To achieve our mission and vision, IRAD focuses its efforts on several key areas
We believe that sustaining public faith is vital to the reconciliation and state-building process, particularly in conflict-affected areas like Somalia where 'faith fatigue' often sets in. Our unique approach—built on a deep understanding of the local context and networks—focuses on delivering 'peace dividends' or tangible benefits that directly connect to the peace and state-building efforts. We refer to this approach as the “tangibles track,” which ensures that national policies and negotiations translate into visible, positive change for communities. By linking reconciliation efforts with concrete improvements in daily life, IRAD helps maintain public trust in the process and prevents disillusionment, paving the way for lasting peace and progress
IRAD’s goal is to strengthen institutional presence at state and federal levels, with decisions on interventions driven by local community stakeholders. By supporting local council formation and aligning with existing projects, IRAD contributes to Somalia’s stabilization and democratization efforts. This approach fosters legitimate and effective governance by delivering peace dividends that boost government credibility and effective governance structures. Ultimately, IRAD’s work aligns with Somalia’s national goals outlined in the Wadajir Framework, National Development Plan, and other stabilization and reconciliation plans at both federal and state levels.
The efficiency and effectiveness of public service delivery depend on various factors, including government policies, funding availability, infrastructure, and the competence of the service providers. We stand for providing continuous policy recommendations to improve government policies on public services, facilitating citizen engagement platforms to encourage citizens to think for societal well-being, and standing for accountability checkpoint for those implementing public service deliveries both for Governments and non-government entities. IRAD speaks up for and on behalf of local communities to address gaps in the efficiency of service deliveries at the local levels.
IRAD believes that to be truly `conflict-sensitive,` an organization must acknowledge its knowledge gaps and pursue thorough, informed analysis. IRAD prioritizes comprehensive analysis for project design, including committee composition, community engagement, and inclusivity, with particular focus on women's rights and gender equality in areas like service delivery, job access, and security. IRAD’s Political, Economic, and Security Assessment (PESA) reports offer detailed insights into the social and political context in Somalia, helping prevent conflicts in its projects. Through close collaboration with various institutions for political and security updates, IRAD ensures inclusive consultations, aligning reconciliation, governance, and democratization efforts with high-level policy goals and local community needs.
Over 1.2 billion people globally face critical risks from climate hazards such as flooding, heatwaves, hurricanes, and drought. In fragile and conflict-affected states, climate change is an urgent issue that intersects with poverty, governance, and survival, posing significant challenges to long-term development objectives such as poverty reduction and economic growth. In Somalia, where communities already struggle with conflict, political instability, weak infrastructure, widespread poverty, and limited governance, climate change exacerbates these vulnerabilities. Recurring droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures have displaced populations, threatened food security, and eroded the livelihoods of those reliant on agriculture and pastoralism. As these impacts intensify, they deepen instability and increase the risk of resource-based conflicts, further hindering sustainable development. To address these challenges, we adopt innovative, sustainable, and conflict-sensitive strategies that promote locally led solutions and gender equality. Our initiatives focus on strengthening institutional and community capacity through targeted climate adaptation interventions and supporting tailored policies to mitigate risks, enhance stability, foster inclusive growth, and improve the quality of life for affected communities and ecosystems. By integrating participatory research and inclusive dialogue, we address climate change as a threat multiplier while ensuring that local knowledge and needs inform interventions, increasing their effectiveness and fostering resilience and social cohesion. This whole-of-society approach enables us to tackle climate challenges while promoting stability, inclusivity, and sustainability.