Mercy Corps

In 1979, Mercy Corps was founded as the ‘Save the Refugees Fund’, a task force organised by Dan O’Neill in response to the plight of Cambodian refugees fleeing famine, war and genocide – to help this community in distress turn crisis into opportunity, a principal which has undergirded the organisation’s approach since. Mercy Corps operates under the auspices that secure, productive and just societies emerge when the private, public and civil society sectors interact with accountability, inclusive participation and mechanisms for peaceful change. The organisation works in education, emergency response, children and youth, health and conflict management, amongst other focus areas. Today, Mercy Corps is active in more than 40 countries around the world, helping people recover from disasters, build stronger communities and find their own solutions to poverty.

Since 2005, Mercy has worked in Somalia. The organisation has implemented projects in emergency responds, governance, economic development and education, particularly with regard to the support of girls and women.

Together, EAC and Mercy Corps are leading the Wax Bar Caruurta Somaaliyeed (Educate Somali Children) initiative in Somalia’s Puntland, Somaliland and South Central Somalia Zones to help marginalised OOSC access quality primary education. This joint project will address education barriers, such as insufficient school facilities; overcrowded classrooms; a lack of gender-sensitive washrooms that disproportionately impact girls; untrained teachers; poverty; and conflict and disaster unpreparedness.

For more information about this EAC Implementing Partner, please visit Mercy Corps.