Somalia is grappling with various severe and interlinked challenges, including climatic shocks, like flash and riverine flooding, disease outbreaks, and ongoing conflicts. These crises have led to widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods, and marked a decline in agricultural productivity, further exacerbating the country's already fragile situation.
To be able to rapidly respond to new shocks and existing needs, the Somali Cash Consortium (SCC), which Acted is part of, provides Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to people in need, following an alert and a rapid needs assessment. The one-year project is funded by DG ECHO and aims to alleviate the suffering of newly displaced and newly accessible Somali households affected by droughts, floods and protracted crises.
Empowering displaced families to access basic services through cash assistance (MPCA) in Kismayo district
Kismayo district is a good example of what these challenges mean in practice: In 2023, heavy rains during the Deyr season caused flooding in several parts of riverine areas in lower Juba region, exacerbating an already difficult situation and triggering major displacement, e.g., to the New Luglow and New Qamqam internally displaced persons (IDP) sites in Kismayo district, creating the urgent need for humanitarian support. The IDPs in Kismayo face food insecurity, with the areas currently being classified as Phase 3 [1] (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, IPC), driven by a combination of the above-mentioned floods, previous drought and ongoing conflict.
Acted participated in a joint Multisectoral Rapid Needs Assessment (MRNA) with the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) in Kismayo district with a focus on New Luglow and New Qamqam IDP sites in North Kismayo (May 26 to 29, 2024). The assessment revealed significant vulnerability of the assessed population, highlighting a critical need for food security and livelihood (FSL) and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
In response, Acted, in partnership with the SCC, currently provides MPCA using mobile money transfers to 1,000 vulnerable households through its existing Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) activities in New Qamqam and New Luglow IDP sites. In total, three cycles are being provided from August to October, targeting especially newly displaced people, those affected by moderate and severe acute malnutrition (MAM/SAM), persons with disabilities and women-headed households.
Acted uses on-rolling basis modality (NAT 2.5 system), developed by SCC-CCCM partners, for continuous registration of new arrivals at IDP sites. This rolling registration enables Acted and other organizations to respond to displaced households within 7 to 14 days, ensuring timely assistance by checking cross-checking beneficiary data in other interventions to prevent duplication and ensures the equitable distribution of resources.
Amina's journey
Amina Nur Mohamed[2], a mother of ten children, has faced significant hardship in recent years. She used to live in Niirey village in Jamame district in the Lower Juba region, where she had a farm that provided essential food for her family. However, the devastating floods in 2023 and the ongoing conflict in Jamame forced her and her family to leave their home. Faced by a rising level of food insecurity, Amina and her family arrived in New Luglow IDP site seeking assistance to have daily meals.
Amina was selected as one of the 1000 households to receive three cycles of MPCA through mobile money transfers (90 USD per month in August, September and October 2024). With the first cycle, she was able to cover the basic needs for her family, ensuring their immediate survival. With the support received as part of the second cycle, and after borrowing some additional money she was able to set up a small kiosk with essential items such as pasta, rice, sugar, soap, and biscuits, to generate some additional income.
Together with the MPCA support and her small shop she was able to meet the basic needs of her family. This included food and clean water, shelter and clothing, and maintaining their health and safety. Anima and her family will be provided with a third cycle, which will be disbursed in October.
She has been able to meet her basic needs, provide support to her children and start a small business which is a long-term opportunity for her to be financially independent.
With the support of Acted and its donors, I have been able to rebuild my life after enduring significant adversity. The two cycles of cash assistance I received provided key financial relief
Amina expressed her appreciation for the financial support provided by Acted with the support of the SCC and DG ECHO.
Acted thanks ECHO and SCC for their ongoing support. Many displaced families like Anima are benefiting from the project to rebuild their lives and restore livelihoods.
[1] https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1156834/?iso3=SOM
[2] The names have been changed to protect the identity of the beneficiary
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