ASSESSMENT ON FEASIBLE FRAME/MODALITY OF
LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES AND MICRO-LOAN FOR PEOPLE
LIVING WITH HIV (PLHIV) AND THEIR FAMILIES
August – September 2011
CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 3
HIV AND AIDS SITUATION IN SOMALIA ............................................................................................. 4
CONTEXT OF CONSULTANCY ............................................................................................................... 4
CONSULTANTING TEAM .................................................................................................................... 4
PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................ 5
METHODOLOGIES, TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS .............................................................................. 6
DELIVERABLES/EXPECTED RESULT ............................................................................................... 6
RESULTS/FINDING .................................................................................................................................... 7
Institutions involved in Livelihood Activities .......................................................................................... 7
Common Micro-Loan Practices .............................................................................................................. 10
Other livelihood Activities other than loan ............................................................................................. 11
Most Common and highly demanded Livelihood Activities .................................................................. 12
Marketing of Businesses ......................................................................................................................... 15
Possibilities to engage/link PLHIV into existing livelihood and micro-loan services ............................ 17
Perception of stakeholders to engage PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan services ............................. 18
Stakeholders of PLHIV in livelihood activities ...................................................................................... 18
Barriers of involving PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan activities ..................................................... 18
Existing situation of livelihood activities of PLHIV............................................................................... 20
Case of PLHIV in Business .................................................................................................................... 20
Effects of HIV and AIDS on livelihood activities of PLHIV ................................................................. 20
Feasible Livelihood Activities for PLHIV .............................................................................................. 21
Gaps in PLHIV to operate the livelihood activities ................................................................................ 21
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ 22
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 22
Recommendations ................................................................................................................................... 22
Annex-1: TOR for the Assessment ............................................................................................................. 24
Annex – 2 Assessment tools ....................................................................................................................... 26
Annex - 3 Evidence of experience .............................................................................................................. 31
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PLHIV continue suffering and the rate of infection in ever increasing. In addition to the illness and the physical
problems, PLHIV suffer social and economic problems. To assist these people, this assessment sought to define
the feasible frame or modalities of livelihood activities and micro-loan that suit for the People Living with
HIV (PLHIV) and their families by assessing and analyzing the existing situation and practices related to
the areas of livelihood and micro loan in Somaliland.
Center for Consultancy and Facilitation has conducted the market assessment utilizing Focus Group Discussions,
key informant interviews and in-depth interviews with potential beneficiaries. The data collection has emphasized to
get information from randomly selected institutions and business people.
The purpose of the study was to assess feasible frame/modality of livelihood activities and micro-loan for People
Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families in Somaliland. The key areas investigated included; organizations
involved in livelihood and microloan activities, microloan practices, market trends of highly demanded livelihood
activities, possible linkage of PLHIV into existing microloan and livelihood activities, perception of stakeholders in
involving PLHIV into livelihood activities, barriers and overcoming strategies to involve PLHIV into livelihood
programs, situating of principle loan recipients and their families, and potential businesses that can be run by
PLHIV.
There is a evidence of the existence of many organizations involved in microloan and livelihood activities but
involving PLHIV in these activities is not a common practice among organization. These organizations include
UNDP, ILO, IOM, UNHCR, NRC, DRC, SC, COOPI, World Vision and others.
Most of the organizations don‟t have problem involving PLHIV in their projects but still they talk about difficulties
and barriers in doing so in terms of the identification of beneficiaries and their ability in running a business. The
overcoming strategies for these barriers include: Liaising and coordinating with SOLNAC and organization that
support PLHIV for the identification of PLHIV who can benefit from microloan and livelihood projects; Awareness
for the loan providers; Empowering PLHIV to resist and fight discriminations; provision of small loans; literacy
trainings, entrepreneurship and business management trainings; and involving PLHIV in safe businesses.
The entry and start up of a business in Somaliland is quite difficult hence the need for proper planning and
strategizing in order to penetrate the market and it is not easy to access credit facilities from other sources to finance
the business operations. This poor access to credit facilities contributes to slow growth of the small business in
Somaliland.
Among the good and highly demanded livelihood activities are: tea shops; groceries; cloth hawker; small street
vendors and shops; butchery; garment making; and utensils shop.
PLHIV were found to be in the business and are capable of doing businesses. There were signs that business helps
the income generation and self-dependence of PLHIV.
Based upon the results and the findings of the assessment the following recommendations were made:
-
-
PLHIV should be capacitated through provision of small loans and grants, skills trainings
including small business management trainings, literacy trainings, awareness and mobilization for
PLHIV towards income generation and livelihood activities, and moral support and stigma
reduction;
Organizations should be mobilized and sensitized to involve PLHIV in livelihood and microloan
activities; the government and NGOs should put more efforts in training PLHIV who are already
in business on entrepreneurial and management skills; liaising with concerned government bodies
such as those mandated with HIV/AIDs programs coordination (SOLNAC) and Ministry of
Labour and Social Affairs to strengthen and support efforts of improving the livelihood of
PLHIV.
3
INTRODUCTION
HIV AND AIDS SITUATION IN SOMALIA
Rates of infection with the Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) have continued to rise rapidly in SubSaharan Africa despite efforts undertaken by governments and international agencies. In Somalia
however, the number of people infected cannot be accurately determined. Service statistics from existing
health facilities also cannot be relied upon since these figures are always reluctantly compiled. Sentinel
surveillance systems are yet to be started. Services for managing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
and HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Somalia has only recently currently received attention from the
International community, governments, where these exist and local nongovernmental organization
movement, with introduction of the Syndromic Approach to the management of STDs. Prior to the
introduction of this approach, patients were treated through diagnosis of specific diseases by referral of
samples for laboratory testing. With the Syndromic Approach, a client is diagnosed, at the point of
contact, through history taking and categorization into a broad sysndrome according to a clinical
algorithm, treatment is then made by syndrome rather than disease.
CONTEXT OF CONSULTANCY
Handicap International has been implementing HIV Integrated Prevention Treatment Care Support
(IPTCS) Project through local partner organizations in Puntland since January 2010. The project has been
funded by the Global Fund HIV grand Round 8 through UNICEF.
As the part of project‟s service delivery areas, one partner organization is implementing in Garowe and
Bosaso of Handicap International has planned to support 50 persons or families infected and affected by
HIV and AIDS for livelihood micro-loan service. Handicap International plans to carry out an assessment
study to define the feasible frame or modality of livelihood activities and micro-loan for People Living
with HIV and their families in Puntland through an independent consultant or consulting firm. The
finding and recommendations of the assessment will be considered while setting the livelihood micro loan
services for PLHIV and their families under the project of Handicap International. This Terms of
Reference is set out to define purpose, scope of work and expected outcomes of assessment.
CONSULTANTING TEAM
CCF
CCF is a group of consultants with wide range of experience and knowledge in a variety of areas. CCF
has tens of professional local consultants and has links with external consultants. CCF was organized as a
business and a profit entity which was established to exist in the form of partnership. The partnership type
is unlimited. The founders of the business are termed to be the partners.
CCF office
CCF has office in Hargeisa, and it is planning to open other branches and agent offices in all other major
cities in the country making its service as much available to everyone as possible.
CCF MISSION AND VISION
Mission statement
CCF is a broad-based consultancy firm which exists to provide business clients, organizations and
individual criticizes with wide range of differentiated consultancy and facilitation services including
Human resource development and trainings, research and surveys, and facilitation of procurement
4
activities. Through this, CCF is aimed at creating jobs, new business initiatives, quality services and
stimulating new ways of conducting businesses in the country.
Vision statement
Our dream is to be the leading consultancy firm in Somaliland gaining reputation and success from our
respected clients through quality consultancy.
CCF Experience and Achievements
CCF has conducted and participated in the following projects:
 CCF has conducted research for Sub-Sahra Researchers
 CCF has conducted researches for SAYS NGO in November 2010
 Translated research instruments for Sub-Sahara Researchers (Kenyan NGO)
 Translated manuals for Tostan INGO
 Conducted GALLUP world poll 2010 in six regions of Somaliland
 Developed strategic planning document for ANNPCAN Somaliland
 Developed strategic planning document for Moonlight Girls LNGO
 Developed strategic planning document for SOHURA LNGO
 Supported Textbook Review conducted for MoE and funded by UNESCO
 Supported the Evaluation of Integrated Special Primary and Alternative Basic Education ISPABE
Project
PROJECT TEAM
The team assigned for this assessment comprises for researchers with the following experience:
Name
Qualification
Experience
Title
Abib Adan Nur
Masters
in Conducted research for Lead consultant
Public Health
MoH,
World
Vision,
Amoud University
Said Mohamed Dahir
Masters
in Conducted Research for Consultant
Public
Sub-sahra
Researchers,
Administration
SAYS, CCF. Conducted
Business Plan for Agrofafa,
CCRT, Mead Stationary.
PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT
The purpose of the assessment is to define the feasible frame or modalities of livelihood activities and
micro-loan that suit for the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families by assessing and
analyzing the existing situation and practices related to the areas of livelihood and micro loan in
Somaliland.
OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK
The objective of the assessment is to:
1. Assess the current situation of livelihood activities.
2. Assess whether there are any possibilities to engage/link PLHIV into existing livelihood and
micro-loan services.
3. Assess the perception of stakeholders to engage PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan services.
4. Assess the existing situation of livelihood activities of PLHIV.
5. Identify the feasible livelihood activity for each PLHIV?
6. Provide practical recommendations for the modality/frame of livelihood and micro-loan for
PLHIV.
5
7. Design and deliver 2-day livelihood business planning and management training for the selected
PLHIV and their families, if there is no scope to link PLHIV into existing livelihood and micro
loan services.
METHODOLOGIES, TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS
The Methods of Implementation and Reasons for the Proposed Methodology
Socio-cultural approach: From earlier lessons learnt, understanding the Somali culture and social
segregations against the vulnerable and sick people, practices in wealth management, governance set up,
clan elders (gurti) involvement has been crucial in the implementation of earlier projects and will be taken
into consideration during the action. With this in mind, the action will employ strategies that will fit the
program into the Somali socio-cultural context, by gathering information from target groups and
individuals. Somalis are an oral society and tend to take up information from their religious leaders, elders
and influential persons, as well as informed people in the community. These opinion leaders form a very
important group of people among the Somali culture. The action will aim at utilizing the relations of
elders and opinion leaders with the rest of community to activate involvement and participation from the
community.
Participatory Approach: The action will use the participatory development method which includes an
understanding of the following themes and principles:
 the community is the main actor in any development initiative
 the outsider‟s role is basically supportive to the local efforts
 the development activities should be oriented towards needs as perceived by the community and
beneficiaries
 In addition, participatory implementation of the assessment will be the focus of the consultant.
Data collection Method: Center for Consultancy and Facilitation has conducted the market assessment
utilizing Focus Group Discussions, key informant interviews and in-depth interviews with potential
beneficiaries.
Key informant interviews:
This method of data collection has basically emphasized to get information from randomly selected
institutions and business people. Since there is was no available list of the population, random sampling
of visiting market locations and choosing interviewees randomly and snowball sampling techniques
coupled with some criteria was used to select respondents and interviewees.
Twenty seven key informant interviewees were conducted.
Focus Group Discussions
Two Focus Group discussions were conducted by the consultant. The members of the FGD were female
and male PLHIV organized together by SAYS and SOLNAC officials in Borama. Sensitive issues were
carefully handled as the consultant was attentive to the selection and wording of questions. FGD
participants were kept active and focused.
DELIVERABLES/EXPECTED RESULT
-
Analysis on market oriented feasible livelihood activities for PLHIV.
Analysis on existing micro loan practices and feasibility to access for PLHIV and their families.
Perception of stakeholders to engage PLHIV into existing livelihood activities and micro loan
Possibility to engage PLHIV into existing livelihood activities and micro loan.
Well articulated feasible livelihood activities in the context of Somalia for PLHIV and their
families.
Well articulated management approach of livelihood activities and micro-loan or grants
Conduction of training on business management and planning for the selected PLHIV.
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RESULTS/FINDING
Institutions involved in Livelihood Activities
In Somaliland, the concept of assisting low income people through income generation activities, microloans and skill trainings has been a norm for a long time. The micro-finance institutions in Somaliland are
donor supported institutions which are not primarily banks. Only Salaam Somali Bank has recently
introduced a micro-finance system called Kalkaal in Somali and Qardu Hassan in Arabic. The rest of
institutions involved are humanitarian. There are quite number of institutions involved in livelihood
activities including UN agencies, International NGOs, and local NGOs. A list of organizations involved
in providing micro-loan and income generating programs is shown below. The table summarizes the
nature of activities these organizations do and the type of beneficiaries they support.
Table 1: Institutions involved in Livelihood Activities
Organization
Livelihood Activities and target beneficiaries
NRC has a program called YEP (Youth Education Pack). The YEP is a program with
NRC
three equally important components, literacy/numeracy, life skills and skills training.
The objectives are for the learners to
 Become functionally literate, mastering basic and relevant literacy and
numeracy skills
 Obtain knowledge and awareness that will further their development and
awareness as individuals and as members of their societies, and
 Acquire a skill that is needed in their communities and that will increase their
chances of finding apprenticeships or paid work.
YEP learners include the more vulnerable among the NRC target groups, but who
still have the possibility of spending a year of full time in school. Priority is given to
young single mothers, youth heads of households and those with the poorest
educational background.
In the YEP program youth are given skills trainings including Masonry, Carpentry,
Plumping, Electrical, Electronics, secretarial/journalism, hair and beauty, and
tailoring. The youths trained are given the required equipment to facilitate their
employment. Also, job placements and intentions are facilitated for YEP graduates.
Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has set up a revolving fund for returnees with
DRC
funding from Danish International Development Assistance (Danida) and UNHCR.
This fund is used essentially by women from communities where DRC has
community development projects. In order to obtain a loan they must form surety
groups. The loans are made interest-free. The repayment rate of these loans is very
high.
In addition to the micro-loans, DRC provide other income generating activities. DRC
uses the notion of income generation relatively broadly and as a cover term for a wide
variety of activities such as micro-credit, grants, skills- and vocational training,
business training, cash/food for work (asset creation) schemes, local economic
development initiatives and even small- and medium enterprise development. DRC
provide in kind and in cash small grants.
DRC defines income generating activities as „small-scale projects that create an
income source to individual beneficiaries or beneficiary groups whilst promoting a)
the principal right to self-determination and b) the objectives of integration,
repatriation and (re-)integration‟.
Save
the SC has been engaged in the vocational skills training and employment sector in
Somaliland for many years. Since 2005, SC is leading on a consortium of
Children
international NGOs involved in undertaking EU funded skills training and
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employment program in Somaliland.
Save the Children has been implementing the Promotion of Employment through
Training (PETT) Project in Somaliland and in Puntland. The overall objective of
PETT Project is to sustainably improve the livelihood and employment opportunities
of the disadvantaged youth and women in both Somaliland and Puntland. The project
contributes to their vulnerability reduction by providing the Technical and Vocational
Education and Training (TVET).
Specifically, the project uses vocational training centres managed by selected local
implementing partners to provide quality training and opportunities through
Institution Based Technical Vocational Education and Training (IBTEVET) and
Enterprise Based Technical Vocational Education and Training (EBTVET) by
attaching trainees to identified potential enterprises in the main towns of Somaliland
and Puntland. The project emphasizes on job placement services and provision of
information on employment and local economic development (LED) opportunities.
World Vision provides loans to thousands of women to start their own business.
World Vision
These initiatives aim at attaining self-reliance and sustainable income generating
activities to alleviate poverty and bring female genital mutilation practice to an end.
In Somaliland, World Vision creates Community Care Coalitions (CCCs) who serve
as intermediaries between World Vision and the community. CCCs assist in
identification of beneficiaries, ensuring implementation of projects and monitoring
and supervision of income generating project. World Vision provides loans and
business and other training skills to their beneficiaries.
Action
Aid Action Aid International in Somaliland (AAIS) has recently been implementing
microloan and income generating projects where literacy, business management and
International
other trainings are provided to poor women headed household families with extended
families in rural areas. AAIS provide small loans to women coalition groups where
repayment is required. AAIS implement their projects though other local NGOs.
CARE International has developed a micro-credit programme by making modest
Care
amounts of funding available (between $15,000 and $100,000) to several LNGO
International
responsible for implementation of the programme in various geographic zones. These
include:
- Agriculture Development Organization (ADO) present in Hargeisa and Burao.
Doses
of
Hope
Foundation
(DOHF)
present
in
Hargeisa.
- Committee of Concerned Somalis (CCS) present in Hargeisa and Burao.
- Awdal Women Solidarity Group (AWSG) present in Boroma.
All these organizations target groups made up of women and men returnees. These
LNGO are also receiving funds from a number of other donors. UNHCR is funding
DHF in Hargeisa and the CCS in Burao to assist returnee families, UNDP at Burao
and Hargeisa for war widows and also in Hargeisa and Boroma for returnees. CCS is
also funded by CARITAS for poor families and International Solidarity Foundation
(ISF) for women returnees.
In addition, CARE has an Income Generating Project with an objective of protecting
vulnerable and poor rural and urban livelihood assets in Somaliland.
