AHEAD - Diaspora

About AHEAD

AHEAD – Anticipatory Humanitarian Action for Displacement, led by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), is a global project that aims to strengthen humanitarian response by enabling action before displacement occurs. By advancing anticipatory action (AA) mechanisms, the project seeks to reduce the impacts of conflict-driven displacement, improve preparedness, and support more timely, effective interventions. A core focus is the meaningful inclusion of diaspora actors in AA frameworks, particularly in preparedness, early warning, and response. Diaspora actors play a critical yet often under-recognized role in humanitarian contexts

The role of diaspora in anticipatory action

Diaspora, though often outside formal aid structures, play an essential role in supporting conflict-prone contexts. In emergencies, they act as first responders, mobilizing resources quickly, flexibly, and at scale. Diaspora contributions to fragile states often outpace traditional aid flows, in some cases amounting to six times more than external assistance. Beyond immediate relief, diaspora engage across different stages of crises and sectors - from health and education to protection, livelihoods, and peacebuilding. Their ability to bridge acute needs with long-term recovery makes them prime agents of nexus solutions and a strong foundation for enhancing their role in AA.

Despite the diversity of their activities, the organizations face structural barriers that limit their access to AA frameworks, forecasting tools and flexible funding, leaving diaspora humanitarianism overly reactive rather than proactive. With stronger knowledge of AA, better links to AA response plans, and improved capacity to secure financial resources, diaspora organizations and their local partners can better use their joint abilities to mobilize quickly, advocate internationally, and support communities in ways that directly strengthen anticipatory action and overall humanitarian response.

How we work with diaspora partners

The AHEAD Forecasting Model uses machine learning to forecast displacement in sub-districts in Liptako-Gourma region in Sahel, covering Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as well as in South Sudan and Somalia. The forecasts enables humanitarian actors to get ahead of displacement crises. We are currently developing a shared reporting system that synthesizes local and diaspora organizations' context monitoring with the AHEAD Model.
The AHEAD Learning Series brings together diaspora organizations and local partners operating in hard-to-reach areas to translate AA concepts into practical applications and concrete outputs. This program is designed to address the gap between diaspora response and institutional humanitarianism by building diaspora capacity, improving access to forecasting tools, and generating practical insights on their role in AA.

Our diaspora partners

Action Against Disasters Somalia (AADSOM)

Action Against Disasters Somalia (AADSOM) is a national, not-for-profit humanitarian organization committed to saving lives, alleviating human suffering, and maintaining dignity in the face of man-made crises and natural disasters in Somalia. AADSOM was established in 2008 by a group of local professionals with a cumulative experience of over 20 years in the fields of humanitarian aid and development.

Building on the momentum of core humanitarian principles and standards, AADSOM seeks to uphold and increase the application of “principled humanitarianism” values through increased community and stakeholder engagement and coherence among universal standards to which it adheres and advocates vigorously.

Gannaane

Gannaane Organization was founded in Helsinki, Finland in 2002 by Somali diaspora professionals and was consequently registered in Finland as a non-profit, non-religious, non-governmental organization prior to moving the operations to Somalia later in 2004. Gannaane Organization operates presently in Southern and Central Somalia, especially in Jubbaland, Southwest and Galmudug and Hirshabelle states.

My Land Is My Life Organization

My Land Is My Life (MLML) is a Somali-led non-governmental organization headquartered in Mogadishu. They work at the intersection of land rights, climate resilience, and pastoral livelihoods — amplifying community voices and connecting them to the policy decisions that shape their lives.

Development Action Network (DAN)

Development Action Network is an action-oriented voluntary, non-governmental, non-political, non-partisan and non-profit making organization that works towards achieving sustainable development in Somalia. Its interventions are planned and implemented with the participation and contribution of different stakeholders within and outside Somalia. DAN is flexible and committed to providing interventions that rightly and adequately respond to the country’s development needs. Engagements are concurrently done with both the grassroots and the national/state level institutions to ensure that needs of the community are addressed within an appropriate policy and structural environment.

Southern Somalia's Peace & Development Organization

Southern Somalia's Peace & Development Organization is an independent non-political, non-religious non-profit organization that was founded June 23, 2007 in Copenhagen by a group of enthusiasts Somalis from different parts of Denmark, who are passionate about making a difference for peace and development Somalia and to strengthen and promote the inclusion and integration challenges that the Somali community is facing in Denmark. Currently the organization has over 500 members who support the work that OFUSS performs in different parts of Denmark and Somalia.

Himilo Relief and Development Association (HIRDA)

Himilo Relief and Development Association (HIRDA) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in Somalia in 1998 with the focus of empowering and uplifting local communities in the Horn of Africa impacted by the consequences of conflict, shocks, chronic poverty and diseases. The name uses the Somali word 'himilo' meaning 'vision' to free Somalia from hunger, disease, illiteracy and poverty.

HIRDA was developed in partnership with HIRDA Netherlands and Somali diaspora communities during the height of a challenging time in Somalia's history. Their mandate as an independent organization is to combat the consequences of the conflict and political instability, enhanced by the threats of climate change and ongoing poverty in local communities.

The Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILaA)

The Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILaA) was formed in accordance with the law 1901 which relates to; the constitution and regulation of Associations, the declaration of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union on land issues and the youth. Its main headquarters are in Benin (Porto-Novo), and its mission is to facilitate, empower and provide platfoms for youth and women to influence policies, design, delevery and development of land, services and rights.