Innovative Response for Durable Action (IRDAS)

Crave to see people living a decent life in a safe and healthy environment.

Mission

Striving to meet the humanitarian and developmental needs of societies regardless of race, color, religion or cultural background.

Vision

IRDAS aspires to see people living a decent life in a safe and healthy environment

Addressing & Cross-Cutting Issues

Objectives

Strategic Objectives

  1. To contribute to regional and national developments, eradication of poverty, livelihoods improvements & well being of Women and Children by increasing access to resources, health and education services, and improving the natural environment, using a holistic and participatory approach.

  2. To provide education on good governance and voter education to the community under the constitution.

  3. To assist people living on the streets, youths, women and the elderly.

  4. To assist and involve refugees and returnees through sustainable support programs.

Background

Innovative Response for Durable Action (IRDAS)is an Ethiopian National Organization, established in 2021 and the organization is officially registered in accordance with legislation on Agency for Civil Society Organization by the registration number of 6169. The organization is officially registered with mission to Strives to meet the humanitarian and developmental needs of societies regardless of race, color, religion or cultural background.

Our Donors

  • Individuals 820


  • USAIDS 4


  • WV 11


  • UNCHR 2


Message from IRDAS

Some once said "Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere". IRDAS works day and night to reach out those destitute. The right to health, right to security are some of basic rights which every individual in this world should be provided with regardless of their social status. Our aim is to see our society to live in healthy and secure environment. This is a privilege to take our part in eradication of poverty and provide sustainable environment me and my team quest to serve those with dedication, honesty and sincerity. I wish to thank all our donors and supporters, volunteers who have ensured that IRDAS makes difference in the lives of needy in many different ways. Let us work together to save lives.

Partner Organizations

  1. Disability Association

  2. Medical Association

  3. Maidwife Association

  4. ARRA

Recent News

Afar Training

Project Launching

Working Together to Save Lives

Protect | Develop | Sustain

Beneficiaries Reached

  • Men_______
  • Women_______
  • Boys_______
  • Girls_______

Vulnerable Groups

  • Men_______
  • Women_______

Miscellaneous

  • Shelter Units Constructed & Maintained 18HH
  • ES/NFI/WaSH Kit Distributed 1,778
  • Dignity Kits Distributed871
  • Regions Covered 2

Reporting & Safeguarding

Channels, Safeguarding and Giving Feedback

Whether you wish to report a violation of IRDAS's Code of Conduct, a safeguarding incident or irregularity you noticed; or voice a concern, complaint, compliment or suggestion; there is a safe and secure avenue for you to do so. IRDAS has three main reporting mechanisms available to everyone: a safeguarding process, a whistle-blower system as well as a feedback and complaints mechanism.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding children and adults-at-risk is a core commitment of IRDAS. IRDAS and our partner organizations are responsible to uphold the protection of all persons who place their trust in us, particularly those most vulnerable to abuse. Safeguarding children and adults-at-risk is a core commitment of IRDAS.

When to use the whistle-blower system

When serious issues arise, IRDAS staff, partners and people we work with have recourse to the whistle-blower system, which is an anonymous mechanism for reporting unacceptable conduct. The diversion of resources or misuse of power for personal gain compromises IRDAS's core values and our accountability towards our beneficiaries, their communities and our donors around the world. IRDAS does not accept—nor tolerate—corruption nor fraud. IRDAS is determined to operate in an honest and transparent manner and aspires to operate to best practice standards and complies with all relevant laws in all the jurisdictions in which we operate. Anyone (including IRDAS partners and people we work with and serve) can use the whistle-blower system to report an incident they witnessed without fear of retribution.

When to use the whistle-blower system






Health

Strategic objective

To improve the access and quality of health service provision in marginalized and hard to reach communities with a primary focus on women, youth and children Health is one of the major thematic areas in which IRDAS experience and resources will be mobilized.

We will mainly be engaged in:


  • • Malaria prevention
  • • Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal and child health
  • • Strengthening and establishing Youth Friendly Services (YFSs)
  • • Strengthening referral services support emergency transportation
  • • Improve access to health professionals to get different trainings to improve their professional capacities
  • • HIV/AIDS prevention, care & support
  • • System strengthening and supporting the health services provision and facilities
  • • Social mobilization, and ensuring behavioral change, improving the health seeking behavior of the community
  • • Prevention of harmful traditional practices
  • • Care and support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and PLHIV
  • • Increasing access of communities to health services by availing basic inputs including ambulance service, medicines, medical equipment and construction of health facilities
  • • Social and Behavioral Change Communication

Under this thematic component, we will highly focus on those hard to reach communities in which the health coverage is minimum and the health seeking behavior is low. On the other hand we will targets the most at risk population which are prevalent to different communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, water borne diseases and issues related to sanitation and hygiene.

The morbidity, mortality and vulnerability of pregnant & lactating women and infant & youth are prevalent in Ethiopia as a result of problems related to nutrition. IRDAS will work on CMAM, SAM, SBCC on nutrition and prevention of hidden hunger and micro nutrient deficiencies. IRDAS will implement projects under this thematic component. We will create significant impacts on our nutrition projects both under development and emergency nutrition projects.

