Mission and Objectives

Mission

The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit- Somalia (FSNAU) seeks to provide evidence-based analysis of Somali food, nutrition and livelihood security to enable both short-term emergency responses and long- term strategic planning to promote food and livelihood security for Somali people.

Project Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to ensure that Somali food, nutrition and livelihood security, at the household level, is strengthened thereby ensuring greater resilience to future shocks such as conflict, drought, flood, disease and inflation.

FSNAU's Phase VI has five project results:-

• Result 1: Timely and relevant Food Security, Nutrition & Livelihood Analysis for Emergency Response
• Result 2: Increased understanding of opportunities to reduce chronic food, livelihood, and nutrition insecurity through improved sector analysis and applied research on underlying causes
• Result 3: Baseline Livelihood Analysis
• Result 4: Information further organized, developed and incorporated into an integrated database system and made accessible through managed information systems
• Result 5: Technical capacity of Somali institutions and partners strengthened in food security, livelihoods, and nutrition monitoring, assessment and analysis

Project Relevance

FSNAU plays an important role in promoting understanding and awareness among all the actors to broaden thinking from the “food availability” focus towards generating a better understanding of food security based on access, availability and utilisation. In this regard:-

• FSNAU remains the primary source for information on food security, nutrition and livelihoods in Somalia and its independence ensures neutral and objective analysis which should not be compromised in such a complex political and humanitarian environment;
• The early warning function of the FSNAU is considered  effective due to the quality and timeliness of the information and is generating analysis to inform a broader range of responses;
• FSNAU seasonal and rapid assessments are the basis of analysis that now informs the strategy for the Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) in Somalia;
• Government authorities and development agencies are establishing emergency preparedness capacity which require baseline and monitoring information;
• Most organizations and agencies operational in Somalia are drawing upon food security, nutrition and livelihoods analysis to determine their own programme interventions;
• Government ministries are demanding more information and the capacity to collect, review and analyse information for their own planning purposes; and
• Increasingly the FSNAU is contributing to strategy and policy frameworks for Somalia (including a Food Security and Nutrition Strategy currently under development).