The Role of ISF in Development Cooperation in Somaliland

Since establishing our office in Somaliland in 2001, International Solidarity Foundation (ISF) has been a key actor in the region’s development cooperation. We have made a significant impact on local communities by focusing on promoting economic development and strengthening gender equality. At the core of our work is the support for local civil society organizations and the direct channeling of funding to them.

Localization of Aid – ISF’s Approach

ISF directs funding to local civil society organizations that are best placed to understand the needs of their communities. By strengthening these actors, we ensure that aid is appropriately targeted and creates lasting change.

Empowering civil society is central to ISF. Many local organizations face challenges related to funding, governance, and strategic planning. We support these organizations by providing financial and technical assistance as well as organizing training sessions to improve leadership and operational skills. In addition, we help strengthen internal practices, increase transparency, and enhance the impact of their activities.

“ISF’s continuous funding and support for organizational development have enabled us to attract additional funding from other donors. It has also increased other donors’ trust in our work.”
– Khalid Sahid, Executive Director of ISF’s partner organization ADO

Together with other international organizations, ISF has helped develop a standardized partner assessment tool (SPAT), replacing previously fragmented evaluation criteria. ISF was the first organization to adopt the SPAT tool.

Evidence-Based Commitment

ISF is committed to aid localization by allocating a significant portion of its budget to local partners. Between 2020 and 2024, over 87 percent of the budget was directed to local organizations. In peak years 2020, 2022, and 2023, the share was 92 percent, and in 2024, it was 90 percent. Despite the major global challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ISF managed to allocate 87 percent of its budget to local actors in 2021.

Capacity Building

ISF has supported small and under-resourced civil society organizations to grow into stable and capable actors able to secure ongoing funding. We encourage our partners to participate in open decision-making processes and to take a leading role in development cooperation. Several organizations are actively involved in the localization working group, which promotes local ownership in Somaliland’s development.

“ISF not only provided funding but gave us the tools, knowledge, and support to become leaders in our community and create real change.”
– Mohamed Dama, Executive Director of Y-PEER

ISF’s impact is tangible: local organizations now lead large-scale projects, apply for funding, and guide development independently. ISF’s role is to support communities in taking responsibility for their own future.

Looking Ahead

ISF will continue to support local civil society organizations by providing financial and technical assistance. We aim to ensure that a significant portion of our resources is directed to actors who best understand the needs of their own communities.

In the future, our goal is to further strengthen the fundraising and governance capacity of community-based organizations. This support will enhance the influence of local actors and promote sustainable development.

In the article image, people who participated in partner organization ADO’s project.