About Us
Priority for Human Being Organization (PHO)
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Who We Are
Priority for Human Being Organization (PHO) is a locally-rooted, legally registered Ethiopian civil society organization (Reg. No. 0235). Founded in December 2024, we were born from a simple but powerful idea: to address the urgent developmental and humanitarian needs of the people in Gambella.
We are a team of dedicated professionals with national and international experience, united by a commitment to serve the most vulnerable.
What We Do
Education
We believe education is the foundation of a just society. We work to ensure every child, especially girls and those in conflict-affected areas, has access to quality learning.
- Building and rehabilitating classrooms and school WASH facilities.
- Providing essential learning materials and school supplies.
- Training teachers and strengthening school leadership.
- Supporting girls’ education through Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) programs.
Health & Nutrition
A healthy community is a thriving community. Our health programs focus on saving the lives of mothers and children and preventing disease.
- Providing maternal, prenatal, and postnatal care services.
- Running nutrition programs to combat malnutrition in children.
- Preventing and controlling communicable diseases like malaria.
- Supporting the rehabilitation and construction of local health clinics.
Employable Skills Development
We prepare young people and women for the future by giving them practical skills that match local job market demands.
- Offering vocational training in high-demand trades.
- Providing job placement support and connections to employers.
- Helping new entrepreneurs start small businesses.
Gender & Life Skills
We are committed to creating a world where women and girls are safe, empowered, and equal
- Creating safe spaces for women and girls to learn and connect.
- Running trainings on leadership, decision-making, and reproductive health.
- Working with men and boys to promote positive masculinities and reduce gender-based violence.
Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM)
When disaster strikes, we move fast. Our RRM is designed to deliver emergency aid within 72 hours.
- Distributing essential items like shelter materials, blankets, and cooking supplies.
- Providing emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene support.
- Conducting rapid needs assessments to guide the most effective response.
Employable Skills Development
We prepare young people and women for the future by giving them practical skills that match local job market demands.
- Offering vocational training in high-demand trades.
- Providing job placement support and connections to employers.
- Helping new entrepreneurs start small businesses.
Legal Status
PHO is officially registered under the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Gambella People’s Regional State Finance Bureau with Civil Society Organization registration number 0235, on December 24, 2024.
Our headquarters is located in Gambella Town, 714 km from Addis Ababa, serving communities across Gog, Lare, Godere, Itang, and Gambella City Administration, as well as seven South Sudanese refugee camps.
All Current Campaigns
Our Mission & Approach
Vision
A resilient and just society where every human being lives in dignity and realizes their full potential.
Mission
To improve the lives of vulnerable and marginalized communities through inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable development and humanitarian interventions.
Core Values
- Humanity: We believe in the inherent dignity of every person.
- Impartiality: We provide assistance based on need alone, without discrimination.
- Neutrality: We do not take sides in conflicts, ensuring access to all who need help.
- Independence: Our actions are guided by our mission, not by political agendas.
- Voluntary Service: We are driven by a spirit of compassion and a desire to serve.
- Unity & Universality: We believe in the power of collaboration to achieve common goals.
Strategic Objectives
- Quality Education: Ensuring children and youth have access to safe learning environments and the tools they need to build a brighter future.
- Lifesaving Healthcare: Improving access to maternal and child health services and combating malnutrition and disease.
- Economic Empowerment: Equipping young people and women with practical, employable skills to build sustainable livelihoods.
- Emergency Response: Delivering rapid, lifesaving assistance to families displaced by conflict or natural disasters within 72 hours.
Our Leadership Team
Leyekun Getaneh
Executive Director
With years of experience in humanitarian leadership, Leyekun guides PHO’s strategic vision, ensuring our programs are effective, accountable, and responsive to community needs.
Maeregu Tilahun
Program Lead
Maeregu oversees the design and implementation of all PHO projects, from Education to Emergency Response, ensuring they deliver measurable, on-the-ground impact.
Birhanu Simegn (PhD)
Program Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Lead.
Dr. Birhanu critical for managing project implementation by providing a frame work to track progress, ensure accountability to stakeholders and foster adaptive, evidence based decision making to build systems for sustainable growth.
PHO Board person and Board Members
PHO board chairperson and board members are high experience by government, IDP and refugees projects. The board chairperson lead`s the board and supervise the executive Director, while board members provide strategic oversight, fiduciary accountability, resources development to advance the achievements of Pho` mission.
Our Team & Partners
Behind every program is a network of dedicated staff, community volunteers, and strategic partners. We work hand-in-hand with international universities, local consulting firms, and national consortiums to bring the best expertise to our community.
Message from the Executive Director
When we founded Priority for Human Being Organization (PHO), our goal was simple to respond to the everyday realities of people in Gambella who face conflict, displacement, and poverty. Over the years, we’ve learned that change doesn’t come from projects alone. It comes from people from local communities who take ownership of their future, and from partners who share a belief that every human being deserves dignity and opportunity.
Our work today focuses on education, health, livelihoods, and protection areas that directly improve lives and build resilience. Every program we run, and every partnership we form, is driven by a commitment to accountability, inclusion, and lasting impact.
I invite you to learn more about our work, get involved, and stand with us in building a more just and resilient society.
Warm regards,
Leyekun Getaneh
Executive Director, Priority for Human Being Organization (PHO)
