ANYWAA SURVIVAL ORGANISATION FOUNDATION

Anywaa Survival Organisation-ASO is a non-for profit organisation whose aim is to serve people without voice and deprived of their fundamental human rights. Formed in 2000, for over 10 years we have been campaigning on human rights and land grab issues affecting the life of the local population in Gambela region, south west Ethiopia.

We aim to create awareness on environmental and social consequences of unprecedented land grab deals in the region and the human rights violations of authorities to serve information needs of individual activists, organisations, the media and world leaders to make informed decisions. We are a dedicated team undertaking research, document and disseminate information on human rights and land grab deals.

OUR VISION

Anywaa survival organisation believes in the world of social justice and environmentally sensitive development that recognises and respects the rights of indigenous peoples to participate actively and enjoy the benefits of development in their own territories without prejudice. 

Most developments on indigenous peoples’ territories either seeks to assimilate indigenous peoples or ignored their wealth of knowledge including sustainable environmental management. The traditional development approach at worse contributes to social marginalisation, poverty and social instability.

Around the world, indigenous peoples have received insignificant benefits of large scale development projects ranging from hydro-electric dams to agricultural developments. While certain sectors of the society continue to gain economically, the indigenous peoples are often victims of top-down development projects resulting in destitution, lack of hope and increase rate of flight and low self esteem.

We believe governments across the globe should strive to achieve maximum contribution from stakeholders in the design, planning and implementation processes of developments and promote inclusive and rights based social and economic development to attain sustainable development, stability, poverty eradication and social equality.

OUR VALUES

We recognise that information is a vital tool to make informed decisions and the absence of it could hold processes and implementation futile in changing the lives and livelihoods of intended beneficiaries. We strive to achieve satisfactory level of transparency and accountability by making information on wide range of issues available so people can make sound judgement and informed decisions.