Baseline Report for the BMZ Grow ENRICH Project, World Vision Somalia

The Baseline Report for the BMZ GROW ENRICH Project presents a comprehensive assessment of maternal and child health and nutrition in Somalia. The study utilised a mixed-methods approach, employing simple random sampling to select 400 households and collect data through integrated household questionnaires on Android phones, synchronised with ODK Aggregate servers for real-time plausibility checks. Key findings reveal significant demographic insights, with an average household size of 4.87 and a predominance of male-headed households (71.2%).

The survey indicated a concerning prevalence of wasting at 14.0% and stunting at 9.8% among children under five, highlighting urgent needs for enhanced health financing and service delivery. The Ministry of Health's budget saw a substantial decrease from $83 million in 2023 to $52 million in 2024, impacting the availability of health services. Additionally, only 50% of infants aged 0-5 months were exclusively breastfed, and a mere 14.3% of children aged 6-23 months achieved a minimum acceptable diet.

The report emphasises the necessity for improved advocacy for health and nutrition funding, establishing youth-friendly health services, and promoting education on infant and young child feeding practices. These findings underscore critical areas requiring a coordinated approach involving policy changes, community education, and strengthened health service delivery to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Somalia.