L I V E L I H O Livelihood

O D Baseline Profile - Baidoa Urban

FSNAU BASELINE
Food Security and Nutrition
Analysis Unit - Somalia P R O F I LE Issued May, 2009

Baidoa Urban
Historical Timeline BAIDOA AND SURROUNDING Livelihood Zones
Year Events Key Outcomes
High
unemployment,
2008 Hyperinflation, idp influx,
Bad tfg and high sorghum
Year Ethiopian forces, prices, high
poor rains sorghum demand
from central and
northern regions
2007
Rising inflation,
Average Normal trade,
tfg and
Year booming
Ethiopian forces,
construction sector,
influx of idps,
(Baseline cholera outbreak
average rains
Year)
tfg and
2006 Good terms of
Ethiopian forces,
Average trade,
average/good
Good Year low cereal prices
rains
Trade disruption;
Insecurity, clan increased
2005 fighting and checkpoints,
Bad political dispute, reduced
Year low cereal prices, employment,
poor rains increased
displacement

Targeted killing
Conflict within
of women and
2004 rra,
children, reduced
Bad increased
unemployment,
Year insecurity,
displacement and
average rains
out-migration
Conflict within Reduced Urban Livelihood Description
2003 rra, increased employment,
Bad insecurity, burning of • Baidoa is the capital city of Bay region with a
Year poor to average underground cereal For full report see:
rains stocks population of 59,110 people (UNDP Population
Estimates, 2005). FSNAU Baidoa Technical
Onset of conflict
within ruling Series Report No. VI.18,
2002 • The town is divided into four quarters, namely May 20 ‘09 or contact
faction, the rra
Average
(Rahanweyn
Normal trade levels, Horseed, Hawl Wadaag, Berdaale, and Isha. info@fsnau.org
Year good cereal harvest Each quarter is further divided into six sections.
Resistance www.fsnau.org
Army), Each section consists of two subsections and
good rains
the smallest subsection represents 50-350
households.
Baseline Year Description
• Baidoa is situated 245 km west of Mogadishu and 240 km southeast of the
Baseline Reference Year: April 2006 to
March 2007. Ethiopian border.
• Baidoa is the trading centre of the Sorghum-Belt, Somalia’s sorghum
o Neither a bad year nor a very good breadbasket. The Sorghum-Belt refers to the sorghum producing regions of
year.
o It is an average year in terms of Gedo, Bay, Bakool and Hiran regions.
rainfall levels, cereal prices, coping • Baidoa is surrounded by two rural livelihood zones: Bay Agro-pastoral High
activities, job opportunities, IDP Potential and Bay Bakool Agro-pastoral Low Potential Livelihood Zones.
numbers, and security.
o Temporary location of the Transitional • Baidoa is a major economic centre of southern Somalia, with strong economic
Federal Government (TFG) from links to neighbouring rural and urban centers, including Mogadishu, Merka,
2005-2008. and Qoriyoley (Lower Shabelle region), Bardera and Beled Hawa (Gedo region)
Average prices and purchasing power in
and Hudur and Wajid (Bakool region).
the reference year (Apr. ’06 - Mar. ’07) • Main economic activities in the town include small, medium and large scale
business, casual labour, self-employment, and livestock and agricultural trade.
o Sorghum price is 1,079 SoSh/kg
o Rice prices is 7,888 SoSh/kg
o Sugar price is 9,600 SoSh/kg Demographic Information Very Poor Poor Middle Better-off
o Daily labour wage is 24,000 SoSh/ Percentage Population by Wealth Group 10 30 45 15
day
o Milk price 4,850 SoSh/litre Population Number 5,910 17,730 26,600 8,870
o Exchange rate: 14,500 SoSh/USD
o Terms of Trade (labour/sorghum): 27 Average Household Size 7 7 8 11
kg/day
Source: UNDP Somalia, 2005, Urban Population; Wealth Group Breakdown, FSNAU May 2009.
Livelihood Baseline Profile - Baidoa Urban

