This report presents the findings of a mixed-methods assessment conducted to evaluate the role of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in strengthening the food security, livelihood resilience, and gender equality of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host communities in Burao, Somaliland. It provides essential contextual grounding to understand the multi-dimensional vulnerabilities facing displacement-affected households including chronic food insecurity, climate-induced shocks, and limited livelihood opportunities and examines how CSA interventions contribute to addressing these challenges.
The chapter outlines the purpose and scope of the assessment, situates the CSA initiative within Somaliland’s wider humanitarian–development landscape, introduces the project theory of change, and presents the research objectives and questions guiding the study. Together, these elements form the analytical foundation for interpreting the findings and recommendations presented in later chapters.
1.1. Purpose and Scope of the Report
This report presents the results of a mixed-methods baseline and early-outcome assessment of the CSA initiative targeting IDPs and vulnerable host communities in Burao, Somaliland. It offers a comprehensive analysis of household socio-economic conditions, livelihood vulnerabilities, food security dynamics, and the emerging effects of CSA on household resilience, consumption, production, and gender empowerment.
Using an integrated approach, the assessment combines quantitative household surveys from both CSA beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries with rich qualitative insights generated through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). This mixed-methods design enables deeper interpretation of behavioural change, CSA adoption, gender dynamics, and the structural constraints shaping programme outcomes.
The purpose of this report is threefold. First, it establishes baseline conditions for beneficiary households, documenting demographic characteristics, livelihood profiles, food access patterns, and levels of food insecurity prior to or at the early stages of CSA adoption. Second, it assesses the initial uptake, performance, and perceived impacts of CSA practices introduced under the project, offering evidence on their relevance, effectiveness, and potential for scale. Third, the report examines gender and social inclusion dimensions, identifying how CSA intersects with women’s empowerment, youth participation, and vulnerability among displacement-affected groups. Collectively, these insights provide a foundation for strengthening programme design, informing future implementation strategies, and generating learning for resilience-building interventions in similar settings.
The report is organised into six chapters:
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Chapter 1 introduces the report, context, and research focus.
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Chapter 2 outlines the methodological design, sampling, data collection, analytical tools, and ethical considerations.
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Chapter 3 analyses the socio-economic and demographic profile of respondents.