In August 2012, a pilot communication project was implemented to improve the delivery of IRC's services through enhanced two-way communication between IRC and the communities it serves. This entailed the launch of a hotline for IDP and host communities in four programme areas, the installation of a FrontlineSMS information hub to systematically deliver information about food security and livelihoods to pastoralists and the installation of FrontlineForms on the mobile phones of community animal health workers and hygiene promoters to quickly and systematically collect data from the field.

1. International Rescue Committee
Somalia
http://www.infoasaid.org

2. Situation Analysis
• IRC has been working in Somalia since 2007. The
organization provides assistance to around 160,000 people,
comprising of a mix of IDPs, host communities and
pastoralists.
• IRC in Somalia focuses on three sectors:
1. Health: Primary health care in partnership with the
Ministry of Health and local NGOs
2. WASH: Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion
3. Livelihoods and Food Security: Temporary employment,
economic empowerment and livestock asset protection
infoasaid for the International Rescue Committee– September 2012

3. Displaced family in Hiran IDP camp in Gaalkayo
Photo Credit: IRC

4. Watering livestock in Bucqad
Photo Credit: IRC

5. Hand washing facility in Carafat IDP camp, Gaalkayo
Photo Credit: IRC

6. Current Communication Methods
• Communication focuses on face to face methods via their
hygiene promoters (HPs) and community animal health
workers (CAHWs).
• WASH programme also uses radio spots during dry season
on Codka Mudug FM (south Gal) and Radio Daljir (north
Gal).
However, while IRC is performing well in terms of information
provision to communities, the organisation would like to
improve:
 Systematic collection and analysis of feedback
 Reorientation of programme interventions based on feedback
 Systematic communication of responses to feedback received
infoasaid for International Rescue Committee in Somalia – September 2012

7. Communications Challenges
• Challenges to using mass media include:
• FM radio only reaches programme areas near major
towns (eg Galkayo)
• The target population is largely illiterate so text based
communication is not suitable (eg SMS, notice boards
and leaflets)
• The target population in the Livelihoods programme
are often isolated and dispersed over a large area;
they also use a variety of sim cards. Hormud is
popular amongst pastoralist communities in south
central Somalia (Galmudug) but not in Puntland
(Golis).
infoasaid for International Rescue Committee in Somalia – September 2012

8. Proposed Project
• Overall goal
• To improve the quality (relevance/appropriateness,
coverage, efficiency and effectiveness) of IRC’s
assistance in Somalia.
• Three objectives:
1. To improve the delivery of WASH and FSL services through
enhanced two-way communication between IRC and the
communities it serves.
2. To improve communication as a form of aid by providing
pastoralist communities with access to useful information such as
market prices and US$ exchange rates, as well as critical issues
affecting livestock.
3. To improve the collection of monitoring data from CAHWs and
HPs.
infoasaid for International Rescue Committee in Somalia – September 2012

9. Proposed Project
Three interventions:
1. Establish a staffed hotline for IDP and host communities in
four programme areas in order to provide affected
communities with a channel of communication for asking
questions, raising concerns, providing feedback on IRC’s
programmes, expressing unmet needs and providing
incident reports.
2. Create a FrontlineSMS information hub and interactive voice
response (IVR) service in IRC’s Galkayo office. Use the hub
and IVR service to systematically deliver information about
food security and livelihoods to pastoralists.
3. Install FrontlineForms on the mobile phones of community
volunteers to quickly and systematically collect data from the
field.
infoasaid for International Rescue Committee in Somalia – September 2012

10. IRC staff completing an information mapping
exercise during the infoasaid scoping mission
Photo: Miranda Eeles/infoasaid

11. IRC staff learning how to record
audio files for the IVR service
Photo: Miranda Eeles/infoasaid

12. Training on how to use the solar chargers to recharge mobile handsets
infoasaid training IRC staff on how to use solar-powered chargers
Photo: Najib Farah/IRC

13. Expected Outcomes
• IRC’s beneficiaries are able to engage in dialogue with IRC
staff through the hotline and as a result are better
informed about services and are able to influence
programme delivery.
• Improved food security and livelihoods as a result of
access to information.
• Better quality monitoring data collected more efficiently
through the use of FrontlineForms.
infoasaid for International Rescue Committee in Somalia – September 2012

14. IRC Somalia
Timeframe
June –July 2012 August – Sept 2012 October 2012 November 2012
Scoping trip
Procurement infoasaid Training Implementation Mid-project
Review
:
1) What is working well, what is not
working well, and why?
2) How, if at all, is the
communication project influencing
the overall humanitarian response?
infoasaid for International Rescue Committee in Somalia – September 2012

15. Thank you for your attention !
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ActionAid in Isiolo, Kenya
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Save the Children in Wajir, Kenya
Save the Children in Puntland, Somalia
http://www.infoasaid.org