BAIDOAURBAN Seasonal calendar

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Seasons Gu wet season Hagaa dry season Deyr wet season Jilaal dry season
Water availability High High
Cereal prices High
Imported food prices High
Wage rates
Casual labour High High
Agricultural labour High High
Mudding High High
Petty trade High High
Firewood sales High High
Lime production High High
Malaria Peak Peak
Diarrhea Peak
ARI Peak

 Cereal Flow Map

SOMALIA: MAJOR CEREALS MARKETS
Seasonal Calendar Soap, sugar, rice,
wheat flour, oil, tea leaves,
41°0'0"E 43°0'0"E 45°0'0"E 47°0'0"E 49°0'0"E 51°0'0"E
pasta, tomato paste,
milk powder (urban only),
Soap, sugar, rice, vehicles, fuel
Gulf of Aden
The seasonal calendar shows seasonal
Alula
wheat flour, oil, tea leaves,
pasta, tomato paste,
DJIBOUTI milk powder (urban only), |!Bossaso
activities throughout the Baidoa Urban vehicles, fuel | Kandala
Zeylac
| Bosaso

Baseline Reference Year: Bari

Lughaye Ceerigaabo
Awdal | !
Berbera !
Badhan
Berbera
Borama Baki Sanag Iskushuban
10°0'0"N

10°0'0"N
Borama Sheikh El Afwein

• Economic activities are highest

Erigabo
!
< Gebiley Woq. Galbeed
!
<
Gabiley Gardo

during the two dry seasons of Hargeysa

!
_
[ Burco
! TogdheerAinabo
Sool
Bandar Beila

Hagaa (July-Sept.) and Jilaal

Hargeisa
Burao Taleh

(Jan.-March) and strongly correlate

Hudun

Laascanood

with periods of crop production and

! Garowe
Buhodle Lasanod !Garowe

cereal availability.
8°0'0"N

8°0'0"N
Eyl
Burtinle
Nugal

• Cereal crops are grown during the Goldogob

Jariban

two west seasons of Gu (April- ETHIOPIA !

Galkayo

June) and Deyr (Oct.-Dec.) and

harvested and traded during the
6°0'0"N

Hobyo 6°0'0"N

dry seasons. Mudug

Abudwaq

Indian Ocean
!
|
• As cereal availability is highest !
Ceel Barde
Beled Weyne
Dusa Mareb

during dry seasons, cereal prices

El Barde Belet Weyne
! El Bur
#
I Xarardheere
Haradhere

Bakol Galgadud LEGEND

tend to be lower resulting in
Doolow Xudur
! LuuqRab-Dhuure Galcad
4°0'0"N

4°0'0"N

!Hudur Tayeglow
Dolo ! ! Cereals' Markets
reduced hunger levels.
Buulobarde
Belet Xawo Luuq
Wajid Tieglo Hiran ! Aden Yabaal
! !
Bulo Burti
! El Der
!
< Major Sorghum market
Belet Hawa
Baidoa
Baydhaba
Jalalaqsi
!
Aden Yabal
_ Major Maize Market
[
• Other income generating activities
Garbahare
!
< BayBur Hakaba
Jalalaqsi Adale #
I Major Cowpea Market
Gedo Qansax Dheere Jowhar
Cadale ! Other Cereals Market
(casual labour, petty trade, firewood El Waq
!
_
[
Jowhar
|
M. !Shabelle | Sea Port
Balad Warsheikh

sales, lime sales and house !

