East Africa

Learn about HelpAge Network members in East Africa.

Ethiopia

Ethiopia Elderly and Pensioners National Association

EEPNA is a national umbrella institution of older people’s associations in Ethiopia. It was established in 1998 by 56 associations working for the welfare of older people and became a legal entity in 2001.

The organisation was established by older Ethiopians from older people’s associations who were unhappy with the marginalisation of older people in the country.

EEPNA strives to strengthen the work of its members, as well as other organisations working on ageing. They receive support from HelpAge to build their capacity and advocate for the rights of older men and women in Ethiopia. Currently, EEPNA is the only institution of its kind that represents grassroots older people’s associations.

EEPNA became a HelpAge global network member in October 2011.

HelpAge International, Ethiopia

HelpAge has operated a country office in Ethiopia since 1992, striving to improve the lives of older people across Ethiopia.

HelpAge International, Ethiopia works together with local partners to secure reliable income, improve health in older age and help older people cope with drought. Find out more about the work of HelpAge in Ethiopia here.

Tesfa Social and Development Association (TSDA)

TSDA was established in 2000 in Ethiopia to improve the lives of marginalised groups in the country, in particular vulnerable children, women, and older people living in poverty. TSDA designs and implements participatory projects that aim to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, and facilitate income generation and employment opportunities.

TSDA has implemented various projects providing care and support for older people, community-based healthcare, education and learning, combating gender-based violence, and providing guidance to older people on how they can earn an income. It also provides food, shelter, and psychosocial and legal support, and is involved in fundraising, campaigning and advocacy.

TSDA became a HelpAge global network member in 2018.

Rift Valley Children and Women Development Organisation

RCWDO is a non-governmental and not for profit organisation. It was established in 1993 by a group of Ethiopians who were committed to fighting poverty in the Rift Valley.

Their aim is to create a healthy, productive and sustainable society which promotes quality of life and conserves the environment. To ensure this happens, RCWDO works with communities to include people who have been marginalised. RCWDO’s work spans a variety of issues, including food security, education, health, gender equity and human rights.

RCWDO became a network member in 2011, but has been working with HelpAge International since 1998. Their joint work aims to provide and improve services in areas such as health, securing incomes and providing shelter. The two organisations have also lobbied local and national authorities to include older people in development work.

Kenya

Ageing Concern Foundation (ACF)

Founded in 2018, Ageing Concern Foundation focuses on strengthening the livelihoods and resilience of older persons for rural population ageing in Kenyan counties. At ACF, we strive to enrich the livelihoods of vulnerable senior citizens (> 65 years), who are pillars from which communities, tap wisdom and guidance. Driven by a passion to offer practical and sustainable positive transformation, ACF is committed to taking actions that reenergize older people, amplify their voices and remove negative social stigma.
ACF is focused on improving the lives of older adults through caring services with opportunities in social interaction, recreation, needs and basic responsible support, volunteerism and community activism within their centred values on accountability, community-focused impact and responsibility.
Since 2018, ACF partnered with HelpAge and other local CSOs and CBOs piloted and implemented a civil society-led accountability system across five communities in the regions of Migori, Siaya, Kakamega, Narok, Meru, and Nairobi in Kenya. Participated in consultation with older people on the impact of COVID-19 on the rights of older persons to inform a report for the Open-ended working group on ageing. Currently, AFC is working on agriculture for the aged project that aims at adding an extra income to older persons, improving their well-being health and care and societal participation. It also seeks to solve the intergenerational gap as the project owned by older persons employs the community youth The programme is funded by the older persons focus groups.

AgeWatch Africa Foundation (AAF)

Founded in February 2016 as a community-based organisation in Kisumu West sub-county, in Kenya, AgeWatch Africa Foundation (AAF) is a Kenyan-based nonprofit social enterprise that serves livelihoods and long-term care (LTC) needs of older people aged 60+ in rural Kenyan communities. In January 2019, AAF transitioned to a foundation with the national mandate and has been focused on improving the physical health and mental well-being of Kenya’s rural older population by providing a continuum of services including home-based care, group daycare and residential (or institutional) care.

