CARE in Somaliland: Sustainable School Meals from Local Production

Last year, Somalia faced its worst drought in four decades, affecting nearly half of the population. Tragically, 43,000 lives were lost, with half being children under the age of five. As Somalia strives for political stability after decades of civil war, it remains one of the world's poorest nations, with over 70 percent of the population living below the poverty line.

In response to this crisis, AP Sensing has chosen to support CARE's project in Somaliland. This initiative aims to provide sustainable school meals through local production, ensuring that children receive proper nutrition while attending school. The project targets 25 primary schools with over 4,400 school children in the Togdheer, Marodi-Jeh, and Sanaag regions of Somaliland, providing daily nutritious lunches for these school children, establishing school clubs to educate children about nutrition and hygiene, and supporting 626 farmers with training on climate-adapted cultivation techniques, drought-resistant seeds, and proper food storage.

To ensure the long-term success of the initiative, CARE is working closely with the Somaliland Ministry of Education, municipal education committees, and civil society organizations. Emphasizing the empowerment of women, CARE is training 300 women on nutrition topics and facilitating networks for farmers to enhance their exchange and negotiation skills for fair prices.