< Flow Pattern
!
Bardera !
|
Baar-Dheere
Banadir
Mogadishu
2°0'0"N

2°0'0"N

Sorghum
mudding) are also highest during |
Dinsor Qoryooley "
/
!
Sakow Saakow _|
[
Qoryoley
!
Maize

the dry periods, while agricultural M. Juba ! Merka

Soap, sugar, rice,
Cowpea
KENYA

Marka
wheat flour, oil, tea leaves, Sesame
Bu'aale Sablale

labour levels are highest during the

! pasta, tomato paste, Imports
Buale
L. Shabelle milk powder (urban only),
vehicles, fuel
wet seasons.
Brava
/ National Capital
"
Afmadow Afmadow Jilib
! Major Road
Jamaame Coastline

* Human disease outbreak varies L. Juba _

[
Jamame
0°0'0"

0°0'0"

International Boundary

over the seasons, diarrhea is peak

Regional Boundary
! |
Kismayo
Non food items, soap,

±
Kismayo tea leaves, coffee, District Boundary
in dry season Jilaal (Jan.-March),
mattresses,
Badhadhe etc River

while malaria outbreak is peak

Datum: WGS84
40 20 0 40 80 120 160 Data Source: FSAU, 2006
Admin. layers: UNDP, 1998

soon after the rainy months, May- 41°0'0"E 43°0'0"E 45°0'0"E

Kilometers

47°0'0"E
Updated: June, 2006
49°0'0"E 51°0'0"E

June in Gu season and Nov-Dec,

in Deyr season. Food Security Analysis Unit - Somalia http://www.fsausomali.org
P.O. Box 1230 Village Market, Nairobi, Kenya Email: fsauinfo@fsau.or.ke tel: 254-20-3745734 fax:254-20-3740598
FSAU is managed by FAO, funded by EC and USAID. FSAU Partners are FEWS NET, WFP, FAO, UNOCHA, SCF-UK, UNICEF, CARE, UNDP
The boundaries and names on these maps do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
The regional & District boundaries reflect those endorsed by the Government of the Republic of Somalia in 1986.

2
 Livelihood Baseline Profile - Baidoa Urban

ROLE OF WOMEN IN MARKETS

MarketS and Trade AND TRADE
• Baidoa is one of the most important markets in southern Women play an important role in the urban
Somalia, conducting significant trade in local and imported context, participating in income earning
cereals, livestock and non-food items. activities through employment and self-
• Baidoa is the main sorghum trading market in Somalia, as employment. During the reference year,
Bay region has the highest surplus sorghum production in women managed almost 70% of the
town’s petty/small trade businesses while
Somalia. approximately 85% of milk traders and
• Bay regional surplus sorghum is traded through Baidoa 10% of livestock traders were women.
markets, supplying surrounding southern regions, as well In addition, women constituted about
as Somalia’s northeast regions, and parts of neighbouring 20% of the unskilled labour within the
Kenya and Ethiopia (see Cereal Flow Map). construction sector.
• Traders in Baidoa market have strong trade links with
Mogadishu’s main market, Bakaara, where most imported
commodities originate.
• Baidoa is one of the largest livestock markets in southern
Somalia. Livestock trade (camel, cattle, sheep and goat) is a
major profitable business within Baidoa.
• Livestock are transported from surrounding districts
within the Bay region, as well as from Bakool, Gedo and
the Lower Shabelle regions.
• Baidoa also serves as a transit point for informal cattle
trade to Kenya’s main northern livestock market, Garissa.

Sectoral Inventory Overview

The Sectoral Inventory classifies individual (rather than household) employment or economic activities into
particular income categories by wealth group. As it is very common for households to have more than one
person engaged in some form of employment, individual incomes may not necessarily represent total household
income. Hence, multiple household members’ incomes, when combined, will typically shift households into a
higher wealth category.

Sectoral Inventory Summary by Wealth Group

% OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN SECTOR BY WEALTH
ESTIMATED
GROUP (April ‘06-March ‘07)
SECTORS NUMBER OF PEOPLE
INVOLVED Very Lower Upper
Poor Better-off Total %
poor middle middle
1. Livestock marketing (live animals) 390 19 5 13 2 61 100
2. Meat marketing 200 48 26 18 2 6 100
3. Milk trade (fresh) 330 0 0 9 0 91 100
4. Construction sector 3,010 51 15 27 4 3 100
5. Transport sector 1,360 1 7 30 38 24 100
6. Vegetable/fruit sector 1,040 0 93 5 2 0 100
7. Telecommunication sector 900 3 2 91 1 3 100
8. Qaad (Miraa) sector 300 15 30 0 43 12 100
9. Firewood/charcoal sector 710 100 0 0 0 0 100
10. Water sector 360 92 4 4 0 0 100
11. Remittance sector 380 0 1 26 49 24 100
12. Other trade and services sector (total) 15,310 13 33 38 10 6 100
12.1. Formal sector 9,410 18 26 30 17 9 100
12.2. Non-formal sector 5,900 4 44 52 0 0 100
12.3. Salaried employment sector 110 0 8 20 24 48 100

HOUSEHOLD INCOME LEVELS BY WEALTH GROUP (April 2006-March 2007)

Very poor Poor Lower Middle Upper Middle Better-off
<22,000 SoSh 22,000-32,000 SoSh 32,000-57,000 SoSh 57,000-80,000 SoSh >80,000

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Livelihood Baseline Profile - Baidoa Urban

SUMMARY OF LIVELIHOOD ASSETS

• Household Size and Composition: Poor, Middle and Better-off households have
an average household size of 7, 8, and 9, respectively. Within the household, men
comprise almost 41% and women 59%. Monogamy is the predominant practice,
although a significant number of people practise polygamy.
• Health: Generally, health services in Baidoa are poor, but include free services
to a Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCH). There is only one hospital in the
town (Baidoa General Hospital), which is inadequately equipped and severely
understaffed.
Human • Nutrition: In recent times and since Nov. 2004, the nutrition situation has been
Capital at chronic Critical levels of acute malnutrition (15-19.9%). The most recent
representative nutrition survey (Oct. ’04) in Baidoa district, including the town,
reported a global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 16.3% and a severe acute
malnutrition (SAM) rate of 2.9%.
• Results of an IDP rapid assessment in Baidoa town (May ’07) indicated a Very Critical situation showing 18.6% of the
children assessed were acutely malnourished (MUAC<12.5 cm or oedema), with 4.3% being severely malnourished
(MUAC<11 cm or oedema).
• Education: School enrolment is less than 5% of school age children1. There are 69 private schools2. Estimated school
entry fee is equivalent to eight US dollars3. Poor household’s children have limited access to schools.

• Remittances: Remittances provided by relatives and friends in the Diaspora are available mainly for Better-off households,
and access is limited for both Poor and Middle households.
• Donations or Gifts (zakat): Poor households receive food and cash in the form of gifts (zakat), from other wealth groups,
and fellow clan members.
• Urban-Rural Links: Baidoa urban population has strong links with surrounding rural households (agro-pastoralists),
exchanging trade and other services, such as food and non-food items, labour, as well as provision of safe havens during
Social times of insecurity.
Capital • Urban-Urban Links: Baidoa residents have close trade and financial links with other urban centres, such as Mogadishu,
Bossasso, and other towns in the south. Bossasso and Mogadishu provide opportunities for seasonal trade and employment
at the ports, as well as some remittances.

• Land Holdings: Only a few of the town’s urban households possess permanent
land holdings that are used for crop production, construction and sale.
• Housing: The majority of urban households own their own housing, except for 60-
80% of the Very Poor households who live in rented houses (huts) with monthly
rents of SoSh 15,000 to 20,000 per month.
Physical • Livestock Holdings: Better-off and Upper Middle households have some
Capital livestock holdings comprised of camel, sheep and goats, which are usually kept
by rural relatives. This capital is mostly used in times of stress.
o •Road Infrastructure: Baidoa’s road infrastructure is generally poor and impassable
in wet seasons. Baidoa has one main tarmac road that serves as a main trade route
to Mogadishu. Other earthen roads connect to the Bakool and Gedo regions.
o Roadblocks: are a major burden, restricting commodity and population movement.