In this program, real income increased for thousands of women, IDPs and their
households in two districts of Awdal and Woqooyi Galbeed regions of Somaliland.
Consequently, in this project, the participation of women in decision making on
resource use at the household level enhanced.
UNHCR undertakes activities including vocational training, income-generation, crop
UNHCR
production and livestock development to alleviate the suffering caused by the food
crisis and enable refugees and IDPs to become more self-reliant. Also, community-
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ILO
IOM
UNDP
Nagaad
HAWO Group
SOHURA
based self-reliance and livelihood interventions target women and other vulnerable
groups.
UNHCR also provides support through other partners.
ILO has been actively promoting a Local Economic Development (LED) approach in
Somaliland since 2002 in connection with the Promotion of Economic Recovery,
Employment creation and Support to Decentralisation in Somalia (PERPS)
programme. LED is a process that assists local communities to develop their capacity
to stimulate and accelerate economic and business/livelihood growth and to sustain
this in the long run. With the foundations for identifying, planning and implementing
actions, the different stakeholders can start developing economic opportunities
through different supporting programmes. They provide skill trainings, income
generating activities, and projects that strengthen market players to promote
employment and local economic development.
Currently IOM is conducting mixed migration programme in Somaliland which seeks
to minimize the human suffering and abuse associated with migration through
advocacy, information dissemination and coordination of response. In addition, the
programme addresses the burden placed on host communities as well as root causes
driving people to leave their homelands, including food insecurity. This can be
achieved by supporting basic infrastructure development and improving livelihood
opportunities: this programme is designed (in line with the IASC‟s Protection
Strategy for Somalia for 2010) to include livelihood activities that will reduce the
economic pressure on source communities. If families can earn their basic living,
they may be willing to avoid the risks associated with economic migration to the Gulf
States.
UNDP has a project named “Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods” which is
centered on community support; the project strives to increase their income, improve
their ability to manage natural resources, and mitigate the impact of disasters.
The Recovery and Sustainable Livelihood Program supports vulnerable communities
by providing pro-poor social services and by creating an enabling environment for
reconstruction and development. It strives to increase local communities' income,
improve their ability to manage natural resources, and prevent or mitigate the impact
of disasters, both natural and man-made. The program particularly focuses on
community support, with an inclusive range of partners at the community level and in
the private sector.
Nagaad is an umbrella for women NGOs. Nagaad partners with EDC to obtain
funding for skills trainings and other formal trainings for women in Universities.
Nagaad aim is to empower women and recently it has implemented skills trainings
for 75 women in mobile repairing, project management and planning, and financial
management.
Hargeisa Women Organization (HAWO Group) is one of the local NGOs
implementing income generating projects. HAWO group are funded by Action Aid
International. HAWO group provide small grants of $ 3000 - $4000 to groups of
women called women coalitions.
SOHURA isa local NGO which implements a micro-loan project. This project is
intended to help 200 women returnee/ IDP petty traders in Borama, Lugaya, Saylac
and Baki districts to improve their small businesses, increase income and promote
family livelihoods.
In response to IDP problems, SOHURA has initiated a project titled “Promotion and
establishment of micro-enterprise for women”. The project has the following
objectivities:
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-
Increase the income of 200 women returnees in 40 cells of five per cell, and to
enable then to get access to loan credit and provision of businesses skills through
continuous training sessions.
- Providing small scale credit to the returnee & IDP women for strengthening
income generation activities.
- To enhance the integration of women into the sphere of economic
entrepreneurship/private enterprises and hence improve family livelihood.
- Expand the skills of cell/group leaders to manage credit program to its members.
This is a local NGO that provide small size loans of between $ 200 - $ 1500 to small
Kaaba
business owners from poor families and IDPs. The aim of these activities is to
Microfinance
generate income and reduce poverty. Kaaba Microfinance Institution support its
Institution
beneficiaries with vocational trainings, business planning and management skills, and
saving mobilization skills.
Source: field study, August 2011
Common Micro-Loan Practices
Micro-loan given by Humanitarian Organizations
About 90 percent of the visited organizations provide micro-loan and don‟t give direct grants to the
beneficiaries. The amount of loan given is $ 1500 - $ 5000 and, in most of the cases, is usually given to
individuals in groups of beneficiaries, rather than independent individuals. Though the size of these
groups varied among the organizations, the average number of people in these groups comprised of 10 –
30 individuals. The groups are usually organized and have group norms and rules. Groups have also
structure of management.
One of the common practices of micro-loan is a provision of revolving fund, whereby smaller groups of
beneficiaries are given a certain amount of money, usually between $ 150 and $500, to repay monthly
installment of 10% of the principle or a certain amount agreed upon at the beginning of the loan. Once the
repayment is made by the first group of members, a new loan is given to other members in the group till
all the members of the group get the loan.
Another way of providing loan observed involved giving loan to all the individuals in a group at once.
Then, each member makes the amount of repayments required. The difference here is that there is no
waiting list or individuals waiting to get loan after others make repayments.
Another form of loan is to pay a percentage of interest on the principle loan. About 12% of the visited
organizations provide loans with interest. Only, the principle about is repaid in installments to give new
members. The loan with interest was given by many organizations in the past but has failed due to
cultural and religious resistance from the part of the community members and loan beneficiaries
themselves. It also stirred attracted the criticism of many religious leaders as interest is not acceptable in
Islam.
Another variation observed in current loan practices is that some of the organizations give loan to
entrepreneurs who are already in the business while others consider both entrepreneurs who are in the
business and who want to start a business. A few organizations do not consider the importance of having
or creating a small business as a condition of loan provision.
Micro-loan given by Salaam Somali Bank
Salaam Somali Bank has launched a microfinance product early this year to help the poor and small
businesses. Named as “Kalkaal” (Somali term for help), the product is intended to help people with
limited income and entrepreneurs. Since the product was launched we have gained experience in serving
10
this market and understand the needs of the beneficiaries. The types of businesses supported by this
product include: traders, food vendors, kiosks, small scale professionals, etc. The product includes:
1. Savings:
The product beneficiaries are encouraged to start saving from the first day of their contact with the Bank
because this was seen as a win-win situation for both the bank and the clients.
2. Credit:
This is a microfinance credit exclusively designed for women and youth and broadly for small scale
income generating activities.
3. Technical Services
The Bank understands the value of technical assistance without which any financial assistance will be of
no value. Therefore, the Bank has partnered with local education institutions and consultancy firms to
provide training to the beneficiaries of the product in order to improve their skills.
Though salaam bank has started providing these small loans, it is yet far from sufficient source of microfinance as it the coverage is very small. This type of loan is available to very limited number of people
and it does not reach rural areas at all.
The bank not only provides Kalkaal loans, but other types of loans are available but collateral is required
which prevents small business owners and poor people to access these loans.
Characteristics of Target Groups
100% of the respondents and interviewed organizations expressed their target beneficiaries as poor
income families. 87 percent of the institutions strictly provide loans to female headed households only.
Most of the institutions that support female prefer females with children.
Though, the poor income families are the general target groups, for some institutions, the goal is just to
improve the livelihood of certain type of vulnerable groups including IDPs, and returnees while other
institutions‟ ultimate beneficiaries are children.
In short, female beneficiaries are the most common group of direct beneficiaries who benefit from these
micro-loans.
Reasons for Providing Loans
When asked the reason why organizations provide the loans, different answers were given by the different
respondents. The answers are summarized as follows:
 To create income generation activities for the low income families
 To reduce poverty among target groups (women and children)
 Income generation for women
 To empower women
 To help care takers in income generation to assist in securing food and water, education and
health
 To enhance the integration of women into the sphere of economic entrepreneurship or private
enterprises and hence improve family livelihood.
Other livelihood Activities other than loan
The support given to low income families is not only loans but other forms of support were given to
beneficiaries to improve the livelihood of poor families. Examples of these supports are:
- Skills trainings
About 29 percent of the interviewed organizations coupled skill trainings with their loan provision. These
organizations emphasized skills of demand in the market. Trainings for the highly demanded skills in the
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market were provided to target beneficiaries. NRC, DRC, Save the Children, IOM, ILO, UNDP, World
Vision, and other international and local NGOs are all providing skill trainings in different forms. The
skill trainings told to be provided the interviewed organizations include Masonry, Carpentry,
Beautification, Electricity, electronics, Fishery, Tailoring, Honey and bee keeping, and small business
management skills.
- Provision of physical support /technical support
In addition to the provision of loan and skill trainings, there are physical equipment supports given to
beneficiaries. Among these support is, farming equipment, bee hives, fishing equipments, beautification
equipment, tailoring equipments, cash for work, food for work, livestock, hens, and farm equipments.