AAF trains and deploys community-based caregivers (mostly women and girls) often engaged as unpaid care and domestic workers (UCDWs) thus improving their skill levels and income-generating ability for the benefit of their families. AAF also partners with Kenyan employers (corporate and non-corporate) to conduct a pre-retirement course, a program that prepares retirees for this vital final phase of life.

AAF’s mission is to create, improve and maintain access to high-quality and affordable eldercare services and to support graceful ageing. AAF envisions a world where every older citizen can access quality eldercare services regardless of where they live. With a team of five permanent staff and over twelve volunteers, AAF already has footprints in the following seven counties: Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay and Nakuru. Indicative by its name, AAF aims to be a continental, high-impact social enterprise that provides high-quality and affordable eldercare in Kenya and beyond. In close collaboration with formal and informal caregivers, AAF is building a robust network of services to ensure critical access to the much-lacking yet needed professional long-term care support services (LTCSS) for healthy, strong, and graceful ageing!

agewatchafrica.com

HelpAge International, Kenya

In Kenya HelpAge champions the rights of poor and disadvantaged older people in Kenya.

HelpAge programmes in Kenya include supporting older people living in Kibagare, one of the most deprived areas of Nairobi. Many older people in Kenya care for children orphaned by HIV and AIDS and live in abject poverty. HelpAge Kenya supports them through a range of shelter and livelihoods programmes which help to improve their financial and social security.

HelpAge also enables older people to organise older citizens’ monitoring committees so they can monitor their access to healthcare. The data gathered is used to advocate for improvements. This has led to improved access to health services by older people in Machakos district and Nairobi. Find out more about HelpAge’s work in Kenya here.

Mangu Integrated Community Project

Registered in 2010, MICOP is a community based organisation base in Kenya with offices in Thika and member groups in the region of the Kiambu and Muranga Counties. MICOP’s core aim is to alleviate poverty and facilitate lasting change in the lives of old people and their families in Kenya. MICOP is also a founding member of the National Association of Older Persons of Kenya and has 20 older persons groups and more than 500 members.

Their mission is to passionately champion the rights of older persons in Kenya, through a rights based approach that promotes advocacy and empowerment for all and is inclusive of everyone in the community. They have a strong vision to help create an enabling space for the realisation, respect, and protection of fundamental rights for older persons.

Kibera Day Care Centre for the Elderly (KDCCE)

The Kibera Day Care Centre for the Elderly (KDCCE) was established in 1989 by Agnes Kariuki in Kenya. It was formed to address the needs of marginalised individuals in the urban settlement of the capital city. Registered under the Ministry of Gender and Social Services, the centre’s vision is to provide a gathering place for the elderly and destitute members of society, offering support and addressing their concerns. The centre serves meals to 60-100 people every Tuesday and Thursday, with a membership of 500 individuals aged 70 and above, including men, women, and widows. In addition to providing nourishment, the centre promotes social interaction through games, craft activities, and spiritual fulfilment facilitated by a minister from the community.

The mission of KDCCE is to advocate for the well-being of older persons by delivering quality medical care, ensuring proper nutrition, improving economic standards, and fostering an environment with zero tolerance for abuse towards older individuals.

Kenyan Aged People Require Information, Knowledge and Advancement (Karika)

Established in 2003, Kenyan Aged People Require Information, Knowledge and Advancement (Karika) is a community-based NGO that supports older people and their dependents in two informal settlements of Nairobi. It establishes older people’s associations and has helped older people access home-based care and generate income.

Karika empowers older people to engage with policymakers to improve health, living conditions and services, as well as itself advocating the Government on issues affecting older people.

Karika became a HelpAge global network member in 2017.

Kenya Society for People with Aids

Kenya Society for People with AIDS (KESPA) is a community-based organisation, established in 1992. Its main objective is to prevent HIV infections, but it also supports those living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.

Due to the high prevalence of HIV in the western Kenyan district of Siaya, project activities are largely focused on this area and neighbouring districts. Since its inception, KESPA has provided over 15,000 individuals with counselling and HIV testing services.