• Capital Levels: The average capital (investment in petty trade) for the Poor !
wealth group was about SoSh 150,000-1,000,000 ($10-70); Middle groups SoSh
2,500,000-3,500,000 ($170-240) and Better-off SoSh 35,000,000-50,000,000
($2400-3500). The Very Poor have limited access to capital for investment.
Loans: Poor and Lower Middle wealth groups take loans during the rainy seasons,
Financial •
when construction and portaging work is scarce. Upper Middle and Better-off
Capital groups rarely seek loans. Loans are incurred during rainy seasons and repaid the
following dry season; hence no annual debt accumulation.
• Debt: The average debt incurred by the Poor wealth groups during the reference year
was estimated at SoSh 450,000, which is less than normally incurred annually.

• Water Sources: Main water sources include piped water services (an estimated
total of 480 pipes) provided by 3 private water agencies, 21 public kiosks, 300
donkey cart water deliveries, and 500-600 shallow wells. Water is charged and
purchased except for water from shallow wells, which is free of charge but the
quality is relatively poorer.
• Energy Sources: Firewood and charcoal are used as the main energy sources
Natural (cooking and boiling) in Baidoa. Poor and Lower Middle households and
restaurants/bars mostly use firewood. The Upper Middle and the Better-off
Capital households prefer charcoal to firewood due to safety reasons.
• Environmental Degradation: Like rural poor households, many poor people in
the town engage in charcoal burning, lime production, and firewood collection to diversify their income; this contributes
to environmental degradation and deforestation. The average cost of a 50 kg charcoal bag during the reference year
was 35,000 SoSh and the average cost of a bundle of firewood was 1,000 SoSh. Poverty and the presence of IDPs
are accelerating environmental degradation through increased deforestation needed to generate energy and housing
materials. In addition, poor sanitation and the lack of latrines have resulted in poor hygiene conditions in the town.

1 Sanders, Edmund, “Lost Generation of Somalia,” Los Angeles Times 2006.

2 Kimani, Peter, “Somalia is Rising from the Ashes,” Somalia Watch (19 May 2007).
3 Sanders, 2006.

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 Livelihood Baseline Profile - Baidoa Urban

WEALTH BREAKDOWN
WealthBreakdown:Baidoa
Pleasenote
All income
thateach% 50%
levels
figureisthe
relative to 40%
midͲpoint
Baidoa
ofarange. 30%

20%
Generally
twomembers 10%
ofthe
household 0%
areworking <22,000 22Ͳ32,000 32Ͳ80,000 >80,000
SomaliShillingsperhouseholdperday
VeryPoorandPoor
• SmallͲscalepettytrade(veg,
milk,cereals,nonͲfood) LowerandUpperMiddle
• Skilledworkers(masons) BetterͲoff
• Teastallsandpreparedmeals • Import/export
• Casual,unskilledlabour • MidͲlevelemployees
(drivers,cooks) • Largeshops/traders
• LowͲlevelemployees(cleaners)
• MidͲlevelpettytrade • Senioremployees
• Donkeycarts/wheelbarrows
• Milkwholesalers • Largebusinesses
• Children’swork • Rentalincome
• Gifts • Remittances

Livelihood strategies
Annual Sources of Food by Wealth Group Composition of Diet by Wealth Group

Expenditure Patterns by Wealth Group

Average Monthly Income by Wealth Group
!

Quantities of Food Purchased per Month by Wealth Group

Coping strategIES
Lower Upper
Item Very Poor Poor Better-off
Middle Middle • Reduction in expenditure and switching to cheaper foods
Sorghum(kg) 75 68 72 52 45 • Skipping meals and reducing food portions of meals
Wheat flour (kg) 2 8 11 15 23 • Household member out of work and working longer hours
Rice (kg) 4 4 9 12 25 • Family splitting, reducing the number of household
Pasta (kg) - - - 8 13 members
Cowpeas 10 10 10 11 12
• Loans, mainly accessible by Better-off by offering collateral,
Sugar (kg) 7.5 10 15 18 30
such as land
Vegetable oil (litres) 5 6 7.5 8 15
Ghee (litres) - - - - 7.5
• Diversification of income, such as engaging in petty trade;
Meat (kg) 7 8 15 15 22.5 this is possible for wealthier households
Milk (litres) 30 30 30 45 60 • Increased charcoal and firewood sales
Vegetables and fruit (kg) 8 15 20 24 48 • Increased reliance on gifts and zakat