To do this IRDAS will integrates and works on demand generation and supply side in each of its programs. We will engage volunteers in all our efforts in reaching out those marginalized and under privileged communities in providing the minimum health service and assistance. This helped pregnant mothers and children to easily reach to health facilities and implement referral linkages to health centers and hospitals. In line with this, IRDAS will implement social mobilization, awareness creation, communication and behavioral change interventions on reproductive, maternal and child health, family planning, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition, prevention of harmful traditional practices, GBV, and strengthening community-based structures, establishment of health insurance groups and health financing schemes.

Water

Strategic objective

IRDAS will work to increase access to water, to improve sanitation and hygiene services and raise awareness on waste management. Sanitation and hygiene and rural water supply will also be addressed for those communities living in remote areas of the country.

The major sub components of the program will be:

  • • Access to WaSH facilities (Toilet, shower, solid waste collection/burning pits, water and related)
  • • Promotion of sanitation and hygiene (Community Led Total Sanitation and Hygiene, CLTSH)
  • • Waste Management; awareness creation, collection, processing, marketing and safe disposal
  • • Income generation in WaSH
  • • Strengthen community-based structures and school clubs
  • • School WaSH (Student Led Sanitation and Hygiene)
  • • Emergency WaSH interventions and response
  • • Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS)
  • • Construction of communal latrine, shower, Tap water and basin

Education

Strategic objective

To increase the access and quality of education we believe one of the most valuable investment in the world is the one invested on human being. This aimed at improving the access and quality of education for the most hard to reach and disadvantaged groups, through construction of kindergarten, upgrade/extension of elementary schools, youth centers, and sponsorship of educational materials and one to one sponsorship for school enrollment of children.

There are different components under this thematic area;

  • • Quality Education Promotion and support
  • • Construction of schools, ECCD centers and ABE centers
  • • Girls education success
  • • Early Child care and Development (ECCD)
  • • Child sponsorship
  • • Capacity Building
  • • ICT and life skills
  • • School based WaSH
  • • Violence prevention in and around schools
  • • School based income generation
  • • School greening
  • • Promotion and strengthening of school clubs
  • • Teachers' capacity building
  • • WaSH in Schools

We will implement projects under this thematic area in different regions. IRDAS will built schools, libraries, kindergartens, primary schools and youth and ICT centers. On the other hand different supplementary reading materials, reference materials, laboratory equipment, playground/materials, teaching aid, mini media equipment and other related inputs were provided to schools in different times. On the other hand capacity building of school community including teachers, PTAs, school directors, cluster supervisors and student representatives were provided.

Women Economic Empowerment

Strategic objective

To improve the economic empowerment and enhance the rehabilitation and self-reliance capacity of vulnerable communities.

In its refugee and local community context, IRDAS will implement projects on women economic and livelihoods thematic component. The interventions will enable target communities to improve their household income, improve their productivity and enhance their dietary diversity. As a result of this poor and marginalized women and children in particular could realize their vision and use their potential which contribute for the reduction of gender disparities and reduce poverty and vulnerabilities. IRDAS support women's to participate in different livelihood activities like petty trade, small coffee shop, goat and sheep fattening, Poultry and other activities.

Agriculture and environmental protection

Strategic objective

To create conducive living environment, we will work hard in reduction of Climate change through environmental protection interventions and improve agricultural productivities.

Climate change is one of the key environmental and developmental challenges of the 21st century. Large part of Ethiopia already been severely affected by extreme climatic events such as drought, floods and diseases. Current climate issues continue to pose significant challenge in Ethiopia by affecting food security, health, water and energy supply, poverty reduction and sustainable development efforts, as well as by causing natural resource degradation and natural disasters. This extreme events affect livelihoods, especially those of poor and marginalized Affordable, scalable solutions are now available to enable countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies. The pace of change is quickening as more people are turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts. But climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders.

Emissions anywhere affect people everywhere. It is an issue that requires solutions that need to be coordinated at the international level and it requires international cooperation to help developing countries move toward a low-carbon economy. IRDAS will implement projects on renewable energy alternatives such as solar energy and bio gas energy and value chain, environmental conservation such integrated water and soil management, water harvesting and reforestation interventions.

Peace and Reconciliation

Strategic objective

To prevent a conflict in advance or rather to educate individuals and a society for a peaceful existence on the basis of nonviolence, tolerance, equality, respect for differences, and social justice.

In peacebuilding, reconciliation incorporates the search for truth, justice, forgiveness and accommodation between conflicting groups or people. Reconciliation processes in post-conflict societies are often highly complex. This activity helps students gain a greater understanding of the nature of reconciliation and a more profound appreciation for reconciliation processes throughout history.

