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AFRICA RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (ARDA)
— · EIN · the-ardi.org
profile · synthesized from sources

The Alternative Rural Development initiative (ARDI) is a non-profit development agency based in Nairobi, Kenya, with offices in Northern Kenya and Mogadishu, Somalia. It focuses on humanitarian action, community mobilization, and advocacy in areas like emergency response, conflict prevention, education, and governance. ARDI works to build community capacity, resolve conflict, and address barriers to growth and stability in the region.

named programs · 7 · from sources

what they call their work

Agriculture, Livelihood and Food Security Program
Improves food and nutrition security for pastoralist communities through climate-smart agriculture, provision of inputs, technical extension, and emergency food/cash assistance during humanitarian crises.
Education Sector Program
Improves access to education for children from pastoralist communities through technology, skills empowerment, and infrastructure development, including vocational training and provision of solar-powered tablets.
Environmental Protection & Climate Change
Promotes environmental education, afforestation, proper waste disposal, natural resource management, and integrates gender justice into climate justice to address environmental degradation in Northern Kenya.
Governance and Advocacy
Empowers communities in Northern Kenya with knowledge and skills for effective public participation in county affairs, promoting accountability, transparency, and human rights through citizen engagement and advocacy with government bodies.
Protection and Human Rights
Addresses the vulnerability of children and young people in Somalia to violence, abuse, exploitation, and criminal activities, aiming to provide a protective environment and safeguard their rights.
Resilience and Peace Building
Supports people affected by violent conflicts to achieve lasting peace through peace and civic education, conflict resolution training, reconciliation initiatives, and empowering women in peacebuilding.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Addresses inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services and poor hygiene practices, particularly in the North Eastern region of Kenya and Somalia, to improve health and reduce poverty.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Community-Led Peacebuilding & Conflict Mediation 2 activities
    • Conflict resolution and community stability capacity building
      Builds the capacity of community leaders and residents in conflict resolution and addressing barriers to regional growth and stability, particularly in Kenya since establishing a local office in 2018. Activities include training, institutionalizing local peacebuilding approaches, and empowering citizens to engage in community decision-making.
    • Peacebuilding and civic education in conflict-affected communities
      Implements peace and civic education, conflict resolution training, and reconciliation initiatives in communities affected by violent conflict, particularly those with complex clan-based dynamics. Provides targeted support to women to enhance their participation in peacebuilding processes.
  • Grassroots Advocacy & Civic Engagement 1 activity
    • Community mobilization and local advocacy
      Mobilizes marginalized groups—including women, youth, and persons with disabilities—to develop policy proposals and engages community leaders to present these to local government representatives, including ward officials, members of parliament, and county governors.
  • Community and School Library Support 1 activity
    • Education access and digital learning support
      Supports education access by providing over 5,000 solar-powered tablets to schools in Garissa and Mandera Counties, training teachers and students in their use, and engaging communities to hold catch-up classes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Community-Led Tree Planting & Environmental Stewardship 1 activity
    • Environmental education and natural resource management
      Conducts mass environmental education campaigns to promote afforestation, discourage deforestation, encourage proper waste disposal, and support sustainable natural resource management in target regions.
  • Human Rights Advocacy & Monitoring 1 activity
    • Human rights advocacy and engagement with authorities
      Engages government bodies and local police administrators to promote and uphold human rights in target regions.
  • Emergency Response and Relief Operations 1 activity
    • Humanitarian and emergency response
      Provides life-saving humanitarian action including emergency cash assistance during drought emergencies and Qurbani (livestock distribution for slaughter) during Eid in counties such as Mandera, Garissa, and Wajir.
  • Pastoralist Community Resilience Programs 1 activity
    • Resilience and drought mitigation projects
      Designs and implements projects to build community resilience, mitigate drought impacts, and prevent violent extremism and radicalization, particularly in Northern Kenya. Includes direct support such as climate-smart agriculture inputs and cash grants for pastoralist households.
  • Vocational and Life Skills Training 1 activity
    • Youth economic empowerment and vocational training
      Supports youth economic inclusion through the establishment of a vocational training center in Wajir County and provision of income-generating start-up grants to graduates.
relationships · 5

who they work with

  • BreaxTechnologies Limited Partner — Developed The Alternative Rural Development initiative website.
  • County government departments of agriculture, livestock and fisheries Partner — Works closely with these departments to facilitate communities in adopting climate-smart agriculture practices.
  • HP Partner — Partnered in the provision of over 5,000 solar powered tablets to schools.
  • NGO Board of Kenya Government — Registered as a national Non Governmental Organization with the NGO Board of Kenya.
  • NGO Board of Kenya Government — Registered national Non Governmental Organization with the NGO Board of Kenya.