Horn of Africa: two SDC humanitarian workers tell us about their work
Article, 19.08.2016
The international community celebrates World Humanitarian Day on 19 August. To mark the occasion, the SDC pays tribute to its own humanitarian workers. Natacha Pugin and Abdi Kunow work day in day out providing food assistance in the Horn of Africa.
Several hundred experts make up the SDC's Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA). Whether in Bern or abroad, as members of the SHA on assignment in the field or in reserve, these men and women work in a wide range of areas, in all countries around the world that need their help.
The Horn of Africa, for example, faces a multitude of crises, including natural disasters, conflict and extreme poverty. Somalia is the epicentre of the region’s humanitarian crisis, with the highest rates of malnutrition in the world. The UN estimates that 4.7 million people require humanitarian aid in Somalia alone, equivalent to 40% of the population.
So who are the men and women who choose to work in these challenging environments? How do they do their job and what does it entail? What motivates them? We take a closer look at the work of two SDC experts in the Greater Horn of Africa.
Natacha Pugin
Position: Member of the SHA, seconded to the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia
Place of work: Nairobi, Kenya, with occasional travel to Somalia
Length of assignment: 12 months
Her job
Natacha is responsible for providing technical support in the implementation of cash-based transfer programmes. She is part of the WFP's Programme Unit in Somalia.
The beneficiaries
The WFP provides food assistance to millions of men, women and children using a digital beneficiary and transfer management platform called SCOPE. To date, the details of over 1.2 million people in Somalia have been entered in SCOPE. In the first half of 2016, 440,000 Somalis in acute need received food assistance by means of electronic cards.
A typical day
Natacha works in Kenya at the Nairobi liaison office. Her assignment began four months ago. New technologies allow her to do a substantial amount of work remotely whilst remaining in close contact with teams on the ground. Natacha liaises between the WFP’s various functional and operational units. She takes part in regular analyses of cash-based transfers to ensure that they are in line with market prices and also helps to foster ownership of the system among all national colleagues and partners involved with the WFP.
The benefits of digital technology
Thanks to the transfer system, programme beneficiaries can choose and buy their food from retailers nationwide. Data digitalisation means that nutrition programmes can be tailored to the needs of the worst affected population groups, such as pregnant women, babies and children. It also makes it easy to monitor the programme. According to the project officer, the technology enables an appropriate, reliable and flexible humanitarian response whilst boosting the local economy.
The challenges
Humanitarian travel is closely monitored in Somalia. The situation on the ground is difficult and unpredictable. Owing to the highly unstable climate in the country, Natacha’s first field assignment in August had to be postponed for security reasons. In her view, the main challenge with working in such contexts is finding the right balance between the needs of the population, risk management and the complexity of the environment in which the teams operate. It is a situation that requires humility and pragmatism. For Natacha, the discrepancy between the immense needs of the population and the resources available to humanitarian organisations is sometimes difficult to accept.
What motivates her
Natacha feels privileged to work in humanitarian aid, doing a job that is consistent with her values. Her assignment as a WFP programme officer represents a constant challenge: developing sustainable local solutions to ensure that everyone has access to adequate nutritious food all year round and to end malnutrition in all its forms by making the best possible use of 21st century technologies. “Working with teams who do an incredible job only strengthens my commitment even more,” she explains.
Her background
After graduating in economics and social sciences from the University of Fribourg, Natacha spent several years working in the financial sector in Zurich and New York. She was then taken on by the International Committee of the Red Cross as an administrative coordinator, where she worked in various countries (Ethiopia, South Sudan, Burundi, South East Asia and Central Asia). At the FDFA’s Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit she is a member of the Coordination and Administration expert group and has undertaken a range of assignments in Bern, then Liberia, Lebanon, Madagascar and now Somalia.
Kunow Abdi
Position: Food security programme officer, Horn of Africa, Swiss cooperation office in Kenya
Place of work: Nairobi, Kenya – Frequent travel to Horn of Africa (Northern Kenya, Somalia)
His job
Kunow works for the SDC in the Horn of Africa in food security and rural development domain. His priorities are water supply for pastoral communities and livestock, improved rangelands management and boosting the resilience of people enduring food crises.
The beneficiaries
Kunow is currently involved in two projects providing assistance for communities in Somalia and northern Kenya. The Somalia Resilience Programme supports 420,000 shepherds, farmers and people living in city suburbs. The resilience of the community plays a vital role in food crisis management in this programme. In the provinces of northern Kenya, the Kenya Resilient Arid Lands Partnership for Integrated Development (Kenya RAPID) supports water supply in several regions benefiting 435,000 people.
A typical day
The programme officer is based at the Swiss embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. As the SDC is one of the project partners and not the direct implementer, Kunow mainly works remotely in close cooperation with the SDC local teams. He visits the operations in the field several times a year, meeting the various partners and monitoring and evaluating the programmes.
