Celebrating achievements and joint learning with Somalia-based partners and USAID

Integrity colleagues and Somalia-based delivery partners for the USAID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Somalia Monitoring and Learning Project 2 (SMLP2) recently came together for a three-day in-person workshop in Nairobi to showcase work and build relationships. The workshop was also attended by Integrity CEO and Founder, Anthony Ellis, and BHA representatives.

Our consortium delivers innovative third-party monitoring (TPM) services to BHA programming across Somalia. The BHA Somalia portfolio includes agriculture and food security, economic recovery and market systems, protection, shelter and settlement, nutrition, multi-purpose cash assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene, and emergency health interventions.

The workshop consisted of three main activities.

The first day allowed the team to pause and reflect on progress to date with Somalia-based colleagues, looking at internal processes and plans, and the impact of external factors on our work.

Ms. Peris Gitonga, SMLP2 Deputy Chief of Party, said: “One of the partners noted that their primary takeaway was feeling like part of a family, and that’s exactly what the workshop accomplished. We learned from each other, supported one another, had our differences, but most importantly, we emerged with shared values and a common vision for the coming year. We set ambitious goals and are now primed to achieve them.”

“…we emerged with shared values and a common vision for the coming year. We set ambitious goals and are now primed to achieve them.”

On the second day, a learning event reviewed trends emerging from the collection and analysis of data over the last two years. This included an overview of emerging issues in the humanitarian space in Somalia, such as the drawdown of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) that is anticipated at the end of in 2024. This is expected to result in an upsurge of insecurity and inaccessibility in certain areas, drought, and growing concerns about aid diversion in Somalia.

Abdulkadir Ali Nur Osman from partner organization ANPPCAN-SOM is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist. He said: “Involving the TPM partners in the recent SMLP2 planning workshop was a significant milestone for partners, for it marked a departure from exclusively focusing on data collection and fostered collaboration in all aspects of SMLP2, including co-creating plans and other approaches for the smooth delivery of TPM activities in Somalia.”

“Involving the TPM partners in the recent SMLP2 planning workshop was a significant milestone for partners.”

The final day saw planning for the fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025). This period will include SMLP2 promoting a more intentional approach to learning. To start this iterative process, SMLP2 facilitated development of initial key learning themes during the planning event, to be honed and revised into a focused learning agenda and detailed learning questions consultatively with Somalia-based colleagues, BHA, and the implementing partner portfolio. This will allow SMLP2 to focus on collecting data that meets identified evidence gaps, informs intentional learning, and ultimately brings value to BHA decision making.

Integrity CEO and Founder Anthony Ellis said: “Planning the next year of delivery with both USAID staff and our Somalia-based partners in the same room impressed me a lot. We are committed to getting this right through listening to those working with us on the ground and truly living USAID’s vision for localization.”

“We are committed to getting this right through listening to those working with us on the ground and truly living USAID’s vision for localization.”

Integrity has worked in Somalia since 2011, co-ordinated from our East Africa hub in Nairobi. For more detail of our regional track record in delivering high-quality research and data and translating evidence into action see our capabilities statement or please get in touch: [email protected]

This post is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this post are the sole responsibility of Integrity Global and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.