KESPA has been involved in lobbying and advocating for older people’s issues to be included in HIV and AIDS policy. They also run joint projects with HelpAge, supporting older people who care for children orphaned by HIV and AIDS.

In 2007, KESPA joined the HelpAge global network. It is also an active participant in HelpAge’s Age Demands Action campaign.

Pamoja Community Based Organization

PAMOJA is a community-based organisation established in 2009 and is operational in Kisumu County in Western Kenya. PAMOJA targets the general population with special attention to people living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, but also strives to promote the well-being and inclusion of older people and reduce discrimination in later life.

The organisation works in diverse areas that include advocacy, disaster risk reduction, health and care, human rights, inclusion, income and livelihoods and social protection. The organisation has been also working in humanitarian actions such as the building of public ecosan toilets for all ages when there was an outbreak of cholera in Remba island and food distribution to the victims of flood displacement in Ahero area.

PAMOJA has been running training courses across Kenya, working with local farmers, to consolidate smallholder farms into larger farms in which older persons are engaged and subsidised to produce food. This is helping to tackle the challenges of poor nutrition and food scarcity among older people.

PAMOJA became a HelpAge global network member in January 2020.

The District Pastoralist Association

The District Pastoralist Association (DPA) or the Kulmiye Pastoralist Association (KPA) was founded in 1996 by 11 Pastoral Associations. Today, it consists of more than 50 throughout Kenya.

The association works on various programmatic areas including income generation, advocacy, capacity building and food and water security.

The collaboration with HelpAge began in 2008 when DPA was brought in as a partner on the Hunger Safety Net Project. Since then they have led some of the programme activities and gained extensive experience in working with poor older people.

Since 2008, DPA has mainstreamed older people into their programmatic work realising that older people are a key group to work with to eradicate vulnerability and conflict.

DPA is seen as a strong advocator for vulnerable groups and has done lobby work to improve accessibility and quality of services. They also collaborate with the Kenyan government and various development agencies to improve services such as water, education, agricultural and veterinary services.

One of DPA’s key assets is well-developed monitoring and evaluation system which is essential when collecting data that can be used for evidence-based advocacy on local and national level.

The District Pastoralist Association joined the HelpAge global network as a member in 2012. It became the third Kenyan organisation in the network.

Women for Dementia Africa (WFDA)

Women for Dementia Africa (WFDA) is an NGO formed in 2019 in Kenya. It was born out of a need arising from the fact that two-thirds of those living with Dementia are women. Studies show that the prevalence rate for dementia is higher for women than it is for men. In addition, around the world, two-thirds of primary caregivers are women who form most of both unpaid and formal care for people living with dementia.

Our Vision: Quality and equitable dementia care in Africa. WFDA partners include Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Kenya (NCDAK), Department of Social Protection in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in Kenya and HelpAge International – in 2023.

We have engaged in different projects including the DePCASS Project- Developed and Equipped Persons Living with NCDs and Caregivers with Advocacy Skills for Sustainability in addressing Dementia, Cancer and Diabetes in 2022. We also have a successful program in Dignity Care-Packs to Persons Living with Dementia in 2021. Women for Dementia has an Executive Director, Administration and Logistic Manager and three volunteers in its staff composition.

womenfordementiaafrica.squarespace.com

Rwanda

NSINDAGIZA

NSINDAGIZA is an NGO established in Rwanda in 2014 to support disadvantaged older people, especially those with disabilities or chronic diseases. It focuses on health and care but also carries out awareness-building and advocacy work.

It provides home care visits to people who are ill, and undertakes community outreach programmes to screen for various non-communicable diseases. It raises awareness of HIV and AIDS among older people and offers training to older people to become home-based carers and peer educators.

