Request for proposals for Multi-Cluster Needs Assessment in Somaliland Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region in the Horn of Africa, continues to face significant development challenges. As of 2023, approximately 54.4% of the population lives below the poverty line, with poverty rates reaching 78.4% among nomadic communities and 65.5% in rural areas1. The regions youth, comprising about 70% of the population2, experience high unemployment rates, estimated at around 65%, leading to increased vulnerability and negative coping mechanisms. Somaliland has endured consecutive droughts over the past five years, culminating in the most severe drought in four decades between 2020 and 2023, which affected 7.8 million people across Somalia3. These climatic shocks have devastated livelihoods, particularly among pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, leading to widespread displacement to urban areas. Children under five years old are among the most affected by these crises. As of 2024, an estimated 1.6 million children aged 659 months in Somalia are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, necessitating urgent treatment. The compounded effects of malnutrition, lack of clean water, and inadequate sanitation have led to increased susceptibility to diseases among children4. In Somaliland, there are a significant number of socially and economically vulnerable and excluded populations. Among the most disadvantaged groups are the large numbers of OVCs, most of whom are affected economically, socially and psychologically. Generally, children in Somaliland face many challenges including lack of parental care, poverty, lack of clean water, recurrent diseases, and lack of protection including their basic rights to quality education, health, nutrition, participation and proper shelter. Given these multifaceted challenges, a comprehensive multi-cluster needs assessment across all regions of Somaliland is imperative to inform targeted humanitarian and development interventions. 1.3 Rationale and overall objective of the needs assessment This multi-cluster needs assessment provides an objective analysis of the target groups needs and present stakeholders in each NA program/interventions. For both new and ongoing programme interventions a needs assessment should be carried once per programme cycle (i.e. every 3-5 years, in line with the SOS Results Based Management Approach) in order to guide SOS staff on whether the organisation is the best placed stakeholder to respond in a certain community, and to provide up-to-date information on context and most crucial needs of the target group. The recommendations provided in the needs assessment report are essential to develop tailored services and interventions and thus are the basis to develop a programme concept. 1.3.1 Objectives of the Multi-cluster Needs Assessment As the needs assessment will cover all the six regions of the country (Borama, Dila, Zaylac, Lughya, Hargeisa, Gabiley, Dara-salaam, Salaxley, Baligubadle, Sabawanaag, Berbera, Madheera, Sheikh, Burao, Oodweyne, Caynabo, Ceerigaabo, Ceel-afweyn and Gar-adag) and will focus on different clusters including Care, Education, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), WASH, Health, Nutrition, and Protection, it will also incorporate a strong Gender and Diversity Inclusion (GDI) lens to ensure that the specific needs and vulnerabilities of girls, boys, children with disabilities, and other marginalized groups are adequately identified and addressed. Following are the main objectives of the assessment: · Provide information on the socioeconomic status (poverty rates, demographic data like population, # of children and youth population, livelihood sources, protection concerns, literacy levels, health issues) of the target population in target locations. · Create a deep understanding of the magnitude and root causes of natural hazards in all study regions. · To assess the availability, accessibility, and quality of alternative care arrangements for childrenspecifically Kafala, kinship care, foster care, and institutional careto inform child protection programming and policy. · Assess the current situation (economic, social, cultural and political) of OVCs and young people and identify their priority needs, focusing on their protection and Care. · Analyse the current situation of families/children who are at risk of losing parental care and their priority needs. · To assess the availability, accessibility, and quality of essential services for OVCs and their caregivers across all regions of Somaliland · To assess the extent to which existing services and programs are inclusive and responsive to gender and diversity needs, with a focus on identifying gaps in access, participation, and outcomes for girls, boys, children with disabilities, and other marginalized OVC groups. Tender Link : https://somalijobs.com/tenders
