The Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA) 2024 has identified that almost three quarters (73%) of households reportedly did not receive humanitarian assistance in the 12 months prior to data collection in 2024, while that figure was 56% in the 2023 MSNA data. This comes at a time when ongoing conflicts, climatic shocks, and health crises continue to exacerbate the situation in Somalia. The most commonly reported challenges experienced by households in the month prior to data collection were lack of access to sufficient quantity or quality of food (57%), lack of access to enough safe drinking water (43%), lack of a suitable living space (32%) and lack of easy and safe access to a clean toilet (22%). The most commonly self-reported priority support that households would like to receive from humanitarian actors in order to help manage their challenges were food (78%), followed by healthcare (48%) and shelter (46%). Relatedly, in-kind food assistance (68%) was the most commonly reported preferred modality for assistance followed by cash via mobile money (38%) and physical cash (33%).
The 2024 MSNA also identified that there is considerable level (34%) of dissatisfaction among the community towards the humanitarian actors which was increased from 23% in 2023 and 24% in 2022. Of those who were dissatisfied with aid workers' behaviour, top three most reported reasons were- aid workers were not available when we need them (38%), aid workers refused to put people on lists (30%) and aid workers only put friends and family on lists (21%).
Most households may not understand what constitutes sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) or improper behavior by aid workers, as 73% of households reported that they were not aware of what constituted SEA or improper behavior by aid workers.
Top three challenges faced by households in providing feedback or complaints were- the feedback/complaint desk/ point is too far (13%), long queue/waiting time at the feedback point (9%), and don't know how to read/write (7%).
The above findings underline the continuous need for a concrete prioritized focus and strengthened approaches to meet the needs and expectations of the community and improve the Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) practices. The continuous concerns on Post Distribution Aid Diversion (PDAD) necessitates even more emphasis on mainstreaming Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
As the key cross-cutting and technical coordination forum, the Community Engagement and Accountability Task Force (CEA TF) is leading collective actions to mainstream AAP across the Somalia response. The group is participated by more than 100 humanitarian organizations including (9 UN, 29 INGO, 50 NGO, 5 Donors, and Government) with more than 450 people from different stakeholders subscribed to the mailing list. The work of the group spans across identifying community's preferences, needs and gaps in terms of information provision, participation and feedback mechanism which then are translated into different specific actions. In 2024, several coordinated awareness raising campaigns were launched including on Gu-flood and Cholera. A monitoring assessment identified that 87% of respondents received messages on GU floods and Cholera/AWD. Multiple capacity building training/orientation sessions were organized and technical support provided to the partners of CEA TF and other clusters on mainstreaming of AAP and improving Complaint and Feedback Mechanism (CFM). Regular coordination is established with the Operation Cell (OC) and a comprehensive plan was developed to provide focused CEA support to the members of Area Based Coordination (ABC). This will be fully implemented in 2025 in order to emphasize the bottom-up approach and meaningful community engagement on the ground. CEA TF will support the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG) and all clusters for implementing the Flagship Initiative in identified pilot districts.
In 2025 significant changes are required in how the community engagement is carried out. Aid organizations must have SOPs/guidelines in place to ensure meaningful participation and responsive feedback processing that respects confidentiality and urgency of actions. Similarly, awareness raising or information sharing must be carried out in an inclusive way using appropriate methods to reach people from marginalized/excluded and vulnerable groups. The means of communication should adhere to the community preferred channels. As per the MSNA 2024, the most preferred means to receive information/communication from aid agencies about the humanitarian aid/service include in-person from aid workers (59%), in-person from camp leaders (47%) and via phone call or SMS (22%). As the means of measuring progress towards meaningful participation, different assessment/analysis mechanisms need to be in place.
CEA TF is co-leading two (out of ten) priority actions under the HCT PDAD Task Team. CEA TF co-leads the Technical Steering Committee for CFM Aggregator Model under the HCT PDAD Task Team. Since the Interoperable Aggregator CFM Model has been endorsed by HCT in Dec 2023, CEA TF has led the technical team and developed Technical Standards for Aggregator CFM Model which was endorsed by HCT in May 2024. Accordingly, the team produced Q1 Joint Analysis through CFM Aggregator Model which was published in May 2024. In Q1 analysis we received data from only 6 organizations, but with strong advocacy, capacity building and technical support from CEA TF, the Q2 Joint Analysis through CFM Aggregator Model5 is published with data from 16 organizations. While common analysis process is established and similar feedback analysis will continue to be developed in 2025, there is need for improving the effectiveness of the existing CFMs by incorporating the technical standards of the aggregator model and rationalizing the CFMs and hotlines.
The MSNA 2024 identified, most households preferred using face-to-face communication for providing complaints/ feedback, with 53% reporting face-to-face with an aid worker as the preferred method followed by face-to-face with a member of the community (48%), Phone call (39%) and Complaints and suggestions box (13%). It is important to align the CFMs according to the community preferences and the CEA TF will provide advocacy, capacity building and technical support to increase the use of fac to face CFM mechanisms
CEA TF is also co-leading the workstream under the PDAD Task Team regarding strengthening community engagement on communities' rights and entitlements. A Communication and Community Engagement Strategy has been developed and endorsed by HCT in Dec 2023. Accordingly, a survey among local humanitarian partners and a community consultation was completed. Going forward in 2025, common key messages will be developed and translated, and some Information Communication and Education (IEC) materials will be developed to roll out a comprehensive awareness raising campaign.
To effectively ensure that accountability is extended to all affected people, CEA TF will coordinate with other cross-cutting coordination forums including Prevention from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Network, Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG), Disability and Inclusion Working Group (DIWG), Cash Working Group (CWG) etc. to advocate for, provide technical support and building capacity on inclusive and accountable program delivery.
The AAP commitments are cross-cutting and not the sole responsibility of a particular sector, working group or organization. Rather, all sectors and their partners are responsible for championing and upholding them. All clusters under ICCG also have identified different specific actions to mainstream AAP within their sectoral operations. The strategy and action plan of the CEA TF will need financial back up from donors and support from all stakeholders to create an enabling environment for progressing towards meaningful participation and community centric humanitarian response.