NSINDAGIZA campaigns through Age Demands Action, and supports regional and international debates on older people’s rights. NSINDAGIZA became a HelpAge global network member in 2017.

www.nsindagiza.org

Somalia

Horn International Relief and Development Organization (HIRDO)

HIRDO was established in 2005 to empower communities in Somalia by strengthening individuals as agents of immediate and lasting change, including conflict transformation. HIRDO undertakes advocacy activities on older prisoners’ rights to correspond with international standards of prison management and access to justice while underscoring the importance of human rights in the prison environment. HIRDO also undertakes capacity development and institutional strengthening on older prisoners’ rights to ensure proper management of prisons. It creates awareness and educates the public on the rights of prisoners to highlight the values within which its prisons operate and advances the role of civil society in advocating for prisoners’ rights.
HIRDO coordinates with the national protection cluster of Somalia for sharing updates on the situation of older persons and raising the issue of inclusivity in humanitarian interventions.

Kaalmo Relief and Development

Kaalmo Relief and Development (KRD) is a non-governmental organisation established in 2011 in Somalia by a group of young and energetic people who were motivated and committed for alleviating the plight of affected people and the development and empowerment of socially disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in Gedo region (Somalia) by addressing poverty issues and gender-based discriminations and support them to become socially and economically independent.

The organisation works with older people, children, youth, women and people with disabilities in local, district and national geographic areas. KRM areas of work include livelihood support with the aim of assisting the community generate self-sustaining incomes through small enterprises; peacebuilding and conflict resolution through mediation between warring clans and promotion of sanitation and hygiene increasing the availability of clean water and rehabilitation of water resources.

KRD is a member of various networks in Somalia including Somalia South-Central Non-State Actors (SOSCENSA), Peace and Human Rights Network (PHRN), Gedo Peace Consortium (GPC) and East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders (EHAHRD).

Kaalmo Relief and Development became a HelpAge global network member in October 2019.

www.kaalmosom.org

South Sudan

Africa Development Aid

ADA is a Christian national organisation established in 2012 in South Sudan, operating in Greater Upper Nile, Eastern Equatorial and Jonglei States. The organisation supports integrated development among the needy, working for older people, children, youth, women, people living with disabilities and indigenous people.
ADA works on food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. Its programme covers increasing agricultural productivity and conditional cash transfers, education and child protection, hygiene, health, humanitarian emergency, disaster risk reduction and mitigation, peace-building, protection, advocacy and gender. The organisation works in the front line of humanitarian emergencies where they overcome operational challenges. ADA became a HelpAge global network member in January 2020.

Humanitarian Development Consortium (HDC)

HDC is a national non-governmental organisation founded in 2008 in South Sudan to provide humanitarian and relief-related services. The organisation delivers programmes to support refugees, returnees, vulnerable host communities and internally displaced persons. It supports crisis intervention and livelihood-focused initiatives to create opportunities for marginalised and disadvantaged people.
HDC’s programme covers food security, better livelihoods, building community resilience, protection and gender development, advocating for basic human rights, equitable education development, promoting conflict resolution, establishing traditional peace committees, and promoting good governance, citizenship and civic education.
HDC engages in emergency and humanitarian responses and is a key actor in front-line humanitarian work in South Sudan. During the 2013 crises, it distributed core relief items to more than 10,000 households across the country. HDC has also been providing shelters to vulnerable groups including older people.
Humanitarian Development Consortium became a HelpAge global network member in January 2020.

South Sudan Older People’s Organization

South Sudan Older People’s Organization (SSOPO) is a registered NGO, which was established in 1999 with support from HelpAge International.
SSOPO addresses the challenges faced by older people, while continuing to highlight the contributions they make to society.

They seek to achieve their mission of supporting older people by disseminating knowledge and transferring skills to older people in areas such as poverty alleviation, social justice, human rights and health services.

Among other projects, SSOPO has established a vocational training centre where young people and women in households headed by older people can learn skills, such as clothes-making, cookery, baking and business.

SSOPO became HelpAge global network in October 2012.

Sudan

Almanar Voluntary Organization

Almanar Voluntary Organization (AMVO) is a women’s NGO established in 1991 to reverse the tide of deterioration of the overall socioeconomic situation and the basic rights of women.

AMVO works with internally displaced people, returnees, refugees, host communities and authorities on community-focused, participatory, capacity building programmes. They cover livelihoods and economic development, health and nutrition, and civil society development.

