Pastoralist Welfare Organization (PWO)

Pastoralist Welfare Organization (PWO) is a non-partisan, non-for-profit, non-political, non-religious and non-governmental organization. The organization has been established on Oct, 2003 and it is currently re-registered with Charity and Society Agency (CSA) with registration # 0327. PWO was initiated and established by pastoralist elders in Dollo Ado woreda of Somali Regional State in 2003. The purpose of the organization is to improve the livelihoods of marginalized and disadvantaged pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the region. Even though there are few NGOs that are operating in the pastoral areas, there are knowledge gaps on local cultures, values and norms, thus there was a need to establish local NGO that fills the gap. Based on this, PWO came into existence. Pastoralist Welfare Organization has three tiers organizational structure. The highest hierarchy in the organizational structure is the General Assembly (GA) which is the highest decision-making organ. The GA has the power to decide or revoke on PWO memberships, decide on the organizational policies and general guiding documents (manuals, procedures, etc). It also review and endorse the annual progress and audit reports, endorse external audit firms, decide on the policy and strategic directions of the organization, approve annual plans and budgets, amend on the PWO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and decide on the change of main offices. Currently, PWO has 20 GA members. Board of Directors (BODs) is next hierarchy in the organizational tiers. The PWO BODs are five in number and employ/terminate the Executive Director (ED), confirm the existence of incomes or materials for the execution of PWO objectives, ensure healthy working relationships with government and non-government organizations, examine the importance of opening branch/project offices, examine performance reports submitted to by the ED and shall stipulate employment directives. The third tier is the executive organ led by the Executive Director who is responsible for the day to day activities of the organization. The Secretariat or the ED represent PWO in any third party, together with finance manager operate the PWO bank accounts, prepare and submit the quarter/annual performance reports to BODs, design/implement ways of generating incomes to achieve PWO objectives, employ, deploy and terminate employees and other tasks assigned by the board. PWO has seven well established and equipped head and field offices. The head office is located in Addis Ababa while six field offices are located in Somali Regional State. PWO is currently operating in five zones and 12 woredas. It has 68 staffs working the seven offices.