Media Roundtable Breakfast Briefing on Pre-famine situation in Somalia and its impact in the Horn
of Africa region
‘Averting a Famine in Somalia’
Alliance Française, Nairobi
24th May 2017
Background
At least two consecutive seasons of poor to no rain and higher temperatures have driven Somalia
into the grip of an imminent famine. Half of the country’s population, over 6.2 million people are
facing possible starvation across the country. Over 600,000 people have moved from their homes
mostly in rural areas, and settled in camps within urban areas in search of food since November
2016. Over 4,500 others have crossed over to Ethiopia and more than 2,000 others into Dadaab
refugee camp in Kenya due to the severe drought. Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) or cholera is
becoming a growing concern as over 28,000 cases have been reported as of early April.
Purpose of the Briefing
Initial early warnings (since December 2016) of severe drought in the region by the Famine Early
Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) prompted agencies to scale up response activities. Donors
also moved quickly to mobilize funding to facilitate quick life-saving assistance and to allow
reprogramming of interventions that seek to protect people’s remaining livelihood assets.
Nonetheless, actors in the response recognize that there is an existing disconnect in public
discourse, on the level of the response particularly towards averting a famine in Somalia. It is on this
premise, that the Somalia NGO Consortium (SNC) with the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG),
world Vision International – Somalia, mercy corps and Oxfam are organizing a media briefing in
order to raise the profile of how humanitarian agencies are responding to the drought crisis in
Somalia (or) highlighting the achievements so far. This will also enable the aid community to
identify possible opportunities for more cut-through in the media that will promote more robust
coverage of the crisis.
Objectives:
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Raise the profile of aid efforts by I/NGOs and the international community in responding to the
drought situation in Somalia and the region
Increase awareness and understanding among media on the evolving and complex humanitarian
situation in Somalia and the region as well as dynamics of the response to enable nuanced
reportage
Improve public perception on the international community’s efforts to avert a famine in Somalia
Format
The briefing will last for three (3) hours and will be done in two parts: key note addresses and a short
panel discussion that will prompt a Q&A session that. The panel discussion will aim to present an
overview of the current response in Somalia and explore through the panelists the following aspects:
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To what extent have I/NGOs, UN and donors been able to scale up the response? Is this
scaled up response adequate? Are there still areas where response has not reached?
What lessons have been learnt and incorporated from the 2011 famine/drought in Somalia
and the region?
What are the key contextual and operational challenges that the current response is being
conducted?
How can the media better cover the current response and what information would be most
useful for the media?
The briefing is planned to target 50 participants who include: Nairobi-based Somali media as well as
foreign correspondents covering Somalia and the region; INGOs responding to the drought in
Somalia and the region, UN agencies (OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, FAO etc) as well as donor
representatives.
Venue and Logistics
The briefing will be hosted at the Alliance Française’s Auditorium, as it is central and easily accessible
to most media outlets. The IAWG and World Vision Somalia will cover the attendant costs related to
hosting the event.
NGOs working and responding to the drought in Somalia will be invited to share their success stories
and photos that are going to be compiled into a brochure to be shared with the media and donors
who will attend the briefing. The compilation of stories will be translated into Somali language and
shared widely with the Somalia media.
A media advisory/save the date will be sent to media by the Somalia NGO Consortium. World Vision
together with the Danish Refugee Council will assist with the mobilization of media.