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.

A woman sits on a hospital bed with her child on her lap. Both are suffering from severe malnutrition. They are being treated in a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.
In 2016, the World Food Programme is helping 1.4 million people facing acute food shortages in Somalia. © WFP/Barry Came

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.

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© SDC

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

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© SDC

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)

Links

SDC projects in the Greater Horn of Africa

Object 1 – 12 of 48

Safeguard Young People (SYP) - Tanzania

Safeguard Young People Programme

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)

Ms. Maria Maguta, TASAF beneficiary in Katavi Region.

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.

Object 1 – 12 of 48

Project completed

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
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
  • Swisscontact
  • Swisscontact


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)