencies of good will.
SWIFAO works with various sectors that rages form relief to development based on its traditional programming in all its projects and activities are integrated for the purpose of effectiveness and for better outcome.
SWIFAO believes that every person has a right to dignity and respect. SWIFAO supports the following principles:
The top management of SWIFAO consists of three entities – the Board of Directors, the General Assembly, and the Executive Director. The Board of Directors which is legally and officially registered with the authorities. The Board meetings are kept closed, but written proceedings, reports and minutes are made available internally and public sometimes for transparency purposes. Moreover, the Executive Director with the approval of the Board is responsible for a number of tasks, including hiring, overall supervisions and approval of the budgets. Board members will also be expected to champion the NGO’s cause, and represent the NGO to the larger community, at the same time BoD members help raise fund for the organization where possible.
While day-to-day decisions activities and management are taken care of by the board, the executive director and the staff members, the highest body that guides and advises the overall development and progress of the NGO is the General Assembly. A general assembly may or may not be required by law (and not all NGOs have a general assembly), but such a body helps in creating a good transparent image for the NGO, in building trust with its partners and stakeholders, and in public relations and fund-raising activities.
Staff members of an NGO are responsible for the day-to-day functioning, and implementing of its programs and projects activities. They report to the Executive Director, who overall is responsible for the SWIFAO’s activities. Staff members of SRRDO fall into three groups responsible for activities related to (1) administration, (2) public relations and (3) programs/projects.
Program and project activities of SWIFAO are led by a manager. This is, of course, the biggest part of our agency activities, and forms its structural core. A Program Manager may be assisted by several Project Assistants, Training Assistants, and other Assistants, depending on the number and size of the projects being implemented. Short-term external consultants, who provide specific services for projects, or field staff who are hired to implement projects in the target community, also fall under this section. Details of all staff members, their roles and responsibilities, and overall SWIFAO structure are concretized
SWIFAO has an established Board of Directors for effective oversight and policy direction of the organization as well as overall responsibilities for ensuring accountability, credibility, sustainability and representation. The Board of Directors (BoD) is currently composed of five members 2 men and 3 women with varied professional backgrounds and representing diverse interests such as gender, geographical and special interest group representation. The board also has a number of expert committees such as finance and programs that undertake various specialized roles. In order to effectively direct the affairs of the organization, the board meets at least two times annually. The following is a list of the members of the Board of Directors and their information
SWIFAO believes that every person has a right to dignity and respect. SWIFAO supports the following principles
