Gender equality is not a theme ALDO adds on. It is built into how the organization works, from a leadership that is evenly balanced between women and men to a beneficiary base that is roughly 80 percent women.
ALDO promotes women's empowerment and leadership, works to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and protects the rights of children, youth, and persons with disabilities. Women take leading roles in community decision-making, and the evidence across the region is consistent: where women hold real influence, household nutrition improves, school attendance rises, and savings grow.
Protection runs through every programme. ALDO applies strict safeguarding and PSEA standards, and treats Do No Harm as a design principle rather than a slogan.
