WEDO employs a participatory approach in all its work, valuing the traditional knowledge of rural communities and believing in their capacity for self-organization. The organization focuses on decentralization and educational empowerment. WEDO believes that the full involvement of the community in all stages of the development cycle is essential for reducing dependency. WEDO’s work is characterized by its efforts to enlist local involvement when initiating activities at the grassroots level, and to mobilize women to bring peace, tolerance, and development to society.

WEDO places people before things, respecting the traditional knowledge of the rural poor and having confidence in rural people’s capability for self-reliant organization. Internally, WEDO adopts a participatory approach in managing its affairs. Externally, WEDO acts as a “change agent,” helping to develop community management structures capable of managing their own development. This increases the community’s ability to demand accountability from their leaders and officials. It also reinforces the community’s belief in the value of their own development choices and efforts. These community management structures are not parallel structures, but are built upon traditional institutions, promoting equitable representation and participation.

Human resource development is an essential part of WEDO’s development work. This means ensuring that the community is trained and skilled, as well as organized, to maximize the community’s potential to manage their own development.

WEDO strongly believes in maximizing its impact by transferring field experiences into knowledge to influence the development policies and practices of NGOs, donors, and government agencies. This is important for working towards the long-term goal of eradicating poverty.

WEDO’s approach to social mobilization involves community involvement and the formation of volunteer groups in remote rural areas of Somalia. WEDO believes that sustainable rural development is a dynamic process that poses various needs at different phases. These needs can be dealt with through continuous interventions based on designed frameworks that incorporate the requirements projected by the communities, and with the help of the communities by strategizing for public-private partnerships.

WEDO follows a needs-based and rights-based approach to ascertain problems, ensuring full community involvement and mobilizing all indigenous and local resources. Program goals are realized with the help of members, donor agencies, and philanthropists. WEDO has strong linkages with major NGOs and funding agencies working in Somalia. WEDO has undertaken initiatives in Jubaland regions, with a special focus on the Lower Juba, Middle Juba, and Gedo regions, through collaboration with local community-based organizations and activists. WEDO has experience working in Somalia’s diverse socio-cultural environment and has an extensive network with district and provincial governments, civil society institutions and the media .

WEDO implements its programs and projects through the following strategies:

•Community/Social Mobilization: Raising awareness in the community on health, hygiene, education, gender, socio-economic development, and environmental protection through meetings, training sessions, and campaigns.

•Advocacy: Achieving better results in social/rural/community development by advocating for relevant issues, approaching government departments, NGOs, community-based organizations, civil society organizations, community members, and notables. The organization promotes a rights-based approach and dialogue.

•Service Delivery: Providing transparent and efficient services in health, education, and the environment to meet community needs and achieve objectives.

•Networking: Collaborating with NGOs, community-based organizations, civil society organizations, media groups, and stakeholders to achieve sustainable development goals. Networking facilitates communication between service providers and beneficiaries and provides opportunities to view issues from various perspectives.