The challenges
Visiting some areas is still dangerous, even for people from the Horn of Africa. Aid operations are protected by armed escorts in most parts of Somalia, particularly in southern and central regions. Kunow stresses just how much rigorous prior planning is involved. He lives in the relatively secure Kenyan capital. Restrictions on the freedom of movement and the sense of insecurity sometimes encountered when working in this region also represent challenges.
What motivates him
Kunow has vast experience of working in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. “I’m very familiar with this fragile and sensitive environment. These are my roots. I’m very much at home in this part of the world,” he explained. “It’s extremely rewarding to apply your skills, expertise and experience to an initiative that has a direct impact on the lives of thousands of people.” Kunow speaks the local languages facilitating interaction with the communities. He also has a better understanding than anyone of these people’s needs. Somalia is more severely affected by the chronic food crisis hitting the Horn of Africa. After almost three decades of war, conflict and lack of operational government, Kunow believes the resilience of Somalian communities in dealing with drought, famine and poor harvests has been eroded. He added: “There is tremendous humanitarian need. The SDC gives me the opportunity to play a part in the assistance process.”
His background
Kunow comes from the County of Garissa in north-eastern Kenya. After studying veterinary medicine at the University of Nairobi, he spent several years working as a programme manager for various international NGOs in Kenya and Somalia. He then took a master’s degree in food security and international development in the UK. He subsequently returned to the Horn of Africa, to work as a food security specialist for the SDC over a year ago.
Links
Swiss Humanitarian Aid: saving lives and alleviating suffering
The SDC: engagement in fragile contexts and prevention of violent conflicts
Somalia Resilience Programme, SomReP
Resilience for Pastoralist Communities in Northern Kenya
Cash transfer programming – Make beneficiaries an integral part of the humanitarian response
SDC projects in the Greater Horn of Africa
Safeguard Young People (SYP) - Tanzania
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2026
With 62% of its population below 25 years, the Safeguard Young People (SYP) programme supports Tanzania’s demographic dividend. The project advances young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) through a gender-responsive and inclusive policy environment, empowered youth who make informed decisions, and responsive health and education systems. SYP builds on 10 years of regional experience and UNFPA’s expertise.
Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF)
01.10.2023
- 30.09.2025
Switzerland’s contribution to Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) for the implementation of the Productive Social Safety Net Program (PSSN) contributes to the protection of 1.5 milion poor households in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar through cash transfers, public works and livelihoods enhancement. Also evidence generated through this support will inform and reinforce Swiss engagement in national policy dialogue on social protection, beyond PSSN.
Supporting returnee and host communities to rebuild livelihoods, generate income, and peacefully improve and manage natural resources for short-term relief and long-term food security (Triple Nexus) in South Sudan.
01.07.2023
- 30.09.2025
This project will support returnees and the host communities to rebuild their livelihoods, generate income, and peacefully improve and manage natural resources for short-term relief and long-term food security. This will be achieved through increased food production, sustainable management and governance of natural resources, initiating alternative income opportunities, non-violent conflict resolution and GBV prevention. This intervention aligns with the humanitarian, peace and development nexus and will contribute to durable solutions.
South Sudan: Plan International, Integrated Protection, Skills Building and Learning for Empowerment of Adolescents, Youth, families and communities in Yei, Morobo and Kajokeji
15.06.2023
- 14.06.2025
This project seeks to complement the previous phase of an integrated protection intervention. It will build on key successes, achievements and key lessons learned through the provision of integrated life-saving emergency child protection services, skills building, empowerment of adolescent youth and communities in the targeted locations.
Enhancing Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Communities and Ecosystems in South Sudan
01.06.2023
- 31.05.2026
Local authorities and communities will be strengthened in their technical and managerial capacities to reduce people’s livelihood exposure, vulnerability and resilience to floods and drought thus increasing food production and reduce food insecurity as well as displacement of people and competition over natural resources. This will be achieved through improved communication, coordination and knowledge-sharing, early warning systems and appropriate legislation.
Somalia: Strengthening State Institutions for better service delivery
01.03.2023
- 31.12.2025
The Multi-Partner-Fund (MPF) provided an umbrella to prepare the World Bank’s (WB) re-engagement in Somalia. It has become a powerful tool for donors to pool resources and enabled the WB to engage with Somali authorities to gradually advance reform implementation related to revenue and financial policy, as well as public financial management (PFM). Through this project, Switzerland supports the incremental strengthening of core state institutions in Somalia and contributes ultimately to stability and socio-economic recovery of the country.
