Hope under a Roof: Building Safe Shelters

Project Report: Hope under a Roof: Building Safe Shelters (70891)

No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Registration No: 7509

Our Ref No: NODRO/Global/July/2026/L.No.15
Date: July 7, 2026

Dear GlobalGiving Community,

Warm greetings from No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO).

We are pleased to share our latest progress report for the project "Hope under a Roof: Building Safe Shelters." This initiative is dedicated to restoring safety, dignity, and hope for conflict-affected and vulnerable families by supporting the construction and rehabilitation of safe, durable, and dignified shelters.

Across many parts of Ethiopia, conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters have left thousands of families without adequate housing. Through this project, NODRO is working alongside communities to provide emergency and transitional shelter assistance while promoting resilience, protection, and community recovery.

During this reporting period, significant progress has been made toward improving living conditions for vulnerable households and strengthening community resilience.

Project Overview

The Hope under a Roof: Building Safe Shelters project seeks to provide safe and dignified shelter solutions for conflict-affected, internally displaced, and highly vulnerable households.

The project focuses on:

• Construction of emergency and transitional shelters
• Rehabilitation of damaged family homes
• Distribution of shelter construction materials
• Community-led shelter reconstruction
• Shelter safety awareness and technical guidance
• Protection of women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities
• Community resilience and disaster preparedness

Key Challenges Addressed

The project responds to several urgent humanitarian needs, including:

• Destruction of homes due to conflict and displacement
• Overcrowded and unsafe temporary living conditions
• Exposure to harsh weather conditions
• Increased protection risks for women and children
• Limited access to safe shelter materials
• Reduced household resilience and recovery capacity
• Increased health risks associated with inadequate housing

Key Achievements (April – June 2026)

During this reporting period, the project achieved the following:

• Supported the construction and rehabilitation of 165 safe shelters for vulnerable households.
• Distributed shelter construction kits to 240 conflict-affected families.
• Provided technical guidance on safe and resilient shelter construction to 320 community members.
• Prioritized assistance to female-headed households, older persons, persons with disabilities, and families with young children.
• Mobilized 18 community shelter committees to support construction and quality monitoring.
• Reached more than 1,450 individuals with improved shelter conditions and protection.
• Conducted community awareness sessions on shelter maintenance, disaster preparedness, and household safety.

Early Impact & Beneficiary Story

A Safe Place to Begin Again

A beneficiary from the Tigray Region shared:

"After our home was damaged during the conflict, we lived for months in unsafe temporary conditions. With support from NODRO, our family now has a secure shelter where our children can sleep safely. Having a roof over our heads has restored our dignity and given us hope to rebuild our lives."

Observed Changes

The project has already contributed to meaningful improvements within targeted communities:

• Increased access to safe and dignified housing.
• Reduced exposure to weather-related risks.
• Improved household safety and privacy.
• Enhanced protection for women, children, and vulnerable family members.
• Increased community participation in shelter reconstruction.
• Strengthened resilience among conflict-affected households.
• Improved psychosocial well-being through restored living conditions.

Community Participation

Community ownership remains central to project implementation.

Throughout the reporting period:

• Community leaders participated in beneficiary identification and prioritization.
• Shelter committees supervised local construction activities.
• Skilled local artisans supported shelter construction and repairs.
• Beneficiaries contributed locally available materials and labor where possible.
• Community members participated in project monitoring, feedback, and accountability mechanisms.

This participatory approach promotes sustainability, transparency, and local ownership of project outcomes.

Challenges Encountered

Despite encouraging progress, several implementation challenges were experienced:

• Rising prices of construction materials.
• Transportation difficulties in remote and conflict-affected areas.
• Limited availability of locally produced shelter materials.
• Seasonal rains affecting construction schedules.
• Growing demand for shelter assistance beyond available resources.
• Security constraints restricting access to some communities.

Response Measures

To address these challenges, NODRO has:

• Improved procurement planning to reduce supply delays.
• Strengthened coordination with local authorities and community leaders.
• Promoted the use of locally available construction materials where appropriate.
• Adjusted implementation schedules to accommodate weather conditions.
• Increased technical supervision to improve shelter quality.
• Continued mobilizing additional resources to expand assistance to more vulnerable families.

Monitoring & Accountability

NODRO maintains strong monitoring and accountability systems through:

• Routine shelter construction monitoring visits.
• Beneficiary registration and verification.
• Technical quality inspections.
• Community feedback and complaints mechanisms.
• Household satisfaction surveys.
• Periodic project performance reviews.
• Documentation of construction progress and outcomes.

Current Key Performance Indicators

• 165 shelters constructed or rehabilitated.
• 240 families received shelter construction kits.
• 320 community members trained on safe shelter construction.
• 18 community shelter committees established and supported.
• 1,450+ individuals benefiting from improved shelter conditions.
• Ongoing technical supervision and quality assurance completed throughout implementation.

What's Next? (July – October 2026)

During the next reporting period, NODRO plans to:

• Expand shelter assistance to additional conflict-affected households.
• Increase distribution of shelter construction materials.
• Strengthen disaster-resilient construction techniques.
• Support community-based shelter maintenance initiatives.
• Improve protection measures for vulnerable households.
• Enhance coordination with local government and humanitarian shelter partners.
• Continue monitoring completed shelters to ensure long-term durability.

Long-Term Vision

NODRO envisions resilient communities where every vulnerable family has access to safe, secure, and dignified housing.

Through this initiative, we aim to:

• Reduce shelter insecurity among conflict-affected families.
• Improve household safety and well-being.
• Strengthen disaster resilience.
• Protect women, children, and vulnerable populations.
• Promote sustainable community recovery and resilience.
• Support long-term rebuilding and social stability.

Why Your Support Matters

Your support provides more than shelter—it restores safety, dignity, and hope for families rebuilding their lives after conflict and displacement.

Impact of Your Donation

• $50 helps provide essential shelter construction tools and hardware.
• $100 contributes toward roofing materials for a vulnerable household.
• $250 supports a family with a shelter construction kit.
• $500 helps rehabilitate a damaged shelter for a conflict-affected family.
• $5,000 enables NODRO to expand safe shelter assistance to additional vulnerable communities.

Closing Appreciation

We extend our sincere appreciation to GlobalGiving and our generous supporters for standing with vulnerable families in Ethiopia.

Your continued partnership is helping restore homes, strengthen resilience, and give conflict-affected families the opportunity to rebuild their lives with safety and dignity.

Together, we are building more than shelters—we are rebuilding hope, restoring stability, and creating stronger communities for the future.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Mrs. Woderyelesh Ashebir Belay
Executive Director
No One Down Relief Organization (NODRO)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Email: nodeethiopia.org@gmail.com
Tel: +251-967-105-147