About us

It has been 18 years ever since Ethiopian Muslims Relief and Development Association (EMRDA) was established and registered by Ministry of Justice as Non Governmental Organization (NGO) and actively participating in development activities and contributing to the general well being of its citizen. In the best regard of contributing to different developmental objectives and abiding by the national policy, EMRDA was re-registered as Ethiopian Residence Association with Registration No 0194 in October 2009. 

Starting from its inception, EMRDA has been engaged in promoting Basic Formal and Non formal education, reproductive health, HIV& AIDS, small scheme water development, Vocational and skill trainings, civic education, OVC care and support, child labor reduction, empowering women, CBOs capacity building, relief for emergency by mobilizing resources from international NGOs, philanthropies and other charitable organizations both from in and out of the country.

EMRDA operates amongst the poor community by designing strategic plan and different controlling mechanisms. As guiding tool of the organization, three consecutive strategic plan documents were developed and used by the organization from its very inception. On top of these, different manuals and formats have been prepared to assist the implementation of the projects. As a result, EMRDA remained one of the few successful NGOs that promoted and applied standardized techniques of project formulation and management system. 

EMRDA has provided service to an estimated of 6 million needy, vulnerable & ostracized groups of the community have been benefited directly and indirectly, respectively, from its intervention in various development activities in 7 regional states and 72 Woredas of the country (Amhara, Afar, Oromia, Harare, Dire Dawa, SNNPR and Addis Ababa) and has been successfully recording measurable results that go beyond counting mere life span. To this end, EMRDA has been harvested immense witnesses from local community, government signatories, and donor agencies in all areas of its operation.

Vision:

• To see equally developed, transformed and poverty free society.

Mission

• To improve the livelihood of the poor and marginalized communities through participatory approach by providing access to basic education, Skill Training, SRH-HIV/AIDS services, improving Food Security and environmental protection, Capacitating women & youth in Ethiopia.

Goal
EMRDA’s overall objective is to be a strong integrated development organization in the fight against poverty for a better livelihood particularly in rural and pastoral areas.

Organizational Values and Principles

• We are committed to serve needy communities living in an inaccessible areas;
• We value accountability and transparency in every aspect of our work and interventions;
• We believe in teamwork, commitment, networking, mutual understanding, trust and respect;
• We strive for innovation and creativity in the community development areas on top of adopting the universally accepted standards;
• Equality of opportunities for all citizens and justice in combating prejudice.

Objectives of EMRDA

1. To support expansion of education and vocational training programs such as Alternate Basic Education, Girls Education, Adult Functional Literacy, Reduction of Child Labor, and school construction based on community needs and government policies;
2. To organize and provide technical and vocational skill training for youths, OVC, and PLWHA;
3. To provide Community Based OVC Care and Support, CBOs capacity building, and integrated food security programs;
4. To design and implement projects that focus on environment protection and swelling within the capacity of the local community; 
5. To contribute to the ongoing efforts aimed at poverty reduction strategy of the Ethiopian Millennium Development goals;
6. To contribute to national SRH, HTP and HIV/AIDS prevention & control objectives;
7. To support youth, OVC, PLHA and CBOs to generate their own income be self-reliant through skill training and provision of material and financial support;
8. To sensitize and make aware marginalized communities for integrated development to get rid of abject poverty conditions.
9. To provide relief and rehabilitation support to victims of natural and/or manmade disasters;
10. To mobilize internal and/or external resources to accomplish the activities of projects and to participate actively in implementing the national policies and strategies.

Program Intervention areas

• Basic formal and non formal education (ABE)
• Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) care and support
• Community skills training (VT)
• Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH/HIV/AIDS ) prevention (Youth focused )
• Women’s Empowerment
• Community-based organizations (CBOs) capacity building
• Income Generating Activities(IGA)
• Small scale water development ( WaSH)
• Food Security

Target group(s) the organization

• Guardians, OVC, Children who were denied access to basic need for life and Children belonging to destitute families,
• Women living in poor rural areas of the country, Illiterate, widows and destitute
• People living with HIV/AIDS
• Unemployed youth with potential skills to change their lives,
• Illiterate and destitute adults and
• Community members residing in the marginal areas

Read more about EMRDA Beneficiaries Modality (PDF format)