Primarily, SDO has come into existence in order to address local issues of the local communities and encourage community participation in all efforts made to improve the quality of life of local residents in areas where a lot work needs to be done for ensuring safety and basic life facilities for the poor, neglected, and/or marginalized segment of the population. While many non-governmental organi
zations, both national and international, have been working in Pakistan for relief, rehabilitation, and development, there has been a specific need for local organizations in most backward and hard-to-reach areas of KPK and FATA. SDO has that capacity in shape of local volunteers and professionals of KPK and FATA. Its local origin and organizational composition allowed SDO the unique position to easily access local communities for mobilization of their resources and actualize the concept of sustainable development through self-reliance. Close observation from a local perspective renders keen judgmental ability to an organization and that is why SDO exists – to count on local knowledge, capability of specific needs assessment, and ability to mobilize local resources for bringing about relief, peace, and sustainable development. The basic philosophy behind the formation of the organization is to approach to marginalized and disadvantaged segments of the society, which have been, or are still being, pushed away from the development process by one reason or the other.
