Did you know?
Small, locally-led organizations often deliver more impactful and cost-effective results with significantly less funding compared to larger international organizations. Directing resources to local groups can multiply the value of each dollar spent, sometimes achieving greater community impact with one-tenth of the budget used by bigger NGOs.

The world is ready for a new status quo in Development work

Our organization was born in 2023 out of honest conversations between the founders who, after years of working in the development sector, knew things had to change. They had seen firsthand how local people who are already driving change in their communities, are often overlooked or under-resourced.

Local leaders don’t need to be "empowered” from above, they need to be trusted, supported, and fairly paid. That’s why we work with small, grassroots organizations, instead of stepping in to do things for them.

Together, we’re challenging the usual way of doing development aid and putting power and recognition where it belongs: in the hands of those
already doing the work.

The Local Experts Team.

Group of six local leaders posing for a photo outdoors, with greenery and wooden structures in the background.

Holistic Action for Development and Empowerment

Based in Uganda, Holistic Action for Development and Empowerment (HADE) is a woman-led, community-centered organization committed to building a more just and sustainable future. They focus on empowering women and youth, protecting the environment, and supporting inclusive, grassroots-driven development.

HADE brings deep local knowledge and leadership to every initiative, showing how lasting change starts from within the community.

Pictured from top right to bottom left: Brian Otoke (IT Officer), Maria Diana Mukanzanira (Program Officer), Pispa Acen (Volunteer), Ismail Bogere (Yumbe Coordinator), Ronah Ahumuza (Executive Director), Martha Angoku (Accountant).

The Founding Team & Board

  • A young woman with short brown hair smiling in a beige button-up shirt, standing in a well-lit room with a plant and furniture in the background.

    Jimena Rincon

    FOUNDER AND STRATEGIC LEAD

  • A man with glasses wearing a purple blazer and a maroon shirt, smiling at the camera, standing against a plain background.

    Peniel Rwendeire

    FOUNDER AND PROGRAMMATIC LEAD

  • Salka Wollesen Breum

    BOARD MEMBER

  • Kristian Mølberg Meyer

    BOARD MEMBER