Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid

What Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid does

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is a regional African humanitarian and development organization founded in Somalia in 1992 following the collapse of the Somali state. It operates across three East African countries — Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda — with international headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. HIJRA delivers multi-sector humanitarian programs including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), livelihoods and food security, third-party monitoring, protection, education, and nutrition, targeting internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, and host communities.

The organization's core offerings are field-based humanitarian services rather than technology products. Its programs use community-embedded delivery models, including cash-for-work infrastructure rehabilitation (irrigation canals, shallow wells, river embankments), Farm Field Schools providing agricultural training and drought-resistant inputs, PSN-specific WASH infrastructure such as dome-shaped latrines, and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs). Since 2019, HIJRA has also offered Third-Party Monitoring (TPM), Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDMs), Results Monitoring Surveys, and assessments as a service line to donors and implementing partners.

HIJRA operates primarily as a grant-funded humanitarian organization. Funding flows from institutional donors including UNHCR, UNDP, USAID, UNICEF, ECHO, and the Somalia Humanitarian Fund, supplemented by public donations ($10–$250 preset tiers or custom) processed via PayPal or offline methods. Programs are delivered through direct field implementation via country offices in Nairobi, Mogadishu, and southwestern Uganda, and through co-implementation partnerships with Concern Worldwide, OXFAM, CARE USA, and other INGOs. The organization's website and blog serve as the primary communications channels for donor engagement and program visibility.

Name

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid

Legal name

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA)

Website

https://hijra.or.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is a Somalia-founded, Kenya-headquartered nonprofit operating across Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda since 1992, delivering WASH, livelihoods, food security, protection, education, and nutrition programs to IDPs, refugees, and host communities, funded primarily by institutional donors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Services (BPAGAAAE)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Water and sanitation programs
• Food security programs
• Refugee assistance services
• Third-party monitoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Donor Funding: HIJRA operates primarily as a grant-funded humanitarian organization, receiving funding from institutional donors such as UNHCR, UNDP, USAID, UNICEF, and various humanitarian funds (Somalia Humanitarian Fund). The organization implements donor-funded programs through competitive grants and partnership agreements.
2. Public Donations: The organization accepts public donations through its website, offering preset amounts ($10, $25, $50, $100, $250) and custom amounts via PayPal and offline donation methods. These donations support various programmatic causes.
3. Third-Party Monitoring Services: HIJRA conducts Third-Party Monitoring (TPM), Post Distribution Monitoring (PDMs), Results Monitoring Surveys (RMS), baseline surveys, assessments, and research for donors and implementing partners. This represents a service component of their operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HIJRA delivers field-based humanitarian and development programming — including WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), livelihoods and food security, protection, education support, nutrition, and third-party monitoring services — for internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, and host communities in Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. Programs are funded primarily through institutional donor grants from UN agencies and bilateral donors and implemented directly by field staff in partnership with community leadership structures.

Product overview

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is a humanitarian and development organization, not a technology product company. It operates a portfolio of humanitarian assistance programs rather than a unified software platform. The organization's programs include WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services, Livelihoods and Food Security initiatives, Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) and Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM), Protection programs, Education support, and Nutrition interventions. These programs are implemented across Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda targeting IDPs, refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, and host communities. There is no SaaS platform, mobile application, or technology product with modules or integrations—the organization provides direct humanitarian services and program implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Programs Emergency WASH services in refugee settlements and transit centers for populations affected by armed conflict, migration crises, and diseases including cholera, Ebola, and COVID-19. Includes water point rehabilitation, latrine construction (including dome-shaped PSN-accessible latrines), hygiene promotion, and menstrual hygiene management.
• Livelihoods and Food Security Programs Agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood interventions including cash-for-work programs, irrigation canal rehabilitation, Farm Field Schools, drought-resistant seed distribution, VSLA training, and income-generating activities for refugees and host communities.
• Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) and Post-Distribution Monitoring (PDM) Services Monitoring and evaluation services including Third-Party Monitoring, Post Distribution Monitoring, Results Monitoring Surveys, baseline surveys, assessments, and research for humanitarian and development programmes targeting IDPs, refugees, and host communities.
• Protection Programs Child protection, gender-based violence prevention, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and psychosocial support programs targeting vulnerable populations including women, children, and Persons with Special Needs (PSN).
• Education Support Programs Support for government efforts to increase access to quality ECD and primary education through provision of scholastic materials, school infrastructure projects, teacher capacity building, and school feeding programmes.
• Nutrition Programs Programs addressing acute malnutrition among children under five and reproductive-age women through screening, supplementation, and community-based management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drought-affected farmer's yield tripled compared to previous seasons after receiving drought-resistant maize seeds and tractor hours through BRCiS III project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Concern WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIJRA partners with Concern Worldwide on multiple programs including BRCiS III resilience project, cash-for-work irrigation rehabilitation, and river embankment construction. Jointly implementing livelihood, WASH, and climate resilience programs.
• OXFAMmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast partner in humanitarian programming. OXFAM, along with UNHCR and ECHO, supported WASH interventions in Nakivale, Oruchinga, and Kyangwali refugee settlements.
• CARE USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a donor partner on HIJRA's website. CARE USA is an international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty through programs focused on women and girls.
• Aljsir FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for school infrastructure projects in Uganda, supporting education access for refugees and host communities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• CARE USA: Major US-based humanitarian NGO listed as a HIJRA donor partner, operating comparable WASH, food security, women's empowerment, and protection programs across East Africa. Competes for similar institutional grant funding.
• Concern Worldwide: Irish INGO that is both a HIJRA partner (BRCiS III, cash-for-work, WASH) and a direct peer running integrated WASH, livelihoods, and food-security programs in Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. Operates with similar donor mix and multi-sector programming model.
• COOPI — Cooperazione Internazionale: Italian INGO with strong Horn of Africa presence running WASH, food security, and protection programs in Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. Comparable mid-sized INGO profile with similar donor mix and field-driven operating model.
• Oxfam: Past HIJRA partner on WASH interventions in Nakivale, Oruchinga, and Kyangwali refugee settlements. Operates directly in East Africa with overlapping WASH, livelihoods, and protection portfolios, making it a competing implementer for the same donor pools.
• Action Against Hunger: WASH and food-security specialist INGO with active operations in Somalia and East Africa. Directly overlaps with HIJRA's WASH, nutrition, and livelihoods programming and competes for the same ECHO, USAID, and UN pooled funding.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide: Faith-based INGO with strong East Africa operational presence including Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. Runs WASH, food security, livelihoods, and emergency response programs targeting similar refugee and IDP populations with comparable donor mix.
• Norwegian Refugee Council: Major refugee-focused INGO operating in Uganda settlements (including Nakivale and Kyangwali where HIJRA works), Somalia, and Kenya. Direct overlap on WASH, protection, education, and livelihoods for refugees and IDPs.
• Mercy Corps: US-based humanitarian INGO with comparable multi-sector programming in Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. Overlaps with HIJRA on WASH, livelihoods, cash-for-work, and resilience programming for vulnerable populations.
• Relief International: Humanitarian INGO with significant East Africa presence running WASH, livelihoods, and protection programs in fragile contexts. Comparable operating model with multi-sector humanitarian programming funded by similar institutional donors.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Much larger global humanitarian INGO with deep presence in Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda. Operates across WASH, health, protection, education, and economic recovery — competing with HIJRA for the same institutional donor grants but at significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hijraorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid