Paper details
| Paper authors | Mohamed Jelle and Andrew Seal |
| In panel on | Getting Ahead of Disasters by Connecting Early Warning and Anticipatory Action That Works for All |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Despite global efforts to improve early warning and early action (EWEA) systems, many fail to reach the most marginalized populations. In Somalia, where conflict, drought, and displacement disproportionately affect internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Nutrition and Mortality Surveillance (NMS) system offers a community-based, real-time approach to humanitarian decision-making.
Unlike traditional early warning systems, the NMS collects real-time data on health, nutrition, mortality, and WASH across IDP camps with high levels of new arrivals. A key feature is its ability to collect data on clan affiliation and language— two critical, but politically sensitive, dimensions of vulnerability, identity and access in Somalia. However, local power structures with vested interests may resist the collection or use of such data.
Led by local research organization Evidence for Change (E4C) with support from the Caafimaad Plus Consortium and its donor, ECHO, the NMS uses a network of community health workers to gather timely data that informs early detection, referral, and response. Its strengths include data relevance, operational flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
This presentation explores how localized surveillance systems like NMS can complement broader EWEA efforts and contribute to more inclusive, accountable, and effective humanitarian responses in fragile, displacement-affected settings.