Peacebuilding is the development of constructive personal, group, and political relationships across ethnic, religious, class, national, and racial boundaries. It aims to resolve injustice in nonviolent ways and to transform the structural conditions that generate deadly conflict. Peacebuilding can include conflict prevention; conflict management; conflict resolution and transformation, and post-conflict reconciliation.

Peacebuilding becomes strategic when it works over the long run and at all levels of society to establish and sustain relationships among people locally and globally. IRDAS supports and implements to peace and reconciliation activities using local conflict resolution mechanisms.

One to One Sponsorship

Strategic objective

To allow individual donors to sponsor an orphan and their family, ensuring all the child's needs are met.

Our one to one sponsorship program is a relationally-based outreach to children and adolescents whom we have identified as needing extra help in their development. These kids and youth often come from low-income, single-parent homes, are struggling in school, and/or are likely to end up struggling to find employment as adults, thus repeating the same patterns with their own future children.

Relief Response Program

IRDAS had implemented several humanitarian response projects in different parts of the country. As a result of this the organization had addressed the most pressing needs and gaps of the conflict and flood affected communities. Accordingly, IRDAS had identified the following intervention thematic areas under its HRP.

Shelter & NFI

Having access to adequate shelter and basic household items has far-reaching effects on a person's living standard, as well as physical and mental wellbeing. In some situations of displacements, providing shelter assistance is life-saving. Other multi-sectoral effects of shelter include improvement to a person's mental wellbeing, protection from adverse climatic condition, prevention from protection and security risks, and preservation of physical health.

IRDAS works to ensure that everyone has the right to adequate housing. Thus, IRDAS construct communal and duplex shelter for crisis affected internally displeased peoples in different parts of the country. It's also distribute emergency shelter kits and non-food items for IDPs.

IRDAS contributes to the protection of displaced and other vulnerable groups from life-threatening elements through the distribution of Emergency Assistance Packages, improve living conditions and facilitate access to durable solutions for displaced people.

Identified the following intervention thematic areas under its HRP.

WASH

To support the health and wellbeing of affected populations in the country, IRDAS's WASH teams address the immediate needs of newly displaced populations and vulnerable host communities through the provision of comprehensive emergency support.

IRDAS responds to immediate and lifesaving needs through short-term hygiene promotion campaigns, hygiene kit distributions, rapid rehabilitation/ establishment of water and sanitation infrastructure, and rapid vector control activities. Hygiene kit distributions provide access to personal and menstrual hygiene management items and are carried out along with hygiene promotion activities, as part of efforts to support the improvement of individual, family and community hygiene practices. These distributions are also activated in response to epidemiological alerts on water-related diseases and as part of COVID-19 prevention measures.

Protection

Key protection concerns faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and other affected populations in Ethiopia include sexual and gender based violence, physical violence, child marriage, family separation (including unaccompanied and separated children), psycho-social distress and trauma, persons with specific needs not receiving or being able to access life-saving services, persons without adequate shelter and living in collective sites, persons missing documentation and having no legal redress for lost property, livelihood or human rights violations.

IRDAS implements different protection projects includes the Child-Protection (CP) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The project also aims to make a significant contribution to the reduction of and response to gender-based violence and child protection problems.

Nutrition

IRDAS works with a Strategic objective to contribute to the attainment of adequate nutritional status of vulnerable women and children.

The morbidity, mortality and vulnerability of pregnant & lactating women and infant & youth are prevalent in Ethiopia as a result of problems related to nutrition. IRDAS will work on CMAM, SAM, and SBCC on nutrition and prevention of hidden hunger and micro nutrient deficiencies.

IRDAS will implement projects under this thematic component. We will create significant impacts on our nutrition projects both under development and emergency nutrition projects.

Agriculture & Livelihood

IRDAS works with a Strategic objective to improve the food security situation and enhance the rehabilitation and self-reliance capacity of vulnerable communities.

In its refugee and local community context, IRDAS will implement projects on Agriculture and livelihoods thematic component. The interventions will enable target communities to improve their household income, improve their productivity and enhance their dietary diversity. As a result of this poor and marginalized women and children in particular could realize their vision and use their potential which contribute for the reduction of gender disparities and reduce poverty and vulnerabilities.

In terms of scope of interventions, IRDAS aims to create and promote the conditions for addressing root causes of livelihood erosion by linking short term/immediate actions with longer term measures and considerations. Thus the Plan proposes a set of balanced responses that aim to protect, rehabilitate and diversify the livelihoods of pastoralists, agro-pastoralists and farmers in the country.

About IRDAS

Innovative Response for Durable Action (IRDAS) is an Ethiopian National Organization, established in Addis Ababa 2021 and the organization is officially registered in accordance with legislation on Agency for Civil Society Organization. IRDAS is a national organization that works to accelerate equity by bringing together institutions, businesses, social enterprises, investors along with relief efforts to solve the national most pressing challenges in a sustainable & patterned approaches.

Mission

Striving to meet the humanitarian and developmental needs of societies regardless of race, color, religion or cultural background.

Vision

IRDAS aspires to see people living a decent life in a safe and healthy environment

Values