In 2018, SDC in partnership with WFP is implementing drought recovery program (VFA/VFT project) designed to allow households to meet basic food needs during this lean season, the project targets four (4) villages of Ilma-adeer, Rabaable, Laacdhere & Ballay Villages in Nugaal region Somalia, In addition Voucher for training (VFT) will be rolled out in Bursalah town – Goldogob District Mudug region where 100 households will benefit, majorly IDPs and host community will benefited through the project, where different market oriented skills namely, Mobile-phone repairing, electricity and Computer will be offered.
The project expected outcome is to create and produce assets required to cushion and save lives during the drought and other hardships including protecting livelihoods by strengthening and mainstreaming the traditional and local coping strategies in empowering households in the area to be food secure and their general well-being.
The implementation periods will be 6 months, from February – July 2018. The total numbers of households are 520 households; all of them are above 18 years of age.
In addition, before the project started, SDC successfully mobilized and sensitized the communities and informed them on the criteria that were to be used in selecting the beneficiaries including the number of beneficiaries in each respective location.
Selection criteria:
1. Vulnerable female headed households i.e. widows, single mothers and orphans
2. Big size household families and poor
3. Displaced persons& Minorities
4. Unemployed youth or elderly persons
As per the donor requirement, the selection and registration of the beneficiaries’ process is an important step in achieving a pertinent and appropriate targeting of beneficiaries of the project, the targeting was on the most vulnerable groups and food insecure households in the area, our process of beneficiaries selection and registration was conducted in line with WFP guidelines, a transparent process with clear steps.
Additionally, gender rule was adequately taken into consideration. This was manifested in terms of involving women in the different activities of the project like decision making in the course of planning, implementation and monitoring. We encouraged participation of women in every stage of the project.
The female members of the targeted community were the principal beneficiaries of the project, this was in order to reduce their regular work burden and increase their access to productive assets
2. OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of the selection & registration process was to make sure only the most vulnerable households in four targeted villages in Mudug & Nugaal regions benefit from the project. The data was used as a basis for identification of households and individuals that deserve to be beneficiaries of the project in order to be assisted.
3. COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION, SELECTION & REGISTRATION
Between 3rd and 5th February 2018, we did mobilization and sensitization in each targeted village, where beneficiaries actively participated in it, we also involve and engage IDP’s / Villages committees, Farmers committees, elders and government representatives and local administration in the exercise; We stipulated to them in detail the selection process and the universal criteria that will be used to pick the beneficiaries of the project and we also educated them on how the program will be rolled out.
It was followed by visits to the respective villages and locations, where we held public forums and meetings, the village committees helped us in mobilizing the locals, where we used the meetings to convey to the residents of the respective villages about the project objectives, results and expectations. We also used the opportunity to inform them about the selection criteria, where we outlined to them that the most vulnerable members of the community were the priority.
Additionally, we informed them that after selection process the scope registration will follow. During the meeting, we also had a chance to constitute selection committees which comprised SDC, IDPs/villages committee, Farmers committees, elders and local administration.
On 6-7 February 2018, SDC organized Community Consultation meetings in each targeted sites to discuss with the stakeholders how the selection process will be undertaken, for instance what parameters to use in defining who are the vulnerable, the programs outcome, expected results and necessity of working as team to achieve the targeted goals.
The selection of beneficiaries started on 8th – 12th February 2018, where we selected beneficiaries in four targeted locations in Nugaal & Mudug regions, we ensured 50% of the beneficiaries are Female.
The selection criteria entirely focused on the most vulnerable in the targeted areas, including those who were recently affected by the drought and also the minority groups were taken into consideration.
In general the community mobilization, sensitization and selection activities focused on enlightening and informing the prospective beneficiaries about the project procedures and all other information pertaining it.
In addition, the mobilization, sensitization and selection were done through the help of our focal points in terms of traditional elders, religious leaders, local authority, IDPs/village committees, Farmers committees and members of public.
4. OUTCOME OF THE SELECTION PROCESS
Selections of the beneficiaries included members fromIDPs/village committees, elders, Farmers committees, women leaders and local community’s opinion leaders.
The registration of the 520 beneficiaries involved a well stipulated and a well laid down process that included; screening, orientation, mobilization and selection exercise.
Selected and identified 520 households.
The selection process was based on the WFP criterion which gives priority to households headed by women, the elderly, disabled, non-working beneficiaries, unemployed, large familiesand low income households, 50% of the beneficiaries’ arewomen. We made sure the process was fair and transparent aspossible.
To ensure the methodology used is accepted across the board, we invited all the stakeholders to participate in selecting the beneficiaries to ensure the all activity was transparent to all.
Additionally, conflict resolution committee will be constituted to ensure any issue that arises during the implementation is solved amicably and in timely manner.
5. CHALLENGES
• The mobilization, sensitization, community consultation meetings and selection allocated time is very limited because each activity of that needs more time to do carefully
• Farmers and pastoralist needs more explanation to understand guidelines, selection criteria and project objectives
• The number of beneficiaries selected was low compared to the people who need assistance from the respective areas.