For 26 years, Hiwot Integrated Development Organisation (HIDO) has been working towards their vision of a healthy and self-reliant society in Ethiopia. Their mission is to build the capacity, confidence, and efficacy of marginalised, disadvantaged, and vulnerable sections of society (mainly vulnerable women, children, and youth) through participatory and inclusive health, education, livelihood, and human rights, gender, and social inclusion interventions to achieve immediate as well as lasting impact in their lives.
HIDO is deeply committed to addressing a wide range of social causes affecting vulnerable and marginalised communities in Ethiopia. Its work primarily focuses on improving the lives of children, disadvantaged women and girls, unemployed youth, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), and internally displaced persons (IDPs). HIDO’s approach is holistic and integrated, addressing both immediate needs and long-term development goals through six key programme areas.
HIDO’s Initiatives
1. Youth development
HIDO supports children and young people through educational support, nutritional support, healthcare, psychosocial support, legal protection, social and financial education, and life skills entrepreneurial support. These services aim to ensure that children grow up healthy, safe, and empowered to pursue education and livelihoods. Complementing this is HIDO’s education programme, which enhances access to quality learning through social and financial education, early childhood education, tutorial support, provision of school materials, and the establishment of community libraries equipped with books and digital resources.
2. Combating HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases
The organisation provides targeted HIV testing and counselling, antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence support, reproductive health and family planning services, and health education to improve the well-being of its target groups.
3. Economic empowerment for women and youth
By offering business and entrepreneurial training, startup capital, access to microfinance, and job placement services, they foster sustainable livelihoods for women and young people.
4. Promoting human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion.
HIDO promotes human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion by building the capacity of community and government structures, raising public awareness, advocating for policy change, and protecting women and girls from violence.
5. Inclusion for people with disabilities
The organisation also ensures that public services and facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities and promotes the meaningful inclusion of all community members.
6. Emergency Relief programmes
HIDO responds to humanitarian crises through emergency relief programmes, particularly for internally displaced persons and people affected by conflict or natural disasters. These efforts include the provision of food, shelter, psychosocial support, and access to essential services, with a strong emphasis on protecting women and children from violence during emergencies.
Through these integrated interventions, HIDO works to transform communities and empower individuals to lead healthier, safer, and more self-reliant lives.
Our Partnership
Since partnering with Aflatoun International in 2008, HIDO has successfully implemented the AflaTot, AflaToun and AflaTeen programmes, reaching thousands of children and adolescents with transformative, age-appropriate social and financial education. These programmes have been adapted to local contexts and integrated into both formal and non-formal education settings, including community-based child development centres and youth clubs.
A particularly impactful initiative has been the establishment of Savings Clubs and Social and Financial Enterprises, where participants not only learn to save money but also manage small group funds, plan collective projects, and practise leadership. These clubs and enterprises have helped children develop a sense of ownership and accountability while also reinforcing teamwork and entrepreneurship. Moreover, HIDO is proud of incorporating social empowerment components—including child protection, gender equality, and civic engagement—into its SFE programming.
This holistic approach ensures that children and youth are not only financially literate but also socially aware and equipped to challenge inequality and advocate for their rights. Through ongoing mentorship and practical social and financial education, HIDO continues to foster a generation of confident, capable children and youth who can shape their futures and contribute meaningfully to their communities. This longstanding initiative reflects HIDO’s commitment to sustainable development and aligns strongly with Aflatoun International’s global mission. Through this collaboration, HIDO contributes to nurturing a generation of socially aware and economically empowered children and youth who can drive sustainable change in their communities.
Success Story
In Addis Ababa, where the majority of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) lack access to quality early education, HIDO established a fully equipped ECED centre to provide holistic, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate care and learning by integrating Aflatoun’s Social and Financial Education through the AflaTot curriculum.
A transformative outcome of this initiative is seen in the growth of over 400 children aged 3–6 who have gained foundational social and financial skills at a critical stage of development. Through Aflatot, which centres on age-appropriate play-based learning, children have learned values such as saving, sharing, cooperation, self-regulation, and respect—essential skills for their future education and responsible citizenship. Children who once struggled with low confidence, emotional stress, and limited exposure to structured learning now show marked improvements in school readiness, attendance, and progression. One of the most powerful indicators of impact is the visible change in children’s behaviour: they are now more expressive, curious, and socially engaged.
By nurturing socio-emotional development alongside basic literacy and numeracy, HIDO’s partnership with Aflatoun is laying a strong foundation for lifelong empowerment and resilience.