Impact of Loan and Livelihood projects
Positive impact
Most of the interviewed organizations said that there is positive impact of loan and livelihood projects
on the beneficiaries. The positive outcomes observed by the organizations were summarized as follows:
- Businesses created. Some of the beneficiaries created successful small businesses, with the little
amount of loan and support given to them.
- Improved income of the families. After the support was given to beneficiaries, their family income
increased due to the income from businesses with which the loan money was created or
supported.
- Basic needs such as food and clothes covered. It was seen that families who took loans have
enhances chances of obtaining basic food and cloth for family members.
- Improved shelters and houses of the beneficiaries. Some of the beneficiaries, after the success in
their small businesses, constructed houses, refurbished their shelters, bought land for building
houses or become capable of paying their rents.
- Children going to school. Some of the poor families whose children were unable to go to schools
managed to send their children to schools after they got the loan.
- Children taken to hospitals. Many of the families, who received micro-loan or livelihood
supports, became capable of covering medical expenses and visits to hospitals.
- Group dynamics and working with others understood. Apart from the monitory and income
related benefits of the loan, the loan given to many women groups increased group coherence and
understanding of group dynamics and community based organizations.
Negative Impact
Though the micro-loans and other livelihood activities have positive contribution to the poor families, it is
undeniable that there are some issues and problems that can be related to it. Among the problems
discussed by the respondents include:
1. Promotions and emergence of tensions and family problems among families: Since female
members are the primary beneficiaries of the most microloan programs, shift of roles is resulted
in many cases as women become more empowered. Women become the bread winners.
2. Poor children care: since women spend more time outside their houses and less time with
children, younger children suffer a lot due to lack of parent care.
3. Dependency syndrome: instead of promoting dependence and sense of ownership, many people
fail to see the small loans and grants given as an opportunity of self-reliance as they don‟t stop
complaining and demanding more help. This case is common where loan and grant conditions
are not strict and there is no proper monitoring.
Most Common and highly demanded Livelihood Activities
The following table summarizes the most common small businesses and livelihood activities that are
currently seen as profitable and viable in the market. They are highly demanded as observed by the
consultants and rated by most of the respondents.
12
Table 2: Common small businesses and Livelihood activities
LIVELIHOOD
Minimum
Other requirements
INCOME
ACTIVITY
Startup Capital
PER DAY
BUSINESS
$ 200
Suitable location, clients, management of bad debts; $ 10 - $ 40
Qat
management of market fluctuations; book keeping
$ 200
Location, clients, good suppliers
Butchery
Proper location, knowing suppliers; proper pricing to $ 20 - $ 40
Street
hawker $ 300
provide cheap clothes; basic book keeping
(clothes)
Proper location; getting clients; suppliers ; proper 150,000
–
Fruit
and $ 100
pricing and promotion
200,000 land 13
Vegetable sellers
$ 300
Location; clients; costs management;
$8
Tea-shops
Knowing suppliers and type of animals required in the N/A
Livestock Trading $ 100
market
Proper location, knowing suppliers; proper pricing to $ 10 – 20
Milk and Dairy $ 300
provide cheap clothes; basic book keeping
products
$
500
Location; clients; good suppliers
$25 – $50
Utensils shop
SKILLS
$ 300
Garments, location, customers; tailoring skill
$8
Tailoring
$ 400
Customers; location; skills
$ 15
Beauty Salon
$ 300
Skills of repairing; tools of repairing; customers
$ 20
Mobile repairing
Source: field study, August 2011
Background Information of the Businesses
Table 4 shows the background information of the businesses sampled. The table shows that majority of
the businesses (40%) have been operating for between 2 to 4 years. In addition, the findings show that
most of the businesses were dealing with green grocery as accounted 36.7%. The findings show that most
of the businesses had employed less than 2 employees as accounted by 68.3%.
Table 4: Background Information of the Businesses
Background Information
Frequency (n) Percent %
Age of the business
Less than one year
15
25.0
Between 2 to 4 years
24
40.0
Between 5 to 9 years
13
21.7
More than 10 years
8
13.3
Product and services provided
Green Grocery
22
36.7
Clothes and shoes shop
5
8.3
Butchery
2
3.3
Milk and Livestock
6
10.0
Tea shops
6
10.0
Qat
8
13.3
Others
11
18.3
Number of employees
Less than 2
41
68.3
Between 2 to 5
13
21.7
5-8
4
6.7
More than 8
2
3.3
Total(N)
60
100.0
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Level of Education of the Business Owner
The study sought to establish the level of education of the business owner. The findings presented in
figure 1 show that most of the business owner had not attained any formal education as accounted by
38.3%. This show high illiteracy levels on the entrepreneurs in Somaliland.
Figure 1: Level of Education of the Business Owner
14
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Training on entrepreneurship or managerial skills
The study further sought to establish whether business owners had any form of training in
entrepreneurship or managerial skills. The findings show that majority of the business owners had
attained no entrepreneurship or managerial skills as accounted by 85%. This is shown in figure 2
Figure 2: Training on Entrepreneurship or Managerial Skills
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Prior Business Experience/Skills
Table 5 shows that majority of the respondents had not operated any other businesses before as accounted
by 76.7%. In addition, the findings show that most of the respondents did not have family or relatives
with business background as accounted by 70.0%. This shows that most of the small business operators
did not have prior Business Experience/Skills to run the business.
Table 5: Prior Business Experience/Skills
Frequency Percent
Ever Run a Business Before
yes
14
23.3
No
46
76.7
Family or relative with business background
yes
18
30.0
No
42
70.0
Total
60
100.0
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Marketing of Businesses
The study sought to establish whether marketing strategy of the businesses affected small businesses‟
performance.
The findings in figure 3 show that majority of the businesses (70%) did not have marketing strategy in
place only 30% of the businesses had a marketing strategy as shown in figure 3. This indicates lack of
marketing plans for the small businesses in the region.
Figure 3: Marketing Strategy for the Businesses
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Entry and Start up of a Business
According to majority of the respondents, the entry and start up of a business in Somaliland is difficult as
accounted by 43.4% (difficult and very difficult) cumulative responses. This is shown in figure 4. This
calls for proper planning and strategizing in order to penetrate the market.
15
Figure 4: Entry and Start up of Businesses
16
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Business Strategies
The respondents highlighted the various business strategies they adopt in order to remain fit and survive
in the market. These included; increasing quality and quantity of the products, being good to the
employee, lowering of prices, importation of cheap products especially from Europe, establishing good
relationship with the consumers by enhancing availability of products, reliability and customer
satisfaction, having enough stock for marketing and development of better and proper hygiene.
Start-up Capital
The study sought to establish the amount of start-up capital of the sampled businesses. The findings
presented in figure 5 show that more than half of the businesses‟ (51.7%) start-up capital was less than
5000 dollars. This shows that most of the small businesses in Somaliland are started with very little
capital.
Figure 5: Start-up Capital
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Ease of Accessing Credit for the Business
The findings presented in figure 6 show that according to majority of the respondents (76.7%), it is not
easy to access credit facilities from other sources to finance the business. Those who could access loans
cited private banks, Non-Governmental organizations and family members as the main sources of external
financing. It shows that poor access to credit facilities, contributes to slow growth of the small businesses.
Figure 6: Ease of Accessing Credit for the Business
17
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Challenges faced by small businesses during startup
There are many challenges faced by small businesses during startup. The respondent‟s answers towards
the challenges of starting up a small business include having insufficient capital, difficulty in borrowing
funds, proper location, inexperience in customer relations, low demand, competition from other small
businesses, lack of promotion and others.
Factors that contribute to the poor performance of small businesses
Respondents highlighted various issues and matters that contribute to the poor performance of their
businesses. These include; Poor marketing strategies, lack of entrepreneurship skills, poor financial record
keeping, too much bad debts, inappropriate credit management, insufficient sales, too much expenses,
heavy competition, lack of sufficient stock, and poor customer relationship.
Possibilities to engage/link PLHIV into existing livelihood and micro-loan services
There are very few institutions which provide opportunities related to livelihood such as fund and loan
support, training on business management and planning, vocational training for Persons Living with HIV
directly. There were some incidents encountered where PLHIV were given loans was coincidence but
institutions admitted that it not purposefully targeted. One of the very few organizations supporting
PLHIV in their livelihood programs is World Vision and its local partner Talowadaag. Talowadaag gives
direct livelihood support to PLHIV. The kind of support given is micro-loans, skill trainings, and business
management trainings. Coopi is also supporting the livelihood conditions of PLHIV.
Also, this study shows that there is a great potentiality of linking PLHIV into existing micro-loan and
income generating activities, as institutions are more than willing to support PLHIV into their programs.
The findings presented in figure 7 shows that according to majority of the respondents (89%), it is
possible to link PLHIV into existing microloan and income generating activities.
