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HORN OF AFRICA EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FUND
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 207245709 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q33 · International Affairs · Medium ($1M-$10M) · abaarsonetwork.org
revenue
$1.8M
expenses
$1.8M
net assets
$127K
employees
0
volunteers
1
program ratio
93%
mission · from form 990

CARRIES OUT DEVELOPMENT BY FUNDING EDUCATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD

profile · synthesized from sources

Abaarso Network is an education ecosystem in Somaliland comprising a leadership boarding high school, a women's teachers college, and a growing network of K–12 schools. It focuses on developing future leaders and educators through rigorous academics, character development, and community service, with a strong emphasis on empowering Somali girls and women. The model is designed to be self-sustaining through returning alumni who become teachers and leaders across the network.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    N/A
  2. #2 $0
    N/A
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Abaarso School
American-accredited 7th–12th grade leadership boarding school in Somaliland that prepares students for top universities abroad, with a focus on academic excellence, character development, and English immersion.
Barwaaqo University
All-female teachers college offering bachelor’s degrees in education, training women to become professional educators and role models in Somaliland through a residential, English-language program.
Kaabe Schools
Scaling network of K–12 student-centered schools using Montessori methods in primary grades, staffed by Barwaaqo-trained teachers and managed by Abaarso alumni, providing free education to local village children.
Mahadsanid Program
Adult education program offering literacy and skills training to school staff and on-campus soldiers.
Primary Tutoring Program
Community service initiative where Abaarso students provide after-school tutoring to young children from the local village.
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Delivering tutoring and adult education programs
      Operates the Primary Tutoring Program, offering after-school education to local village children, and the Mahadsanid Program, which provides adult education to local staff and on-campus soldiers.
  • Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
    • Funding education initiatives in the developing world
      Funds education initiatives in the developing world as part of its broader development work, supporting educational access and capacity building in underserved regions.
  • Comprehensive Student Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Providing structured boarding and holistic education programs
      Provides a full-time boarding environment with structured academic, extracurricular, and evening learning opportunities. All students are required to engage in at least 3 hours of weekly extracurricular activities, including clubs, sports, community service, gym, and chores.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Operating a network of K–12 schools in Somaliland
      Operates a growing network of K–12 schools for children starting at age three, including a free primary school in Baliga Cas and a 7th–12th grade American-accredited boarding school. The network serves over 300 students and uses English immersion, staffed by Barwaaqo-trained teachers and Abaarso alumni.
    • Supporting alumni success and leadership development
      Has enabled over 390 alumni to earn more than $65 million in scholarships to universities, including Harvard, MIT, and Yale. Alumni have founded Barwaaqo University, Kaabe Schools, the first women’s health clinic in Somaliland, and hold leadership roles in government ministries, the UN, World Bank, and major private sector firms.
    • Training educators and creating teaching careers
      Operates a Teachers College at Somaliland's first and only all-female university, training educators who provide free education to local village students and achieve a 90% graduate employment rate. Has created over 100 teaching careers through its programs.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.85M
Contributions & grants$1.85M100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$1.79M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$1.66M
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$128K
Cash$128K
Investments$8
Liabilities$1K
Net assets$127K
Liquid reserves0.9 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +40.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 7
  • ANDRA EHRENKRANZ — BOARD CHAIR
  • DIVYA NETTIMI — MEMBER
  • HARRY LEE — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
  • JAMES LINVILLE — SECRETARY
  • JOHN EHRENKRANZ — FINANCE CHAIR
  • NARA ISMAIL — MEMBER
  • SALAM OMAR — MEMBER
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Abaarso Network Network — Edna Adan Ismail serves as a board member of Abaarso Network.
  • Abaarso Network Network — Part of the Abaarso Network, which supports its operations and mission.
  • Abaarso School Partner — Barwaaqo University students complete internships at Abaarso School, and a graduate of Barwaaqo's primary school program was admitted to Abaarso School in 2024.
  • African Leadership Academy Partner — Collaborative partner in education and leadership development.
  • Barwaaqo University Partner — Trains teachers who are employed at Kaabe Schools.
  • Berkeley Public Policy Partner — Academic or programmatic partner in public policy education.
  • Clinton Global Initiative Partner — Global initiative partner committed to advancing education in Somaliland.
  • DP World Partner — Corporate partner supporting infrastructure or educational development.
  • DP World Partner — Partnership to operate a Kaabe Schools campus in Berbera.
  • Fletcher School Partner — Graduate school partner in international affairs or leadership training.
  • Global Schools Forum Partner — International network partner focused on improving school systems.
  • Hali Access Network Partner — Education access or equity-focused partner organization.
  • Harvard Graduate School of Education Partner — Academic collaborator in education research or teacher development.
  • Hospital for Special Surgery Partner — John Ehrenkranz serves on the Board of Advisors at Hospital for Special Surgery.
  • Mastercard Foundation Funder — Major funding partner supporting educational opportunities.
  • NEA SEC Accredited Government — Accrediting body recognizing Abaarso School’s academic standards.
  • New York Cares Partner — John Ehrenkranz serves on the Board of New York Cares.
  • New York Genome Center Partner — John Ehrenkranz serves on the Board of the New York Genome Center.
  • Partners for Equity Australia Partner — Equity-focused education partner supporting inclusive programming.
  • Stanford Graduate School of Education Partner — Research or academic partner in education innovation.
  • Teachers College Columbia University Partner — Academic partner supporting teacher training and education programs.
  • The Big Heart Foundation Partner — Funding or implementation partner in educational initiatives.
  • The Goldman School Partner — Partner institution supporting public policy or leadership training.
  • Tuck School at Dartmouth Partner — Higher education partner in leadership or business training.
  • Tufts University Partner — Higher education institution collaborating on academic or leadership programs.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Character Development Through Mentorship
    methodology: character_development_through_mentorship
    By combining 1:1 faculty advising with character workshops focused on self-improvement and accountability, the organization cultivates ethical leadership, because sustained mentorship relationships reinforce personal responsibility and long-term behavioral change.
  • Foundational Skills Acceleration
    methodology: foundational_skills_acceleration
    By delivering self-paced instruction in core subjects—English, math, computers, and reasoning—the program accelerates foundational learning to prepare students for teacher training, because mastering these skills early enables successful progression into professional education and leadership roles.
  • Homegrown Talent Development
    methodology: homegrown_talent_ecosystem
    By training local students—particularly women—to become educators and leaders who return to serve within the network, the organization builds a self-sustaining education ecosystem, because locally rooted talent increases cultural relevance, community trust, and long-term institutional resilience.
  • Progressive Internship Model
    methodology: progressive_internship_model
    Through a three-tiered internship program, students gain increasing levels of responsibility and real-world workplace experience, because structured, scaffolded professional practice builds workplace readiness and leadership capacity over time.
  • Residential Education Model
    methodology: residential_education_model
    By providing a fully residential campus environment, the organization removes domestic barriers that hinder young women's access to education, enabling them to focus exclusively on learning and personal development because stable, immersive environments increase educational engagement and completion rates.