INFORMATION FOR ACTION PILLAR SUB-PROGRAMME. Background

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1 FAO Somalia INFORMATION FOR ACTION PILLAR SUB-PROGRAMME Country Programming Framework Background Suffering from the prolonged effects of civil war for nearly twenty years, Somalia s institutional capacity has been lost and most professional and skilled expertise has left the country. Also, one and a half decades of civil strife in Somalia have resulted in the loss or damage of most of the water and land-related information collected in the previous half century. Data and information have not been collected and analysed in South Central Somalia since Since then much of the data and information collected has become out of date, has limited relevance or has been lost or destroyed. FAO Somalia strongly believes in its global mandate, and that timely and accurate food security, nutrition and natural resources information is not only a high priority for quick informed decisionmaking for donors, humanitarian actors and local authorities but also a crucial step to ensure that Somali food, nutrition and livelihood security, at the household level, will be strengthened thereby ensuring greater resilience to future shocks such as conflict, drought, flood and diseases. In line with the FAO Somalia s three year Programme ( ) the Information for Action Sub- Programme constitutes one of the three pillars of FAO s four-year Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Somalia ( ) which is currently under finalization. Indeed, the CPF, as an evolution of the FAO s Programme, details priorities and interventions based on three pillars, namely: Resilience; Institutional Capacity Development and Policy Support; and Information for Action. FAO continuously monitors the status of Somali natural resources as well as food, nutrition and livelihood security and then compiles the data and regularly provides international and Somali partners with timely and accurate information. Through this Pillar Sub-Programme FAO intends to continue contributing towards disaster risk reduction and management, as well as providing an information platform for managing the already fragile Somali ecosystem. In order to cope with these challenges, FAO Somalia operates through its two technical bodies, i) the FAO Somalia s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) and ii) the Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). FSNAU remains the primary source of information on food security, nutrition and livelihoods in Somalia and its independence ensures neutral and objective analysis. The early warning function of the FSNAU is now considered very effective. Most organizations and agencies operational in Somalia are drawing upon food security, nutrition and livelihoods analysis to determine their own programme interventions. SWALIM is a long-term water and land information management programme that consists of several consecutive phases. It contributes to sustainable private sectorled economic rural development and supports the food security of populations affected by disasters, mainly droughts, floods and resource based conflicts. The use of SWALIM information in water and land resources management, early warning, preparedness, response and resilience building, allows informed decision-making, sustainable natural resources management, planning and interventions. 1

2 Linkages with the New Deal Peace -building and State- building Goals (PSGs) The development of the FAO Somalia Country Programming Framework (CPF) is fully aligned with the building blocks of the Economic Recovery Plan ( ) and the Somali New Deal Compact. The Economic Recovery Plan has been developed with the aim of providing a common vision for Somalia s pathway to economic recovery, set out principles to guide the transition from emergency relief to early recovery and development and lay the foundations for subsequent growth and development. The New Deal Compact provides an overarching strategic framework for coordinating political, security and development efforts for peace and state building activities over the next three years ( ). FAO Somalia s CPF links directly with the Peace and State-building Goal number 4 (PSG 4 - Economic Foundations) of the Compact which aims at revitalizing and expanding the Somali economy with a focus on livelihood enhancement, employment generation and broad-based inclusive growth. The FAO s Information for Action provides timely and accurate information on food security, nutrition, natural resources and other sectoral information. This is crucial to coping with the increasing livelihood challenges in Somalia, but it also allows for sound decision making that applies to donors, humanitarian actors, local authorities and citizens for every strategic and state-building intervention planned across the Country. However, given its livelihoods, natural resources and economic nature, this Pillar Sub-Programme has a special link to PSG 4 and its priorities: Enhance the productivity of high priority sectors (farming, livestock and fisheries) and related value chains, including through the rehabilitation and expansion of critical infrastructure for transport, market access, trade and energy; Expand opportunities for youth and female employment through job creation and skills development. Actions will focus on income generating activities, short term labour intensive employment projects and skills development; Promote the sustainable development and management of natural resources by developing legal and regulatory frameworks and building capacity in key natural resources management institutions. Results and Activities The impact statement of FAO Somalia s Information for Action Sub-Programme is that Evidence based decision making increased by timely and actionable information and analysis. It is envisaged that this will be achieved by focusing on the following strategic actions: enhancing the use of information on water and land resources as well as early warning; improving access of a broad range of stakeholders to information in order to improve emergency and longer term response and planning for food, livelihood, and nutrition security; and improving the accessibility and utilization of information amongst different stakeholders, including farmers, pastoralists, and fisher folk with a strong focus on gender issue. The table below summarizes the intervention logic of the Information for Action Sub-Programme. 2

3 OUTCOMES 1. Decision making in sustainable natural resources management, planning, investment, disaster preparedness/respo nse and resilience building is strengthened through the use of information on water and land resources and early warning. Logical Framework of the Information for Action Sub-Programme OUTPUTS 1.1 Water and Land Information systems rationalized, maintained and where appropriate further developed with expanded, consolidated and operational drought and flood emergency early warning systems for improved preparedness and resilience among women, men, girls and boys 1.2 Information-ondemand from Nairobi based and Somali partners, stakeholders (governments, local authorities etc) and final Somali users collected, processed and used to address the unique needs of women, men, girls and boys. 1.3 Available water and land resources information is applied efficiently to solving practical resource management problems that affect women, men, boys and girls by stakeholders and decision makers through a well-established knowledge and information management system TYPICAL ACTIVITIES (With relevant targets for participation of men, women, youth and any locally disenfranchised group.) Finalising/establishing land use and land degradation monitoring systems, and assessments throughout the country including all types of LD, forests and mangroves with annual surveys Further developing flash-flood prevention and early warning systems Boreholes monitoring An inventory of the natural resource base and a territorial diagnostic report released and shared with stakeholders in collaboration with SWALIM Analysis contributing to improved land use and NR Management Field inventory of water conservation and soil erosion structures to be constructed Improving drought monitoring systems and Implementing together will local government and civil organizations active in drought preparedness and mitigation 3

