Overview and Mission

HUNDEE is a local non-governmental organization established in 1995. Its core philosophy is that poor rural communities must be responsible for their own development, with HUNDEE acting solely as a facilitator and capacity builder . The organization’s name, “HUNDEE,” translates to “grassroots” or “foundation” in Oromo, reflecting its commitment to working from the ground up .

Mission and Vision

• Mission: To accompany resource-poor, highly vulnerable, and marginalized groups—including smallholder farmers, pastoralists, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and those living with HIV/AIDS—in their own development to improve their livelihoods and achieve social and economic transformation in the Oromia region .
• Vision: To see a just world where women, men, boys, and girls live in dignity and prosperity .

Core Philosophy and Values

HUNDEE operates on a unique philosophy that seeks to address power imbalances between development organizations and the communities they serve .

• Community Leadership: The organization believes that the ultimate purpose of development is to ensure that marginalized people gain greater access to and control over decisions and resources affecting their lives .
• “Liberation is Bound Up with Mine”: HUNDEE strongly adheres to the principle quoted from an Australian Aboriginal Elder: “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together” .
• Core Values: Human dignity, gender sensitivity, transparency, respect for community culture, commitment, teamwork, and continuous learning .

Key Programs and Thematic Areas

HUNDEE’s work focuses on poverty alleviation, which it defines not just as material deprivation but as a lack of opportunity and power . Its programs revolve around several core thematic areas:

• Community Organizing and Capacity Building: Revitalizing proven community-based traditional support systems and institutions .
• Agricultural Marketing and Food Security: Promoting cereal banks and addressing transitory food shortages .
• Child, Youth, and Women Development: Empowering women to attain economic and social rights and eradicating violence and discrimination . HUNDEE has specific policies for child protection based on UN conventions .
• Livelihoods, Resilience Building, and Humanitarian Response: Supporting vulnerable groups through environmental rehabilitation and emergency responses .
• Health, WaSH, and Nutrition: Integrating health and nutrition into community development.

Cross-Cutting Issues

Gender equality is a central focus. HUNDEE consciously integrates gender dimensions into its programming, targeting, and staffing to address disparities at the grassroots level . Other cross-cutting issues include:

• HIV/AIDS: Ensuring zero discrimination and supporting those infected and affected .
• Environment and Climate Change: Promoting tree seedling production, improved biomass-saving stoves, and traditional knowledge of natural resource management .

Major Partnerships

HUNDEE collaborates with government, civil institutions, and international NGOs. Notably, it is one of six implementing partners for the Agricultural Dignified Employment for Youth (ADEY) Program, funded by the Mastercard Foundation. This program aims to create 611,000 dignified jobs for youth (80% women) across eight Ethiopian regional states .

Contact Information

• Contact Name: Oromo Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative
• Email: nfo@hundeeoromoo.org
• Website: https://hundeeoromoo.org

Vision:

To see a just world women, men, boys and girls live in dignity and prosperity.