Figure 7: Linking PLHIV into existing Livelihood Activities
18
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
Perception of stakeholders to engage PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan services
96 percent of responds see engaging PLHIV in livelihood and microloan services as a very positive move.
They understand that PLHIV are part of the vulnerable groups of the community who require special
attention. Some of the organizations don‟t only see involving PLHIV in their livelihood programs as
important, but they also want to involve them in their programs. But, these organizations don‟t know how
to go about assisting them as there are many issues that need to be resolved such as the identification
PLHIV, capacitating them, and establishing modalities of assisting them.
Since organizations have no similar mandates, there are many organizations that don‟t assist PLHIV and
don‟t think it is that important to them. Thought, to assist PLHIV is generally seen positive among the
development and humanitarian organizations interviewed, assisting them through micro-loan and
livelihood activities was an issue of argument. There are some organizations that believe it is very tricky
to engage PLHIV in livelihood activities and the reasons given are summarized below:
- PLHIV already suffer discrimination and involving them in small businesses might escalate their
problems;
- PLHIV may not have the necessary skills to run a business and hence will not be able to succeed
in doing their businesses and skills;
- There is stigma among PLHIV. They fear and do not want to interact with others;
- PLHIV can be too weak to run a businesses
Stakeholders of PLHIV in livelihood activities
The stakeholders of PLHIV are summarized as follows:
1. All the institutions involved in micro-loan and income generating activities, particularly who are
interested in supporting PLHIV: most of these organizations have the capacity and the
willingness to support PLHIV but there is a gap of communication between these partners and
PLHIV
2. Somaliland government has the duty to support PLHIV and to improve their livelihood
conditions. Ministry of Labour and Social has the mandate to support citizens‟ livelihoods in
terms of employment creation of promotion of small businesses.
3. Community leaders and members
4. Family and relatives of PLHIV
Barriers of involving PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan activities
The respondents cited several barriers/ factors prohibiting PHHIV in livelihood activities. These are
summarized in Table 6 below.
Table 6: Barriers of involving PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan activities
Barrier
Explanation
Overcoming Techniques
Difficulty
in it is difficult to identify PLHIV as many of - Liaising and coordinating
with
SOLNAC
and
identification
of them are in the denial stage or they don‟t
know about their health conditions
organization that support
PLHIV
PLHIV.
why
Discrimination and PLHIV are subject to discrimination from the - Understanding
PLHIV need microloans
other
negative clients they deal and even from their families
attitudes
towards as some of them explained in one FGD. - Awareness raising for the
PLHIV have discussed the forms of
loan providers
PLHIV
discrimination relating to involving them in - Empowering PLHIV to
microloan and livelihood activities as follows:
fight
against
They can‟t repay the loan. They are believed
discriminations
by
that they can‟t run their business; they do not
themselves
have to interact with others as they are feared - Involving PLHIV in safe
to spread the virus; people don‟t want to buy
businesses which don‟t
from them; people even those who are close
attract the attention of
to them don‟t extend support when it comes to
suspicious people
financing a new business or expanding an old
one as they are thought to be too weak for
that; they are told to stay at their homes and
wait for the death; neighbors are spreading
information against them
Most of the PLHIV don‟t read and write and - Organizing literacy classes
Illiteracy
still don‟t have intentions of starting literacy
for PLHIV
classes. This makes many of them in
appropriate for the provision of loans. Most of
the loans provided have literacy as one of
their
conditions
of
selecting
loan
beneficiaries.
skills
Lack
of Many livelihood activities target people who - Entrepreneurial
are already in the business but many of
training
entrepreneurship
PLHIV don‟t have the skill to run such
skills
businesses and they don‟t venture starting
business at all. This prevents them to be
supported in such programs.
The attitude of a great percentage of PLHIV - Counseling
Stigma
towards businesses, loans and other livelihood - Psychosocial support
activities is negative. PLHIV don‟t see - Motivation
themselves as capable people who can take
loan and repay it. They don‟t have the basic
confidence; they don‟t want to be heard or
known by others; They are hopeless.
- Identification
of
They are not our Some of the stakeholders expressed that they
don‟t support PLHIV simply because they are
PLHIV as part of target
target beneficiaries
not their target beneficiaries.
groups
- Improve
stakeholder
Poor
coordination Stakeholders of PLHIV do not have effective
communication to come up with strategies of
coordination
among stakeholders
upgrading incomes of PLHIV
(Source: Field Data, August 2011)
19
Existing situation of livelihood activities of PLHIV
Contrary to the expectations and views of many people, more than 50 percent of the interviewed PLHIV
do not depend on others for their living. The survey shows that most of them have been active in business
and managing their small trades for a number of years, 60 percent of the people met were doing small
businesses. As explained by many of these people they depend on their business to sustain their
livelihoods. Some of the businesses and activities they are engaged in include:
1. Selling Pastry
2. Green grocery
3. Small shop (street vendor)
4. Cloth hawker
5. Collection and saving money for small business owners (informal banker)
Case of PLHIV in Business
Case One
Rahma is a 22-year old woman who used to live in Ethiopia. While Rahma was living with family
relatives in Jigjiga, she felt very bad and weak; she did not know what was wrong with her.
Later, she was taken to Hospital and she was diagnosed as HIV+. As a result, she encountered different
forms of isolation, discrimination and ill-treatment. Rahma said, “Even my parents isolated me and I felt
devastated and useless”.
An idea stroke Rahma and she wanted to leave for Borama to seek help from relative and people in there.
But, to her dismay, the situation was not different and people were all the same around the word. Isolation
and discrimination was again the norm.
At this moment, with all these hardships, the young women wanted to start a small business. The startup
capital was a burden. Rahma says, “I did not have any money with me and my relatives did not support
me. Therefore, I telephoned to a friend of mine in Egypt who sent $ 50 to me. With the $ 50, I set up a
small shoe shop during a Ramadan month. The business took off and I became able to pay my bills and
expenses. My live started to be normal again. I also started taking medicines for my sickness.
My business helped me interact with my family and they began to accept me and I accepted my situation.
My confidence grew and I am seen as important by everyone now. All I need is more money to expend
my business and I want to keep on living strongly”.
Case Two
Jamila was a business woman who once owned green grocery shop in Borama. Jamila remembers that she
did not succeed in her business and she did not have the necessary capital and experience. But, this was
not the end of her story. Jamily after she acquainted herself with the rest of people in the market. She
started a new form of earning income. She began organizing small informal savings called "hagbad” in
Somali for other business people. She collects money from small business owners and saves it on daily
bases. From there, she gets service charge and other kinds of assistance. Jamila is a confident woman who
trusts others even though many of her clients know that she is living with HIV. Jamila says, “People
know who I am and what type of problems I have. That does not stop them from interacting me. Some of
them even sympathize with me and give me extra help. I earn as a normal healthy person and I don‟t have
any difficulties at all. Business keeps me alive every day and if I can earn money I am always better off. I
don‟t believe that PLHIV have more problems than others when it comes to business deals and managing
trade. It all the same for everyone”
Effects of HIV and AIDS on livelihood activities of PLHIV
PLHIV expressed their attitudes towards the effect of HIV/AIDs on their livelihood activities. Some of
the respondents believe that HIV/AIDs affected the businesses of PLHIV negatively. The reasons why
they think so varied and are summarized as follows: HIV/AIDs reduced the confidence of PLHIV; being
infected lowers the confidence people have in PLHIV and hence it affects the support they can get from
20
their relatives and friends adversely; HIV/AIDs might make PLHIV week and incapable of running their
own businesses; once neighbors and clients know that someone is positive they don‟t deal with them and
this might lead to lack of sufficient sales and eventually to loss and bankruptcy.
On the other hand, to smaller percentage of PLHIV interviewed, being positive made them strong and that
is why they thought of starting their own businesses. They believe that being involved in the business is
helpful for the PLHIV in different ways: They believe that business is a moral support for the PLHIV;
Business supports PLHIV financially; Livelihood activities make PLHIV self-reliant; It helps them buy
food, rent a shelter and be able to cover basic life needs.
Summary of Challenges that PLHIV experience to manage their livelihood activities
There is Lack of space. Because of the discrimination they face, PLHIV can‟t get suitable location for
their businesses. They are refused to rent and are evicted from their houses when they are realized they
are living with HIV. Due to high level of Illiteracy among PLHIV they can‟t do the record keeping of
their businesses and hence they might not be able to calculate costs and incomes.
Feasible Livelihood Activities for PLHIV
In general PLHIV can do most of the businesses other people do but there are concerns raised over the
businesses which might create suspicion for clients if they know that the business seller is HIV+. These
businesses include honey, wet and ready-to-eat food. Similarly, businesses requiring heavy physical
capability such as construction work might now well suit PLHIV.
