Plan International (Drought in Horn of Africa)

Plan International Drought Response in Horn of Africa

The goal of the program is to save lives, reduce food insecurity and increase access to services within the most vulnerable communities in drought affected regions in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. Countries in the Horn of Africa (HOA) are experiencing the impact of one of the worst climate-induced emergencies of the past 40 years. After three failed rainy seasons, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia are currently facing an unprecedented fourth drought season, which brings extreme food crisis, water shortage, economic challenges and conflict to around 20 million people in the three countries. The devastating situation would persist or even worsen in the coming months, with the continuous impact of the La Niña phenomenon, conflict and political instability in the region, massive funding gap and spike in food prices due to increased costs for fuel, fertilizer, shipping and war in Ukraine. Immediate assistance has to be pushed forward to meet the current humanitarian needs.

Planned Response:

Livelihood, Food, Nutrition & Health

• Enhance access to food for marginalized communities through provision of multi-purpose cash transfer assistance for most vulnerable households and internal displaced population (IDP) to address their basic needs
• Provide referrals for other services as appropriate, e.g. mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) service or medical service, particularly child protection and nutrition
• Provide quality treatment for acute malnutrition for under-fives as well as pregnant and lactating mothers

Education

• Support children to access education through conditional cash transfer, voucher and/or in-kind support
• Establish Temporary Learning Centers and provide teaching and learning materials
• Provide continued inclusive education for internal displaced population (IDP)

WASH

• Emergency water trucking to drought affected communities and fuel subsidies to water trucking actors
• Distribute hygiene kits to vulnerable households, particularly dignity kits to women and girls
• Construction and rehabilitation of WASH facilities at schools, including girls friendly latrines

Protection, Gender-Based Violence, Sexual Reproductive Health and Right

• Establish and strengthen community-based child protection mechanisms
• Provide case management and referrals for children at risk or survivors of abuse and exploitation
• Provide training and technical support to other agencies, government ministries and local authorities to mainstream child protection approaches into food security, education and health programming

To learn more about how the drought affects the vulnerable communities, please visit this page: Devastating drought leaves girls and women in Somalia facing double crisis of hunger and violence