Our History

Udgoon Sustainable Development Initiative (USDI) was founded in 2016 by a group of women professionals from Garissa County. Originally, the organization was registered as Udgoon Foundation and was rebranded in 2023.

The women professionals, driven by a deep understanding of the challenges faced by communities and especially children and women in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya established USDI as a humanitarian, relief, and development organization to address these challenges originally in Garissa County.

The organization’s initial focus areas were nutrition support for children and lactating mothers, ensuring access to quality water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, and implementing emergency responses during crises such as droughts and floods.

The evolution from the Udgoon Foundation to the Udgoon Sustainable Development Initiative in 2023 reflected a commitment to long-term, sustainable solutions that extended beyond immediate relief efforts. By incorporating the principles of sustainability and development into its mission, USDI has positioned itself as a catalyst for positive change in the broader Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya as well as Somalia.