The most suitable/favorable businesses as highlighted by PLHIV include:
1. Selling clothes;
2. Selling shoes;
3. Running a small non-food item shops;
4. Garment making;
5. Selling sorghum and dry grains;
6. Tailoring
7. Selling Dishes and utensils.
Gaps in PLHIV to operate the livelihood activities
Lack of startup capital
The most important problem PLHIV face, when it comes to business, is obtaining startup capital. PLHIV
don‟t have readily available sources to borrow money from. This makes them handicapped and incapable
of starting business operations.
They fear loss and becoming indebted
Apart from the lack of availability of loans, PLHIV have no confidence in themselves. They fear that they
are not going to be successful and, above all, they fear that they might be indebted because they don‟t
trust their ability of repaying loans.
Lack of experience and skills of business management
Many of the PLHIV highlighted that they did not have prior experience to manage businesses which kept
them away from engaging themselves in businesses. Similarly these people did not get formal or
informal business management training. This left many of them fail in their attempts to start and operate
their own businesses.
21
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
The purpose of the study was to assess feasible frame/modality of livelihood activities and micro-loan for
People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families in Somaliland. The key areas investigated included;
organizations involved in livelihood and microloan activities, microloan practices, market trends of highly
demanded livelihood activities, possible linkage of PLHIV into existing microloan and livelihood
activities, perception of stakeholders in involving PLHIV into livelihood activities, barriers and
overcoming strategies to involve PLHIV into livelihood programs, situating of principle loan recipients
and their families, and potential businesses that can be run by PLHIV.
There is a evidence of the existence of many organizations involved in microloan and livelihood activities
but involving PLHIV in these activities is not a common practice among organization. These
organizations include UNDP, ILO, IOM, UNHCR, NRC, DRC, SC, COOPI, World Vision and others.
Most of the organizations don‟t have problem involving PLHIV in their projects but still they talk about
difficulties and barriers in doing so in terms of the identification of beneficiaries and their ability in
running a business. The overcoming strategies for these barriers include: Liaising and coordinating with
SOLNAC and organization that support PLHIV for the identification of PLHIV who can benefit from
microloan and livelihood projects; Awareness for the loan providers; Empowering PLHIV to resist and
fight discriminations; provision of small loans; literacy trainings, entrepreneurship and business
management trainings; and involving PLHIV in safe businesses.
The entry and start up of a business in Somaliland is quite difficult hence the need for proper planning
and strategizing in order to penetrate the market and it is not easy to access credit facilities from other
sources to finance the business operations. This poor access to credit facilities contributes to slow growth
of the small business in Somaliland.
Among the good and highly demanded livelihood activities are: tea shops; groceries; cloth hawker; small
street vendors and shops; butchery; garment making; and utensils shop.
PLHIV were found to be already in the business and are capable of doing businesses. There were signs
that business helps the income generation and self-dependence of PLHIV. The use of technology was
found absent in most businesses which was mainly attributed to high cost imposed by the service
providers. However, the few who used it was mainly in the form of Internet and computer based
technology. The major costs of technology were associated to service providers and installations costs.
This shows that the service providers were making technology access difficult for small businesses by
inducing high costs on their services and this impacted negatively on the performance of the businesses in
Somaliland.
Recommendations
The study makes the following recommendations:
1. There is a need to capacitate PLHIV. The capacitating should entail provision of small loans and
grants, skills trainings including small business management trainings, literacy trainings,
awareness and mobilization for PLHIV towards income generation and livelihood activities, and
moral support and stigma reduction.
22
2. Awareness raising and sensitization for organizations involved in livelihood and microloan
activities to support PLHIV. This might involve proper and formal communication with these
organization and making formal pledges and proposals to assist PLHIV in their programs.
3. The government and NGOs should put more efforts in training PLHIV who are already in
business on entrepreneurial and management skills since this study showed high illiteracy levels
of most of the small business owners and managers.
4. There is need for business owners/managers to develop proper marketing strategies for their
businesses. Proper marketing strategies should start with a development of marketing plan for the
businesses. This will give a way in creating more awareness of business products and services as
well as and attracting more customers.
5. Liaising with concerned government bodies such as those mandated with HIV/AIDs programs
coordination (SOLNAC) and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to strengthen and support
efforts of improving the livelihood of PLHIV.
23
Annex-1: TOR for the Assessment
Terms of Reference (TOR)
Assessment on feasible frame/modality of livelihood activities and micro-loan for People Living
with HIV (PLHIV) and their families
1- Background:
Handicap International has been implementing HIV Integrated Prevention Treatment Care Support
(IPTCS) Project through local partner organizations in Somaliland and Puntland since January 2010. The
project has been funded by the Global Fund HIV grand Round 8 through UNICEF.
As the part of project‟s service delivery areas, two partner organizations (1 from Somaliland for Boroma
and 1 from Puntland for Garowe and Bosaso) of Handicap International have planned to support 50
persons or families infected and affected by HIV and AIDS for livelihood micro-loan service. Handicap
International plans to carry out an assessment study to define the feasible frame or modality of livelihood
activities and micro-loan for People Living with HIV and their families in Somaliland and Puntland
through an independent consultant or consulting firm. The finding and recommendations of the
assessment will be considered while setting the livelihood micro loan services for PLHIV and their
families under the project of Handicap International. This Terms of Reference is set out to define purpose,
scope of work and expected outcomes of assessment.
2- Purpose:
The purpose of the assessment is to define the feasible frame or modalities of livelihood activities and
micro-loan that suit for the People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families by assessing and
analyzing the existing situation and practices related to the areas of livelihood and micro loan in
Somaliland and Puntland.
3- Objectives and Scope of work
Phase-1 (Stakeholders and market analysis)
8. Assess the current situation of livelihood activities.
Questions:
- What are the highly demanded livelihood activities or labor in the market?
- What is the market size of highly demanded livelihood activities and labor market?
9. Assess whether there are any possibilities to engage/link PLHIV into existing livelihood and
micro-loan services.
Questions:
- Are there any organizations which provide opportunities related to livelihood such as fund
and loan support, training on business management and planning, vocational training for
Person Living with HIV?
- How do the organizations support PLHIV for Livelihood activities?
- What are the existing practices of micro-loan?
10. Assess the perception of stakeholders to engage PLHIV in livelihood and micro loan services.
Questions:
- What is the perception of stakeholders regarding the involvement of PLHIV in livelihood
activities?
- What types of barrier do the stakeholders express regarding the involvement of PLHIV in
livelihood and micro loan?
- What are the recommendations of stakeholders?
- What types of suggestion can be recommended for stakeholders for the adaptation of PLHIV
in livelihood activities?
Phase -2 (beneficiary analysis)
11. Assess the existing situation of livelihood activities of PLHIV.
Questions:
- What types of livelihood activities have PLHIV been doing?
24
45-
6-
7-
89-
- How has the HIV and AIDS affected their livelihood activities?
- What are the challenges that PLHIV experience to manage their livelihood activities?
- Is there any scope to add value in their existing livelihood activities?
12. Identify the feasible livelihood activity for each PLHIV?
Questions:
- What are the feasible livelihood activities that may suit for PLHIV?
- What are gaps in PLHIV to operate the livelihood activities?
13. Provide practical recommendations for the modality/frame of livelihood and micro-loan for
PLHIV.
Phase-3 (capacity building)
14. Design and deliver 2-day livelihood business planning and management training for the selected
PLHIV and their families, if there is no scope to link PLHIV into existing livelihood and micro
loan services.
Location of assessment study
The study will be conducted in Hargeisa and Boroma and Garowe and Bosasio in Puntland.
Suggested methodologies:
Consultants/consulting firms are asked to submit a detailed study proposal including budget and study
methodologies. However, the following methodologies are suggested to imply in order to pursue the
defined objectives and scope of work:
- Consultative meeting or interview with key informants.
- Focus group discussion or in-depth interview with each selected PLHIV
Expected results:
This assessment study has been designed to assess the existing situation of livelihood and micro loan
including market trends in Somalia that may suit for the People Living with HIV and their families.
The main expected result/outcomes/deliverable of this assessment study is the documentation of well
articulated report clearly outlining the followings:
- Analysis on market oriented feasible livelihood activities for PLHIV.
- Analysis on existing micro loan practices and feasibility to access for PLHIV and their families.
- Perception of stakeholders to engage PLHIV into existing livelihood activities and micro loan
- Possibility to engage PLHIV into existing livelihood activities and micro loan.
Well articulated feasible livelihood activities in the context of Somalia for PLHIV and their
families.
- Well articulated management approach of livelihood activities and micro-loan or grants
- Conduction of training on business management and planning for the selected PLHIV.