4 Logical Framework of the Information for Action Sub-Programme TYPICAL ACTIVITIES OUTCOMES OUTPUTS (With relevant targets for participation of men, women, youth and any locally disenfranchised group.) Monthly briefings with the HCT, IASC Food Security, Health, Nutrition, Protection and WASH Clusters and related working groups 2. Stakeholders and Somali institutions have access and contribute to timely and relevant genderdisaggregated data and information on the food-, nutrition-, and livelihood security situation for improved emergency and longer-term responses by stakeholders. 3. Sectoral information products targeting institutions and citizens which contribute to increased understanding and improved decision making. 2.1 Timely and relevant food security, nutrition and livelihood information and analysis provided on emergency situations 2.2 Increased understanding of opportunities to reduce chronic food and nutrition insecurity through improved gender and livelihood analysis and applied research on underlying causes 2.3 Baseline livelihoods information and analysis generated to inform the design of early response and longer term interventions aimed at improving household resilience and livelihood security 3.1 Relevant, routine and accurate sectoral data are collected, stored and provided to wide range of users Produce bi-annual Technical Releases, presentations, Food Security Outlook Reports, Technical Series Reports on Integrated Seasonal Assess Conduct on an ad hoc basis rapid emergency assessments on the food, nutrition and livelihood security situation (as needed) Conduct a study on Improving Conflict Analysis for Food Security Early Warning Finalise the study on Iodine Concentration in Somali Water Sources Test and implement improved crop production survey methods, sampling frame and crop production estimations Conduct a gender stand alone study Integrate nutrition information and gender analysis into livelihoods baseline analysis Assessment of returnees capacity of recovery through FAO s interventions Undertake livelihood rezoning and update Somalia Livelihood Map based upon the revised analysis Infrastructure built and functioning (hardware, telecommunication, software) Communicate and share Marketing and Communication media awareness raising Conduct Workshops, Trainings 4

5 Partnerships Over the years, FAO Somalia has actively built strong partnerships with different actors including community-based organizations (farmer s associations, local trader associations, fodder production associations and livestock associations), local and international NGOs and other UN agencies. Through these partnerships, priority is given to accountability and FAO is constantly evaluating the impact of interventions, taking into consideration economy and efficiency to achieve an optimum combination and getting the best value for money. FAO also has considerable experience in working with local organizations and businesses in partnership with government institutions to deliver services and goods. Within its own sub-programme FAO will identify, assess and engage local, private and public sector groups and institutions to deliver support services for its activities. The capacities of these groups, institutions and organizations will be strengthened through training and provision of basic equipment. FAO strives to maintain a central role in ensuring a high standard of technical quality in the agriculture sector (crops, livestock, fisheries, and natural resources), and so it provides support to its partners and the value chains that support the sector. The Organization achieves this objective, inter alia, by providing direct technical assistance, building technical capacity of partners, providing support to - and advocating for - an enabling policy and institutional environment. Risk-Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Mindful that Somalia is a high-risk environment, FAO has robust control and monitoring systems to identify implementation challenges and react rapidly when the achievement of programme objectives is threatened (e.g. misappropriation of resources, inadequate quality of outputs, unintended effects, etc.). FAO Somalia uses, among others, the following means to control risk, monitor implementation, and assess the immediate results of its projects: Due diligence verifications: All suppliers (of goods or services) are registered through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) website which allows an initial check of the vendors capacity, legal status, past performance and potential affiliation with illegal entities (e.g. terrorist organizations). Biometrics: Identification of - and payment/distribution to beneficiaries, through digitization and recognition of their thumbprint. Remote Sensing: Comparison of high-definition satellite images to ascertain the progress of infrastructure rehabilitation (e.g. irrigation canals are functional), and its impact (e.g. expansion of irrigated areas). Call Center: Surveys with beneficiaries, elders and local officials on the telephone allow FAO to become aware of various issues related to difficulties in implementation and concerns of beneficiaries. Awareness campaigns: Local radio announcements to inform beneficiaries of the programme s processes and entitlements. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) functions and activities are being adapted to results based programme approach with focus on measuring outputs and outcomes. M&E system is being designed around the three pillars of the CPF on which the programme is built. Mixed approached and methods will be applied for data collection and measurement of key indicators, including household- 5

6 level sample surveys and participatory qualitative tools, which will provide a detailed baseline for the whole programme (i.e. the Resilience Index). The baseline studies (which also include control areas ) will be conducted regularly to track impact on long-term resilience. The presence of the Field Monitors at the field level facilitates the collection of reliable data as well as the verifying of implementation of activities. Budget The Information for Action Pillar planned budget for 2014 is of a total amount of USD 7,000,000. Detailed work-plans are prepared on a yearly basis taking into account emerging needs and accessibility factors. CPF Total PILLAR Resilience 119 M 110 M 110 M 111 M 450 M 2. Institutional Capacity development and Policy Support 10 M 27 M 17 M 20 M 74 M 3. Information for Action 7 M 12M 12 M 11 M 42 M GRAND TOTAL 136 M 149 M 139 M 142 M 566 M AVAILABLE FUNDS 54 M 20M 5 M 0 M 79 M GAP 82 M 129 M 134 M 142 M 487 M 6