It has a holistic approach to give people the ability to freely exercise rights, to increase access to basic services, to enable community development, and to build an active civil society for all. AMVO works in partnership with civil society, government authorities and other stakeholders to advocate on issues of key importance to the people of Sudan.

In collaboration with communities, AMVO works with extremely vulnerable groups to improve social cohesion, build functioning institutions and enable communities to meet their basic needs, thereby contributing to moving Sudan toward a sustainable and just peace.

Sudanese Society for the Care of Older People

Sudanese Society for the Care of Older People (SSCOP) is a voluntary, non-profit, non-governmental organisation, which has been working on ageing and development issues since 1994.

SSCOP’s mission is to improve older people’s livelihoods by championing their issues, advocating their rights and providing services whenever possible. They aim to improve the quality of older people’s lives and maintain their dignity, as well as preserve Sudanese traditions and customs.

SSCOP carry out nutrition programmes, awareness-raising activities about older people’s issues and income-generating projects.

In 2002, SSCOP participated in the preparation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing conference and will follow up on the implementation of this in 2012.

SSCOP became a HelpAge partner in 1997 and an Affiliate in 2004. Since then, they have been actively involved in HelpAge’s global Age Demands Action campaign.

Tanzania

HelpAge Tanzania

HelpAge Tanzania works with local partners to secure older people’s incomes through campaigning for and implementing sustainable social protection programmes. The organisation also works to improve refugees’ lives and improve health and care services by supporting thousands of public health facilities to deliver age-friendly health services.

Relief to Development Society – REDESO

Relief to Development Society is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation established in 1998 in Tanzania and working with older people, children, young people, women and migrants.

REDESO strives to provide relief services and promote sustainable development to vulnerable communities through capacity enhancement interventions and developing and delivering humanitarian programs with a special focus on livelihoods, environmental management and urban refugee programming.

In terms of humanitarian actions, Relief to Development Society has provided of firewood to people with special needs in refugee camps and conducting conflict resolution meetings between refugees and host communities to create peaceful co-existence. For over 20 years has supported refugees, asylum seekers and local communities in Tanzania such as Kagera, Kigoma, Tanga, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Tabora, Shinyanga, Simiyu and Katavi Regions.

Relief to Development Society became a HelpAge global network member in October 2019.

Sawaka-Karagwe

Saidia Wazee Karagwe (SAWAKA) is a NGO that advocates for the rights of older people and vulnerable groups in Tanzania. It is located in the Karagwe region where it is part of various networks and has established a good link with the local government.

SAWAKA’s mission is to improve older people’s standard of living through a number of community-based projects. These include civic and legal rights projects, housing improvement projects, relief services and income generating activities.

SAWAKA runs another project that encourages school children to raise money to support older people in their community. This project promotes interaction between generations and raises awareness with the general public of the issues older people face.

In November 2011, the Foundation for Civil Society of Tanzania awarded SAWAKA with two awards. One was for best grantee and the other for best policy work.

SAWAKA has been working with HelpAge International since 1996 and became HelpAge global network member in 2006.

Tanzania Mission to the Poor and Disabled

Tanzania Mission to the Poor and Disabled (PADI) is a NGO that works to improve the lives and social welfare of the poor, disabled and older people in Tanzania.

PADI works on projects supporting older people who are affected by HIV and AIDS and directly in communities to help vulnerable groups, including older people.
The organisation works at grassroots level to alleviate poverty in both rural and urban areas. They also build wells and providing training and small loans to businesses and farmers.

In November 2011, PADI won The Civil Society Excellence Award from the Foundation for Civil Society of Tanzania. This achievement raised awareness of PADI and HelpAge’s work and in both Tanzania and East Africa.

PADI has worked with HelpAge International for many years and became HelpAge global network member in October 2011.