Eligible criteria
The consultant/ consulting firm should have experience on qualitative and quantitative research; clear
understanding on research methodology and experiences on using different social research tools and
techniques including comprehensive and demonstrable knowledge of livelihood activities, micro loan,
business planning, training, HIV and AIDS in the context of Somalia. Consultants having fluency in
English and Somali languages are essential. The selected consultants will be asked to present their
proposal in the selection review team.
Budget:
Consultants are asked to submit a cost proposal that specifies the daily rate and any other costs of the
assessment study including training workshop the selected PLHIV and their families.
Duration of Assessment:
The total duration of the assessment study will be approximately 12 working days in Somaliland and
14 working days in Puntland. The consults will be asked to submit a detailed work plan based in the
agreed upon methodology. The training days includes the day of assessment, report preparation days,
training days and field travel days.
25
Annex – 2 Assessment tools
INTERVIEW AND FGD TOOL
INTERVIEW LIST
This questionnaire is designed to assess feasible frame/modality of livelihood activities and micro-loan for People
Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families. It is aimed at helping people affected or infected by HIV/AIDS. Your
information and personal secrets will be protected.
SECTION 1:
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Gender:
Male
Female
Age:
 18 – 26
 26 – 35
 36 _ 45
 Above 46
SECTION 2:
If the person is in business
BUSINESS INFORMATION
What product/service does your business provide?
 Food and beverages
 Textile
 Detergents
 Livestock
 IT and electronics
 Books and stationery
 Others, Specify:_____________________
What is the age of this business?
 Less than 1 year old
 2 - 4 years old
 5 – 9 years old
 More than 10 years old
How many employees does your business employ?





Less than 5
5– 9
10 – 49
50 – 99
More than 100
26
ENTREPRENEURIAL AND MANAGERIAL COMPETENCE
Level of Education of the owner
 No schooling
 Primary level
 Secondary level
 College and beyond
Are you trained on entrepreneurship or managerial skills?
 Yes
 No
If yes, what are they?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Have you ever run a business before this one?
 Yes
 No
If yes, what was that business and how long was that?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Does your family or relatives have business background?
 Yes
 No
If yes, what was that background?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
MARKETING AND COMPETITION
Does your company have marketing strategy?
 Yes
 No
What are your annual marketing costs?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
27
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
What are your annual sales?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
How do you see your competitors?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
How do you see the entry the industry and the start of this type of business?





Very easy
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
Very Difficult
What are your business strategies to remain fit and survive in this completion?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
CAPITAL
What is your start-up capital?
 Less than $ 1000
 $ 1000 – $ 5,000
 $ 5000 – $ 10,000
 More than $ 10,000
Can you easily borrow money from other sources to finance your business?
 Yes
 No
From where do you get loan?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
28
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
What are the profits of the business for the following years?





2006:_____________
2007:_____________
2008:_____________
2009:_____________
2010:_____________
What was the value of firms’ assets for the last 5 years?
 2006:_____________
 2007:_____________
 2008:_____________
 2009:_____________
 2010:_____________
What was the number of business employees for the last 5 years?
 2006:_____________
 2007:_____________
 2008:_____________
 2009:_____________
 2010:_____________
End of Questionnaire
Thank you for your Cooperation
29
QUESTIONS FOR FGDS AND INSTITUTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
What are the highly demanded livelihood activities or labor in the market?
What is the market size of highly demanded livelihood activities and labor market?
Are there any organizations which provide opportunities related to livelihood such as fund and
loan support, training on business management and planning, vocational training for Person
Living with HIV?
How do the organizations support PLHIV for Livelihood activities?
What are the existing practices of micro-loan?
What is the perception of stakeholders regarding the involvement of PLHIV in livelihood
activities?
What types of barrier do the stakeholders express regarding the involvement of PLHIV in
livelihood and micro loan?
What are the recommendations of stakeholders?
What types of suggestion can be recommended for stakeholders for the adaptation of PLHIV in
livelihood activities?
What types of livelihood activities have PLHIV been doing?
How has the HIV and AIDS affected their livelihood activities?
What are the challenges that PLHIV experience to manage their livelihood activities?
Is there any scope to add value in their existing livelihood activities?
What are the feasible livelihood activities that may suit for PLHIV?
What are gaps in PLHIV to operate the livelihood activities?
Recommendation
30
Annex - 3 Evidence of experience
Said Mohamed Dahir
Tell: 00-252-2-445-6056
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Hargeisa, Somaliland
31
PROFILE
SUMMARY
More than nine years experience in working with Non-governmental
organizations. I have been involved in a wide range of activities with LNGOs in
Somaliland including support for communities, local governments, schools and
NGOs in the area of administration, awareness raising, leadership skills, finance,
and capacity b. I have attended short trainings, and done BBA (Business and
Public Administration) degree, a certificate in Financial Management
(International Approach) and Masters of Business Administration (Finance). I
am familiar with computer applications, internet, SPSS, and well-versed with
effective communication skills. Through my trainings, I built capacity of tens
organizations and communities and thousands of individuals. I succeeded in
bringing new development, improvements and positive changes in the
administrative areas of both Amoud University and SAYS LNGO and, through
my own business, I have not only consulted various organizations and
individuals in developing, implementing, and sustaining community projects but
advised on formation of small businesses and market studies.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Employer
Dates
Community Centre for Research and Training (CCRT)
Sep 2010 – to date
Position Held
Main Duties
Executive Director and Managing Consultant
CCRT has specialization in institutional capacity building through business
development Services, research, and trainings:
 Involve overall leadership, policy and strategic direction of the organization
 Lead consultant in assignments involving institutional development, market research and
product development.
 Writes funding proposals and fine tunes donor reports for YOVENCO, SAYS,
Moonlight Girls Association, Awdal Child Protection Network, and SOHURA NGOs on
monthly basis
 Conduct human right and strategic management trainings for NGOS and business staff.
 Conduct relevant networking and fundraising activities for the organization




Translates documents for clients
Supervise, train and assist CCRT staff
Conducts data collection for study funded by Sub-Sahara Researchers twice a year
Coordinate the preparation of accounts and reporting it to CCRT Board
Employer
Amoud University
Dates
Position Held
Main Duties
March 2010 – to date
Amoud University Representative in Hargeisa
Name of the employer
Amoud University
Dates
Position Held
Main duties
Employer
Dates
 Liaise with donors, local communities, governing entities, and other agencies
where necessary
 Make contacts and help maintain relationships with other educational institutions
in the higher education sector
 Solicit resources from any relevant sources (this involves preparation of funding
proposals and communicating with donors)
 Ensure visa, flight, and transport arrangements for foreign staff
32
 Assist the university in obtaining yearly Somaliland government support
 Assist in all tax duty free operations of the university
 Perform marketing and public relations activities for the university in Hargeisa
 Perform other duties as assigned and as necessary.
November 2009 – August 2010
Lead Trainer – UN-JPLG (District Participatory Planning and
Budgeting process)
UN – JPLG is a project aimed at achieving decentralization through
empowering and capacity building for communities and district officers.
Amoud University implemented trainings in Borama, Hargeisa, Berbera, Sheikh, Burao, and
Odweine districts on contractual basis funded by UN-JPLG
 Trained district officers and councilors on roles and responsibilities of district council,
councilors and staff
 Helped in preparation of Odweine district Profile. The task entailed interviews with
community elders and members as well as government officers and other organizations
 Assisted in the preparation of District Development Frame work for Shiekh district.
This process involved integrating community consultation process outcomes and line
ministry requirements into the district development frame work and seeking the
endorsement and contribution of the council members.
 Conducted training and assist preparation of District Annual Work Plan and Budget for
Odwayne, Berbera, Burao, Sheikh, Hargeisa and Borama Districts. This process involved
selection of community project for implementation in 2010.
 Assisted Odwayne, Berbera, Burao, Sheikh, Hargeisa and Borama Districts in the
finalization of district resource plan
 Conducted procurement training for Hargeisa District
 Conducted on-the-job training and supervised implementation of Procurement plans
for Berbera District
PSI (Population Services International)
Feb 2007 – March 2007
Position held
Consultant and Assistant Country Representative
Major Tasks




Arranged with government departments and NGOs.
Assisted with the NGO registration process.
Assisted with the location and setting up of a new office.
Assisted in building partnerships with government units, NGOs, business men and other
International organizations
 Information gathering and collection – including finding information regarding setting up
banking procedures, relevant ministry contacts, taxes and tariffs.
 Procurement of equipment, furniture and services – including gathering of quotations and

Name of the employer
Dates
Position held
Major Tasks
payment of vendors
Provided general guidance and information on Somaliland working conditions
SAYS (Somaliland Association for Youth Salvations)
March 2007- October 2008
Program Manager (Community Driven Development Project - CDD)
 Gathered baseline information for the CDD project
 Trained communities and councilors on Participatory Integrated Community
Development (PICD) tools. This process involved community attitude change,
developing community vision and plan, community resource mobilization, and
33
implementing and monitoring community projects.
