While there are no signs of an imminent major crisis in Somalia, the outlook for 2015 remains fragile, with 2.1 million people still barely able to meet their food needs. Also, 3.2 million people are still in need of emergency health services, while access to safe water remains one of the lowest in the world. In this dynamic, the influx of people from the Republic of Yemen is currently creating supplementary pressure on the 1.1 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) living in crowded settlements in appalling conditions. This situation is susceptible, if no support is provided, to expose vulnerable individuals to shocks that could push them back into crisis.

Vulnerable women, men and children have access to needs based, timely and coordinated life-saving assistance and protection.

The project will principally target:

1. lDPs and host communities in seven urban lDP settlements with the most alarming malnutrition rates, particularly in Dhobley, Doolow, Dhusamarreeb, Garowe, Galkaacyo, Kismayo and Mogadishu.
2. Communities with alarming malnutrition rates and important WASH vulnerability.
3. Vulnerable groups in emergency and crisis with acute needs in areas with increased access ("newly accessible areas"), including Waajid and Xudur in Bakool, Bulo Burto and Maaxas in Hiran, Warshiikh in Middle Shabelle and Kurtunwaarey in Lower Shabelle.

The CHF allocation strategy is closely aligned to the 2015 strategic objectives of the Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia (HRP), and therefore responds to the most critical humanitarian needs in Somalia. Through the money allocated to implementing partners to concretize these strategic objectives, the CHF pursues the following outcomes:

1. Contribute towards reducing the number of people living in emergency and crisis.
2. Improve the nutritional situation in IDP settlements with most alarming nutrition rates.
3. Address acute needs of vulnerable people in newly accessible towns.

Expected results:  

Because of the emergency response nature of the pooled-fund, it is difficult to state concrete outputs in advance. In general, the main deliverables of the CHF's strategy for the year 2015 are articulated around the three following pillars:

1. Undertaking lifesaving interventions targeting people in humanitarian emergency and crisis, principally targeting lDPs, vulnerable groups in "newly recovered/accessible areas".
2. Supporting/improving Humanitarian common services, critical to ensure humanitarian logistic, information- production/sharing, and cluster coordination, comprising the support of humanitarian flights that enable agencies to reach affected people.
3. A reserve of about 10% of the CHF's budget (USD 3 million) is maintained to face potential last minute emerging disasters.

Results from previous phases:  

Since its inception in 2010, the CHF has managed and disbursed a total of USD 281 million through its standard allocation and emergency reserve windows. This experience has given the pooled fund strong administrative capacities and a high reputational profile vis-a-vis the donor community. Looking at results achieved in 2013, by projects finalized in 2014, CHF funds have supported nutrition treatment programmes to 314,000 children and pregnant and lactating women; shelter to nearly 15,000 households; and helped 320,000 people get access to safe water.

This contribution complements SDC's support to its multilateral (UNHCR, ICRC, OCHA, FAO, UNICEF, 10M), and bilateral partners (DRC, Radio Ergo, SomRep) in Somalia as well as contributions to regional partners (IGAD) and similar contributions to the Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) in Ethiopia. With its focus on nutrition and lDPs, the CHF's complements SDC's interventions in the migration and food security sectors in Somalia.

Phase 10 01.07.2015 - 31.12.2015   (Completed)