Somalilandsun: Over the past three decades, Somaliland’s agricultural sectors has been hit by an increasingly weak and degraded natural environment and more recurrent and severe cycles of drought and floods. These harsh conditions have especially affected the productivity of the farmer communities who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, Increasing the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. For instance, over 250,000 people in Sool and Togdheer region in Somaliland are facing acute food insecurity (Phrase 3+) due to ongoing conflict and difficult weather conditions in 2024.1
Consequently, several districts in Somaliland are still grappling with high levels of food insecurity and flooding, with women and children most affected.
Acted, in partnership with Candlelight and BVO with the support from the French Embassy, implemented a one-year project titled “Nourishing Communities: Restoring Resilience Through Enhanced Food and Nutrition Security for Vulnerable Rural and Displaced Crisis-Affected Communities in Somaliland” from October 2023 to September 2024.
1200 Smallholder farmers were targeted
150 farmers were provided with capacity training trainings on GA
270 farmers were supported with farm tools and treated seeds
153,000 metres of Earthworks/swales were constructed
420 Households befitted or participated cash-for-work activities
Provision of seeds to improve food security for farmers
Acted and its local partner BVO addressed landscape degradation and promoted climate-smart agriculture techniques to strengthen food security and resilience in rural villages across Sool and Togdheer Regions.
This initiative improved livelihoods by enhancing nutrition-sensitive agricultural capacities, benefiting over 1,200 smallholder farmers. Among the beneficiaries, particular attention was given to female-headed households with children under five. These households received agricultural inputs such as tools, seeds and tractor time. Additionally, they participated in Farmer Field Schools (FFS) groups, where they were trained on Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management. The initiative also involved community workshops focused on kitchen gardening.
As part of the project, Acted and BVO established Farmer Field Schools—an educational model that empowers farmers through participatory learning and practical demonstrations. This approach was a cornerstone of Acted and BVO’s efforts to promote community resilience.
Deerow Maollin is a farmer who living in Boodhlay village, located in the Burao district of Togdheer region. He is one of the farmers who benefited from the project. He was provided with farm inputs and seeds. These resources helped him overcome challenges such as lack of resources and inadequate knowledge of agricultural practices.
During the project, Acted and BVO conducted GAP training to 150 farmers and provided farm tools and seeds to 270 farmers in Burao district.
Acted and BVO provided us much needed support, we were trained on good agricultural practices, supported us farm tools and treated seeds, that enabled us to grow more and new crops – Deerow
Previously Deerow was only able to grow a few crops, mainly sorghum, maize, and watermelon. However, as a result of the seeds provided by Acted and BVO along with the trainings he attended, he was able to grow varieties of 5 new crops, including tomatoes and spinach. This has improved food security for Deerow’s family and contributed to the availability of nutrition sensitive crops in the village market.
Long-term community resilience was strengthened by ensuring that trees, shrubs, and pastures benefited from nutrient-rich water, which helped foster biodiversity and vegetation coverage. Acted and BVO constructed 153,000 metres of earthworks andswales, while also applying the Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) method on 36,000 meters of crop and grazing lands. These efforts benefited 420 cash-for-work households.
/https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/population-tracking-tool/en/
2 The names have been changed to protect the identity of the beneficiary.
This project, implemented by Acted and its local partners Candlelight and BVO with the support of the French Embassy, has significantly improved agricultural resilience and food security for vulnerable communities in Togdheer and Sool regions. Through targeted training on Good Agricultural Practices, provision of seeds, and establishment of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), 1,200 smallholder farmers, including women-led households, have benefited from the initiative. The project has promoted sustainable agricultural practices and nutrition-sensitive farming, ensuring long-term resilience in these climate-affected areas.