 Developed community development committees in Holhol, Qallo, Elbahay, Sh.
Osman, Sh. Ahmedsalan, Sh. Alijahwar, Sh. Makahil and Tulli
 Trained community members and councilors on participatory Impact Monitoring
techniques and helped collection of most significant change (monitoring) stories
in Borama district
 Liaised with communities, STIPA, UNICEF, SAYS Board and the district officers
Name of the employer
SAYS (Somaliland Association for Youth Salvations)
Date
June 2005 – December 2005
Position held
Project Coordinator (Gacan-Qabad Borama Street Children Project)
Major Tasks
 Coordinated implementation of the project activities in the line of the donor
guidelines
 Participated in the mediation and tracing activities of hundreds of street children
to unite them with their families
 Conducted non-formal Education classes for Borama Street children
 Conducted Socialization activities for the street children to enhance community
acceptability of the street children
 Created stakeholders and owners for the project among Borama community to
ensure project sustainability
 Worked as a liaison officer among SAYS, Moonlight and UNICEF
 Coordinated efforts and succeeded to establish a permanent school for Borama
street children
 Prepared both financial and narrative reports to the donor
Name of the employer
Amoud University
Date
March 2005 – Jan 2007
Position held
Dean Assistant and Assistant Lecture
Major Tasks




Assisted the Dean of the Faculty of business and Public Administration in academic matters
Guided and oriented students under the supervision of the Dean
Gave Faculty orientations and consultations to the newly admitted students
Recorded faculty staff performance and preparation of performance appraisal reports for the
Dean





Prepared academic schedules (teaching timetables, Faculty calendar, etc)
Introduced community services for the Faculty for the first time
Introduced and coordinated faculty end-of-the-program comprehensive exams (ACE)
Revised exams as part and member of the University Exam Unit
Responded to student complaints with the supervision of the Dean
Name of the employer
Max-Planck-Institute for Social Anthropology (German Institute)
Date
November, 02 to Feb 03
Position held
Research Assistant
Major Tasks





34
Doing necessary interpretations
Translated research relevant documents and articles
Restructured and reframed research questions according to cultural necessities
Arranged interview partners
Built up necessary trust for interviews and group discussions
SHORT ASSIGNMENTS
July2011
June – July 2011
June 2011
March – May 2011
August 2010
November 2009 – present
July 2010
December 2010
2010
2009-2010
November 2010
2009 – present
Conducted onsite technical training and mentorship in controls and financial systems of 6
NGOs in Togdheer and Hargeisa, Caritas
Conducted strategic planning and workshops for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
Conducted Market study on energy investment possibilities in Somaliland for a private
investor
Assisted Oxfam Novib in translating and report writing for two workshops held in Hargeisa
Assisted in Market study on Fodder and Honey value chain conducted in three regions of
Somaliland (Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag), the study was sponsored by ILO
Assists 6 Municipalities in Somaliland, namely Borama, Hargeisa, Berbera, Shiekh,
Owdayne, and Burao in Building the capacity of their local councilors as part of the UN
joint program of decentralization and local governance improvement. During this period, I
have trained hundreds of councilors in planning, budgeting and implementation and
evaluation of community projects
Conducted Gallup World Poll 2010 - SSA in Somaliland (Study is on How Somaliland
people feel about their country)
Prepared Strategic Plan for Moonlight Girls Association
Conducted Periodic Consultations to YOVENCO NGO in the design and the
implementation of “Building Capacities of Local Councils and Communities on
Participatory and Budgeting Process and Supporting them to conduct community
consultations and implementation of the project.” The project was funded by UNICEF
Conducted short and periodic workshops for GNRC-Africa. Theme of these workshops is
peace building and promotion of peace among community leaders and youth
Conducted survey and data collection on human trafficking in Harirad and Lawyado for
IOM through SAYS NGO.
Gives academic consultations to Nugaal University and Gollis University on request basis
EDUCATION
BACKGROUND
Dates
Degree/ Certificate
Principle Modules
Feb 2008 – August 2010
Masters Degree in Business Administration (Finance)
University/College
Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dates
April 2006 – 2007
Degree/ Certificate
On-line Distance learning course in Financial planning and Management,
sponsored by UNDP
Principle Modules
CAT (certified accounting technician) units: Recording financial transactions,
Information for Management Control, Maintaining Financial Records, Accounting
for Costs, Public Financial Management (Additional non-CAT unit)
University
Fort Hare University, South Africa
Dates
Degree/Certificate
Principle Modules
September 2000- July 2004
Bachelor of Business Administration
University/College
Amoud University, Somaliland
OTHER
TRAININGS
Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Management Information
systems, Managerial Economics, Management Accounting, Financial accounting,
Quantitative Techniques, Financial Management, International Finance,
Corporate Finance, Financial Analysis, Research Methods, entrepreneurial
finance, finance seminar, and research paper.
35
Research Methods, Statistics for Management I and II, Principles of marketing,
International Marketing, Financial Accounting I& II, Managerial Accounting, Cost
Accounting, Governmental Accounting, Financial Management, Business Law,
International Relations, Introduction to Management, Human Resource
Management, Strategic Management, Small Business Management, Microeconomics,
Public Administration and more
SHORT
October 2010
July 2009
January 2007
Attended planning session for “Fodder and Honey Value chain
improvement” in Nairobi, sponsored by ILO
Attended “young peace ambassadors workshop” in Zanzibar,
sponsored by GNRC-Africa
LLM (Local Leadership Management) Training, sponsored
by UN-habitat
October 2006
Protection Monitoring Training Workshop, sponsored by
UNHCR
September 2006
Child and Youth Participation in Development workshop,
sponsored by UNICEF
August 2006
Role of the Media in the dissemination of HIV/AIDS
information, sponsored by Progressio
June 2006
36
PICD (Participatory Integrated Community Development)
Training, sponsored by STIPA/UNICEF
April 2006
Media Training on Child Rights, sponsored by Oxfam
Novib in Garowe, Puntland
January 2006
Basic Journalism Training , Organized by BBC World Service
Trust and Amoud University
Sep 05 – Feb 06
Six-month Training on ISPP (Internal Systems of Policies
and Procedures), sponsored by Oxfam Novib/UNICEF
November 2005
Online Journalism Training (iLearn), Sponsored by BBC
World Service Trust
July 2003
Training on Financial Management
organizations, sponsored by IRI
March 2003
in
Non-profit
Attended “youth Radio and Video broadcasting conference”,
sponsored by UNICEF
COMPUTER SKILLS




Microsoft Office
AIS – Peachtree Computerized Accounting Package
Browsing and internet skills,
Knowledge of using Statistical Package for Social Survey SPSS
ASSOCIATIONS
AND
ORGANIZATIONS
Sep 03 – Sep 05
Borama, Somaliland
Chairperson - Awdal Regional Youth Umbrella (ARYU) in
Dec 05 – 07
Secretary - National Coordination Committee of Somaliland Human
Rights Organizations Network
March 09 – Present Consultant - Awdal Child Protection Network
November 09 – present Consultant- Awdal Forum for Sexual and Gender Based
Violence and discrimination against people with disabilities
LANGUAGE(S)
English
Somali
Arabic
Kiswahili
SOCIAL
SKILLS
COMPETENCES
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
REFERENCES
Fluent in both Speaking and Writing
Mother tongue
Fluent Speaking and Writing
Basic User in Speaking
AND
37



Leadership: A solid team player, and leader.
Intercultural Skills: Easily integrates with multicultural environment.
Communication Skills: Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with stakeholders.

Integrity: Works with integrity and honesty with a clear commitment to organization’s
core values and principles.

Good interpersonal skills with positive attitude, negotiation and collaborative skills.
And able to represent organization in various stakeholders and articulate its interest
diplomatically.
Interested in current affairs, human rights and socio-cultural issues. Hobbies include
writing, soccer, reading and traveling.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Jutta Bakonyi, Lecturer and Research Project supervisor with Max-Planck-Institute
for Social Anthropology, Email: [email protected]
Abdirahman Wandati, Trainer and Supervisor, Consultant for Oxfam Novib, Email:
[email protected]
Omar Ali Abdilahi, Supervisor and Amoud University Registrar, Email:
[email protected]
Luca Ciabarri, friend and personal advisor, [email protected]
Ahmed Nuh Alin, former supervisor and former Dean of Faculty of Business and
Public Administration (currently DG of Ministry of Mineral and Water Resources)
Kamau Kabbucho, supervisor, [email protected]