SOMALIA JOINT RESPONSE

About the crisis

Somalia faces some of the most severe humanitarian and development challenges in the world. At the moment, 2.6 million people are displaced and a total of 5.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The main drivers of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia are conflict, drought and floods. Recurrent climatic shocks and conflict continue to diminish the resilience of communities, consequently depleting livelihood and coping mechanisms. Due to increased frequency of shocks, communities do not have sufficient time to recover.

The Dutch Relief Alliance response

The Somalia JR contributes to addressing gaps and needs in Food Security and Livelihoods, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Protection and Multi-purpose Cash. The members together with their local partners provide an integrated response in 15 districts across 8 regions, addressing both emergency needs as well as providing medium-term livelihoods support. Considering Somalia’s complex protection crisis, protection is well-integrated in the design of the programme. Protection mainstreaming is done by all members, as well as stand-alone protection activities as part of the integrated approach. The SOMJR targets both vulnerable IDPs and host community members, and special attention is given to the inclusion of vulnerable groups, including elderly, pregnant and lactating women, children especially under five and people with disabilities. The target communities include urban, agro-pastoral as well as pastoral communities in areas where IPC3+ conditions are confirmed. The following is planned for 2020:

• Food Security and Livelihoods: 22,760 target beneficiaries. Interventions include agricultural support through providing seeds and farming tools, food assistance through vouchers, assistance to fisheries by providing training and fishery inputs, and support to female-led Village Saving Loan Associations.
• WASH: 66,835 target beneficiaries. Interventions include the distribution of hygiene kits and hygiene promotion, construction of latrines, construction and rehabilitation of shallow wells and solid waste management in health facilities and communities.
• Health: 77,935 target beneficiaries. Interventions include the rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities, provision of incentives for midwifes and 24/7 maternity services, provision of incentives for nurses, consultations and screening for malnutrition and procurement of essential medicines for mobile outreach teams.
• Nutrition: 23,610 target beneficiaries. Interventions include the provision of nutrition supplies, treatment of children and screening for malnutrition in health centers, by outreach teams and community networks.
• Protection: 36,668 target beneficiaries. Interventions include the distribution of dignity kits, training of protection volunteers and community awareness campaigns on for example the prevention of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, child rights and available services.
• Multi-purpose Cash: 9,758 target beneficiaries. Interventions include Unconditional Cash Transfers and Conditional Cash Transfers (in the form of Cash-for-Work), provided through mobile money transfer.

Photo credits: Pablo Tosco (Oxfam)