Assessment of Drought & Anticipatory Action on Targeted Populations: Somalia

This report provides an overview and assessment of anticipatory actions in Somalia responding to drought. This includes documentation of the pilot setup, monitoring and evaluation of the implementing partners’ activities, and an independent impact measurement carried out by 60 Decibels. First, an overview of the USD 20 million funding allocation is provided, indicating the sectors, agencies, and activities which received money.

To determine reach, impact of the drought, satisfaction, and impact of anticipatory action assistance, phone interviews were conducted in Somali language with 1,444 recipients of aid between February and August 2022. Almost half (49 percent) of respondents reported relying on three or more coping strategies, such as buying food on credit or spending savings, to survive. These findings underscore the importance of anticipatory action programming to mitigate humanitarian suffering. Performance snapshots are provided for program generally and for each agency (FAO, UNFPA, IOM, UNHCR, WFP), as are deeper examinations into various evaluative factors, such as timeliness of assistance and adequacy of assistance. Only 3 percent of aid recipients reported challenges with receiving assistance, with lack of trust in the implementing agency the top challenge. Overall, 4 in 5 respondents report quality of life improvement, with WFP and UNFPA recipients more likely to experience greater impact. Recipients suggested increased access to cash assistance and food as future improvements.