WFP SOMALIA

SEASONAL ANALYSIS AND RESILIENCE PROGRAMMING

LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMMING: SEASONAL CALENDARS, PROGRAMMING OPTIONS AND COMMUNITY ACTION PLANS Through seasonal programming workshops, WFP has developed a menu of appropriate, seasonally differentiated, interventions for all districts in Somalia. The

calendars below are from Bosaso and Iskushuban districts in Puntland. They were developed during a WFP-led seasonal programming consultation in Bosaso in

June 2013. The workshop brought together representatives of communities, NGOs, UN, Government and other stakeholders to share knowledge and help inform

the programming of resilience-building interventions. The communities highlighted in the calendars below are IDP and coastal communities but similar calendars

were developed during the consultation for pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities.

While referring to the seasonal calendars and broader intervention menus, community action plans are also developed by each targeted community. The commu-

nity action plans provide baseline data, an analysis of needs and appropriate interventions and a three-year prioritized plan, with multiple activities proposed for

each community. The plans are shared with partners in order to generate complementary activities.

COASTAL COMMUNITIES For the coastal communities along the Red Sea and Indian Ocean coast,

fishing constitutes the main livelihood. Among the coastal communities, the

most vulnerable households are those who do not own fishing nets, en-

gines or boats, but who work for better-off fishermen or work in hotels or

restaurants.

The main critical period for these communities is the Hagaa, as the high

sea levels during the monsoon season severely limits fishing opportunities.

Market prices are also high in the Hagaa, while the presence of competing

foreign fishing fleets and anti-piracy operations are other important factors.

As is the case for IDPs and peri-urban communities, the performance of

rains has relatively little impact on the well-being of the coastal communi-

ties.

Programme interventions during the Hagaa should be focused on protecting

lives and livelihoods. For the rest of the year, programmes should focus in

helping households invest and prepare for the following Hagaa.

IDP/PERI-URBAN COMMUNITIES IDP and peri-urban settlements are found around most major urban cen-

tres in Somalia. The settlements are often poorly planned and living con-

ditions are extremely precarious. Frequently, IDPs also suffer from stig-

matisation from host communities, which limits their access to the labour

market and to basic social services.

For the IDP/peri-urban communities in Bosaso, the main critical period of difficulties is the Hagaa, when there is high unemployment as port activity

is reduced and businesses are closed. Another factor that may result in

difficult times for this group is inflation, often due to a decline in the value

of the Somali Shilling. The livelihoods of these communities are not di-

rectly affected by rainfall level to the same extent that rural livelihoods

are.

In terms of programming implications, this means that safety nets to fill

gaps in household income are essential during the Hagaa, when there is

high unemployment. Outside of the Hagaa, support should focus on pre-paring households for the Hagaa and develop skills that will help them

climb up the labour value chain and out of poverty.

JOINT RESILIENCE STRATEGY

As part of the Joint Resilience Strategy for So-

malia adopted in 2012, FAO, UNICEF and WFP

identified three complementary building blocks

to promote resilience in Somalia. One of these

key components – The strengthening of the

productive sectors – is being addressed through WFP’s livelihoods activities. In April 2013, WFP

started implementing livelihoods activities, in-

cluding water catchment rehabilitation and canal

irrigation, in targeted villages in Dolow dis-

trict, one of the geographical focus areas tar-

geted under the Joint Resilience Strategy. The

activities were selected through jointly devel-

oped community action plans completed in 25

villages in Dolow.

Throughout 2013-2015 WFP’s livelihoods activi-

ties will support the implementation of the Joint

Resilience Strategy as it is expanded to other

parts of Somalia, including Somaliland (Burao

and Odweine) and Puntland (Bossaso and

Iskushuban). The seasonal programming

workshop in Bosaso in June 2013 generated a

wealth of information - highlighted in the calen-

dars above - which will help organisations roll

out the Resilience Strategy in Bosaso and Is-kushuban. Above all, it underlined that assis-

tance should aim to facilitate communities’ own

resilience strategies, including the preparations

they make for difficult periods and the positive

coping strategies they engage in during shocks.

WFP road rehabilitation project in Puntland, during the project implementation and after its completion, 2013 (Copyright: WFP)

Community consultation in Dolow, October 2012

(Copyright: WFP / Hundubey Ahmed)

SEASONAL CALENDAR: TYPICAL YEAR - IDPS AND COASTAL COMMUNITIES - BOSASO AND ISKUSHUBAN

FOCUS DISTRICTS FOR RESILIENCE

STRATEGY

Community consultation by WFP partner organi-

zation in Puntland, 2012 (Copyright: WFP )

RESILIENCE PROGRAMMING OPTIONS ACROSS SECTORS - TYPICAL YEAR - BOSASO AND ISKUSHUBAN

Months

Rainy seasons

Dry seasons

IDPs/Peri-urban

Most difficult/best months (W+M) Most difficult - high unemployment

Port activity

Business activity Businesses close during school holiday Businesses open. Peak activity during livestock sales.