Mercy Corps: Strengthening Resilience in Agriculture, Livelihoods and Markets through Local Institutions in Greater Mundri
01.02.2023
- 31.01.2026
To sustainably move households out of chronic vulnerability, poverty and food insecurity by facilitating economic recovery and support for smallholder farmers and non-farm microenterprises. The support will consist of market system development (MSD), value chain development, vocational skills development and improved methods of agriculture, such as agro-ecology and conservation. The intervention will focus on women and youth and is highly relevant in a post-conflict context like Mundri (South Sudan).
2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2023
Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.
Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF 2023 – 2026)
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2026
More than 28 million people in Ethiopia are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of internal conflict, displacement, and recurrent natural hazards, primarily drought. An estimated 5.7 million people are displaced internally as a result of conflict (main driver of displacement in the country) and drought. Additional 2 million people are IDP returnees. The country also hosts more about 1mio refugees from Somalia, South Sudan, Eritrea, and Sudan. The Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund is a pooled fund that aims at providing rapid and flexible humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable and underserved areas. Switzerland has been reconfirmed in 2023 member of the EHF Steering Committee.
CARE International: Breaking the Silence
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2024
The proposed project seeks to address key drivers of GBV, promote help-seeking behaviour, access to quality services for survivors and promote economic empowerment of vulnerable women and girls. Some key activities will include the provision of health, psychosocial, and protection support in one (1) existing safe house and three (3) women and girl-friendly spaces (WGFSs), the provision of unconditional emergency cash support to vulnerable survivors and livelihood opportunities. Through the partnership with WIDO, a local women-led organisation, CARE will work to transform negative masculinities and social norms.
SIRA - Somalia Information and Resilience Building Action
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2025
Rangeland degradation, drought and other effects of climate change are further exacerbating food insecurity in Somalia. Through the present intervention the communities’ resilience is increased by enhancing climate sustainable livestock production, fodder productivity and public service delivery leading to improved household incomes. Switzerland aims to support communities’ capacities to cope with climatic shocks and as such contributes to stability and peace in Somalia.
Contribution to UNHCR Programme Budget 2023-2024 (earmarked)
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2024
UNHCR is one of Switzerland’s key multilateral partners due to its unique mandate by the General Assembly of United Nations to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, refugee returnees, and stateless persons. The strategic direction 2022-26 concretise the overall mandate of UNHCR for the upcoming years. Contributing to these directions allows Switzerland to achieve in particular the human development goal defined in the Dispatch to Parliament on International Cooperation for 2021-24.
Refugee protection and integration has been a central objective of the SDC Humanitarian Aid for many years in the region. In the new regional Whole of Government strategy for the Horn of Africa within the pillar migration and protection this objective remains important. The project in Kakuma camp will develop skills that are of utmost benefit within the camp, to the youth of the host communities but also in the refugees’ country of origin, keeping in mind a possible future return.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Kenya |
Migration Vocational training Education Human rights nothemedefined
Forced displacement (refugees, IDP, human trafficking)
Vocational training Basic life skills Human rights (incl. Women's rights) |
15.04.2013
- 31.07.2016 |
CHF 1’289’170
|
- Swisscontact
- Swisscontact
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation EDUCATION
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Vocational training
Material relief assistance and services
Basic life skills for youth and adults
Vocational training
Human rights
Cross-cutting topics Conflict reduction
The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
Type of support Official development assistance (ODA)
Type of collaboration Bilateral cooperation
Finance type Aid grant
Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
Tied/untied aid Untied aid
Project number 7F08201
Background |
Kenya is host to more than 500’000 refugees of which most are living in camps. There are two main camp locations: Dadaab in the East and Kakuma in the North of Kenya. The economy of the Kakuma area is isolated, small and stagnant. It would have collapsed years ago without relief and services implemented by UNHCR and partners by through humanitarian aid programs. Northern Kenya over the last decades has been marginalized with lack of central government support resulting in weak infrastructure, insecurity and limited livelihood and educational options. There is need to unleash the productive capacity of the refugees and build on the existing entrepreneurial activity between the host and refugee community. |
Objectives |
The main goal of this project is to impart training in life and basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as entrepreneurial skills for both, youth within the camp and youth from Kakuma Town. |
Target groups |
Refugee and Host community youth in Kakuma, 15 – 25 years old. |
Medium-term outcomes |
Partial Action 1: carry out a comprehensive market analysis of current needs for specific activities in education and preferred marketable trade skills that will benefit host and refugee youth Partial Action 2: a more resilient and educated refugee and host community youth in Kakuma Camp and Kakuma Town. |
Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
Credit area |
Humanitarian aid |
Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Non-profit Organisation |
Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 1’289’170 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 1’269’123 |
Project phases |
Phase 2
01.07.2016
- 31.08.2019
(Completed)
Phase 1 15.04.2013 - 31.07.2016 (Completed) |