5
Livelihood Baseline Profile - Baidoa Urban

Major Risks and Impact: All Wealth Groups

Baidoa frequently experiences many shocks and its economic stability is constantly at risk. Poorer groups find themselves most
threatened by disruptions to Baidoa’s economy, as they just barely meet minimum food requirements during a normal year and have
fewer options for coping with shocks. Major risk and impact on the livelihood are listed below.
!
• Security: Civil insecurity affects all wealth groups, causing
displacement, loss of lives and property and a high rate of
unemployment.
Risk factors
• Inflation: Severe currency depreciation increases the costs of o Insecurity
imported food and non-food items. Poorer households suffer o Inflation
most from inflation, particularly if their wages and profits do o Drought affecting the cereal production
not rise to compensate for such price increases. o Unemployment
o Increased cereal prices
• Drought: Crop production is a driving economic factor, and o Human disease - Acute Watery
crop failure significantly reduces food and income access Diarrhoea (AWD) and malaria
for poorer groups through loss of income from agricultural
labour and a decline in cereal trade.
• Water shortages: The main water source for the majority of
the people in Baidoa is shallow wells, although free water is
often limited and contaminated, which increases the risk of diseases. During periods of poor rain, there are extreme water
shortages, which raise water costs.
• Unemployment: Job opportunities, though relatively stable in good years, are frequently limited due to shocks, such as increased
insecurity, crop failure and reduced trade activities.
• Increased cereal prices: All wealth groups are dependent on market purchase. Poor and Middle wealth groups are especially
susceptible to inflation, as most of their income is spent on food. Poor local cereal production, combined with high cereal demand
from other parts of the country, cause cereal prices to increase, thus making food access more difficult for the Poor and Middle
groups.
• Disease (e.g. cholera and malaria): Disease causes high child mortality rates. Risk of exposure is higher during dry seasons
when water shortages force the local population to use dirty water. The absence of mosquito nets also increases malaria risk.
• Other risk factors: These include limited trade activities, a decline in the terms of trade and an influx of IDPs.

MAIN CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTION

The results of the assessment clearly demonstrate that a substantial proportion of the population in Baidoa lives in relative
poverty by local standards, with over 40% of Baidoa’s population (Very Poor and Poor) unable to meet the basic daily income
requirement of USD 0.33 per day (Baidoa’s absolute poverty line).
Very Poor Poor Lower Middle Upper Middle Better-off
Total cash income (SoSh) available for expenditure
600,000 814,000 1,320,000 2,065,000 4,960,000
per household per month
Total cash income (SoSh) per household per day 20,000 27,133 44,000 68,833 165,333
Total cash income (USD) per household per month 41.38 56.14 91.03 142.41 342.07
Total cash income (USD) per household per day 1.38 1.87 3.03 4.75 11.40
Total cash income (USD) per person per day 0.20 0.27 0.38 0.59 1.04

Recommendations for Action:

• Seek ways to improve security, particularly security along major trade routes.
• Reduce reliance on expensive imported foods by increasing local agricultural production.
• Increase the number of labour-intensive projects; building livelihood assets, e.g. infrastructure, schools, public service
infrastructure.
• Increase small business credit and loans for poorer households.
• Improve healthcare services for the poor, greater access is needed.
• Prevent disease by promoting basic hygiene and use of mosquito nets.
• Investment in the meat processing sector, e.g. improved sanitation, separate abattoir.
• Improve access to water for urban farming purposes, e.g. provision of small irrigation pumps and building farm water reservoirs.
• Improve access to clean water for human use, e.g. chlorination and digging new shallow wells in the town outskirts.

Technical & European

Managerial Support Commission Funding Agencies