Work opportunities Work available High unemployment Work available

Pastoralists shopping/hiring Pastoralists shopping/hiring

Seasonal movements Rich HH, business owners migrate south

Market prices (imported food) Normal prices Low supply, prices 20% higher during port closureNormal prices

HH expenditure School fees, increased rentWater prices increase House repairs after Hagaa High medical costs as illnesses peak

Diseases outbreak Respiratory illnesses peak

Food stresses

Access to health facilities Open all year

Coastal communities

Most difficult/best months Most difficult Best months

Market prices (food commodities) Prices remain stable Prices start increasing Prices decrease Prices remain stable

Production (dates, limited) Cash-crop production starts

Water shortage Shallow wells start drying out

Diseases outbreak Cold period

Malaria During and after the rains During and after the rains

Food stresses Less food

Labour (hiring)

Fishing (Indian ocean) Fishing stops Fishing

Fishing (Red sea) No fishing

Seasonal movement (Red sea) Those that can afford migrate south

Busy periods (men) Men resting Busy fishing

Busy periods (women) Women less busy as schools closed Women's busy period starts

Gu - main rains

Hagaa - dry season

Deyr rains

Businesses open

Pastoralists shopping/hiring in town

Less food as prices rise during port closure

Jilaal - dry season

Port open. Operations peak during Ramadan/Hajj livestock exports

Best months. Work available.

Port closed/less active 1 June - 15 Sept.

Ability to pay is less in Hagaa

Port open/active

Best months

MarchApril May June July August September October November December January February

Hiring of people to maintain boats

Starts preparing for fishing season Peak of fishing

Starts preparing for fishing season

Months

Productive sector activities

(general rationales)

Labour-based activities

Activities related to

agriculture/agro-forestry

Activities related to

construction or

rehabilitation

Education

Water

Nutrition (preventive +

treatment)

Health

Safety Net Interventions

Supporting ProgrammesGu - main rains Deyr rains

Hagaa - dry season Jilaal - dry season

Activities that protect lives and livelihoods and

safeguard development gains (all groups)

Labour based activities possible (all groups)

Labour-based activities possible (all

groups, although some pastoralists

will have migrated)

Labour-based activities possible for pastoralists, IDPs and

agro-pastoralist, but not for coastal communities as this is

their busiest time.

Labour-based activities possible (all groups, although some

coastal community are still busy with fishing activities).

November December January February March

Productive Sectors

April May June July August September October

Activities that support HHs to make investments (all

groups) and recovery if follows severe Jilaal

(pastoralists, agro-pastoralists)

Activities that help to protect livelihoods & safeguard

investments/development gains (all groups)

Activities that strengthen HH's capacity to prepare

for coming hardships (or support HH recovery) (all

groups)

Basic Services

Possible opportunity for skills

trainings for pastoralists, agro-

pastoralists (least busy season)

Schools closed for holidays (all groups). Potential opportunity

to engage unemployed IDPs in vocational skills trainings.

Teacher in-service training. Distribution of school materials

ahead of new school year.

Term begins.High risk of non-

enrolment as fee-paying capacity

low at end of Hagaa (all groups).

Campaigns and incentives to

encourage enrolment.

Possible opportunity for skills trainings

for pastoralists (least busy season)

High risk of drop-outs for migrating pastoralists in

Jilaal. Possible mobile schools or

campaigns/incentives for attendance.

Tree-planting/agro-forestry etc where feasible

Provide farm inputs by end of July,

ahead of planting (agro-

pastoralists)

Crop/veg production, tree-plantingQuieter period: opportunity for trainings, soil and water

conservation measures, gulley treatments, etc.

Construction possible in coastal areas where there is

very little rain (and in all areas for structures that are

not affected by rains)

Construction activities involving excavation are most

easily done in the dry season (e.g. rehabilitation of

dams, berkeds, wells)

Construction possible in coastal areas where there is

very little rain (and in all areas for structures that are

not affected by rains)

Construction activities involving excavation can most

easily be done in dry season (e.g. rehabilitation of

dams, berkeds, wells)

Respond to peak of malaria, AWD, water-

borne diseases

Ensure free/affordable services available. Low ability to pay in

Hagaa (all groups). Mobile services for pastoralists migrating

at this time.

Peak of malaria,

AWD, water-borne

diseases

Respond to peak of

respiratory diseases (all)

Migration + low ability to pay (pastoralists). Possible

mobile services.

Safety Nets

Peak water scarcity and highest cost (all groups). Ensure water

available. Water points along migration routes for

pastoralists.

Second peak water scarcity and highest cost (all

groups). Need for water points along migration

routes for pastoralists.

Continue nutritional interventions year-

round (all groups) - emphasize prevention

ahead of Hagaa peak

Scale up nutritional interventions - peak malnutrition period

(all groups). Possible mobile services for pastoralists migrating

at this time.

Continue nutritional interventions year-round (all

groups) - emphasize prevention ahead of upcoming

Jilaal peak for pastoralists

Scale up nutritional interventions for pastoralists.

Possible mobile services for migrating HHs.

Safety nets on standby in case

needed

Scale up safety nets for all groups (IDPs more Jun-Aug; Agro-pastoralists

Aug/Sep, Coastal/pastoralists Jun-Sep)Safety nets on standby in case needed

Scale up safety nets for pastoralists (most difficult

season)