Uganda

Community-Based Rehabilitation Alliance (COMBRA)

COMBRA was founded as an indigenous non-governmental organization in December 1990, and works to empower communities for effective mainstreaming of persons with disabilities and older people in development programs using community-based rehabilitation approaches for sustainable development.
COMBRA works at national levels and targets older persons, children, and persons with disabilities on the following themes of interest to HelpAge: income and livelihoods, social protection, health, ageism, age, disability, and gender inclusion and strengthening the voice of older people. In addition, it addresses the provision of home-based care support to families of persons with disabilities and older persons. COMBRA places older persons at the centre of its work and involves them in training and as beneficiaries of its services including assistive devices. COMBRA Board members are primarily older persons.
COMBRA is interested in building Ugandan government support of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older People and the Regional Office sees this as an opportunity to also advance advocacy for the ratification of the AU Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons.

Grandmothers Consortium

Grandmother Consortium is a non-governmental organisation established in 2016 with the aim of having a unified voice for advocacy for grandmothers led by grandmothers themselves and create an environment where their rights and needs in areas such as social protection, health and care and violent and abuse are integrated in all national programs in Uganda.

The organisation became a platform bringing together 6 Grandmother organisations which are: Reach One Touch One Ministries (ROTOM), Reach Out Mbuya Parish HIV/AIDs Project, Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project, Phoebe Education Fund for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (PEFO), St. Francis Heath Care Services (SFHCS) and Kitovu Mobile AIDS Organisation(KM).

Grandmother Consortium works under three main objectives which are advocacy to improve national policies and promote rights and needs of grandmothers in Uganda; research and learning to undertake studies on areas of concern for them in order to inform policy advocacy and resource mobilisation with the aim of increasing resources targeting grandmothers’ interventions.

Grandmothers Consortium became a HelpAge global network member in October 2019.

Health Nest Uganda

Esatblished in 2007, Health Nest Uganda (HENU) is an indigenous non-profit organisation based in Entebbe, Uganda. It seeks to promote the dignity, equality and independence of older people at a community level.

HENU supports older people through three approaches: rights awareness and advocacy, developing skills and promoting healthy lifestyles, and carrying out research through community and international partnerships.

Since it was established, HENU has helped older men and women through health camps and specialist referrals, improved adult literacy to transform their livelihoods, formed over ten community groups with 100 members each and promoted positive ageing through sporting activities, as well as much more.

Currently HENU, with the support of HelpAge, is implementing a research project to assess the health outcomes of older people in Wakiso and Jinja.

HENU became a proud member and an affiliate of HelpAge in April 2016.

HelpAge International, Uganda

HelpAge works in Uganda towards building secure incomes, supporting older people’s health and helping refugee communities. Find out more about the work of HelpAge in Uganda here.

Palliative Care Association of Uganda (PCAU)

PCAU was established in 1999 and registered in 2003. It works to accelerate the integration of palliative care in the health care system in Uganda through capacity building, research, and resource mobilization. Additionally, it works in capacity building of health workers and the health care system strengthening on issues of pain management and palliative care.

Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU)

Reach a Hand Uganda is a youth-centred organisation focusing on youth empowerment programs with an emphasis on livelihoods & skills development, behaviour change communication, sexual reproductive health & rights, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. RAHU believes that its efforts are timely to contribute to ensuring that every young person in Uganda can access the accurate information to aid and direct them in taking crucial life decisions regarding their life skills and development, behaviour change communication, and sexual reproductive health and rights.
RAHU has engaged with the HelpAge Uganda Country Office in hosting intergenerational dialogues and in the recent past collaborated with HelpAge International and WHO to raise awareness on elder abuse through a Twitter Storm on the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2021. RAHU brings to the Global Network a much-needed connection with youth organizations with an additional advantage of using technology, media, and communications.

Voice of the Elderly

The Voice of the Elderly (Eiraka Ry’Abakeira – Uganda) was established 2012 as a community-based organization to promote social awareness and empowerment in matters of human rights, social inclusion and full productivity and enjoyment of societal resources. It is currently finalizing the legal transition into a non-governmental organization. Their mission statement is to promote social awareness and empowerment in matters of human rights, social inclusion and full productivity and enjoyment of societal resources.
Voice of the Elderly is currently working with 15 volunteers undertaking advocacy for older refugees in Kigezi and Ankole regions. It covers several multisectoral issues across the areas of income and livelihoods, social protection, health, violence, abuse, neglect and age, disability, and gender inclusion. It provides empowerment programs for older persons.