Somaliland Community Action Network

VSLA Grant Disbursement.

Field story:
Five months ago, VSLA members in villages across Maroodijeex and Awdal were learning how to open a ledger and record a loan. In August, that groundwork paid off: SCAN teams travelled to each village to hand VSLA groups their grant disbursement under the “Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland” programme.

In Bali Cabane village, Hargeisa district, group members gather smiling around the SCAN team as a representative receives the group's grant in front of the programme banner — a moment that marks their VSLA's transition from a newly formed savings group to one with real capital to grow its internal loan fund. In Awdal region, the scene repeats: an elder VSLA member counts out the notes handed to her by the SCAN field officer, her group's green “VSLA Saving Box” placed at her feet, ready to hold the funds the group will now manage, lend, and grow together.

The grant disbursement follows months of governance and bookkeeping training these same groups completed — the skills that let them record, track, and account for exactly how this new capital moves through their savings box. For VSLA members in pastoral communities across Somaliland, it's the point where training turns into tangible resources: money they now own collectively and are equipped to manage responsibly, donated by KOICA, funded by WFP, and disbursed through SCAN.

Project: Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland
Donated by: KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency)
Funded by: WFP (World Food Programme)
Implemented by: SCAN (Somaliland Community Action Network)
Coverage area: Maroodijeex, Awdal, and Gabiley regions, Somaliland.

VSLA Governance & Bookkeeping Training.

Field story:
In Quljed village, Awdal region, women gather in a wide circle of chairs under a tree, notebooks and WFP-branded folders in hand, as a SCAN trainer leads a session on VSLA governance and bookkeeping. It's a working session, not a formality — members are learning how their group should be run, from electing and holding leadership accountable to keeping accurate records of savings and loans.
What sets this session apart is who's watching. A WFP field officer sits in on the training alongside the SCAN team, observing firsthand how the programme's financial literacy component reaches women in one of the more remote parts of Quljed, Awdal. For the women in the circle, it's a chance to ask questions and work through real governance scenarios with both their trainer and a donor representative in the room; for the programme, it's a moment of direct oversight — proof, in the field, that VSLA groups are being built on sound governance as well as sound numbers.
Sessions like this one are part of the wider push under “Building Climate Resilience for Food Security,” donated by KOICA, funded by WFP, and implemented by SCAN, to give VSLA groups across Somaliland the governance skills and bookkeeping discipline they need to manage their own savings sustainably, long after the training ends.
continued) — Kulmiye Cooperative Registration.
Field story:
Under the shade of an acacia tree in Kalabaydh village, Gabiley region, a Ministry of Livestock and Rural Development official sits with members of the Kulmiye cooperative and SCAN's field team, completing the paperwork needed to formally register the cooperative. It's a quiet scene, but a decisive one: registration is the required step before Kulmiye can be recognised and supported by the Ministry, and before it can access funding under KOICA.
Getting a government official, cooperative members, and SCAN's field team to the same table under one tree didn't happen by chance. SCAN organized and facilitated the meeting, bringing the Ministry and the cooperative together, and stayed engaged afterward — following up with the Ministry until Kulmiye's registration certificate was finally issued.
For Kulmiye's members, that certificate means more than paperwork. It's institutional recognition, a route to government backing, and a foundation the cooperative can build on long after the programme ends. It's also a clear example of how “Building Climate Resilience for Food Security,” donated by KOICA, funded by WFP, and implemented by SCAN, works to link communities directly to the government structures meant to support them.

Project: Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland
Donated by: KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency)
Funded by: WFP (World Food Programme)
Implemented by: SCAN (Somaliland Community Action Network)
Coverage area: Maroodijeex, Awdal, and Gabiley regions, Somaliland.

VSLA Bookkeeping, Cooperative Business Planning & Nutrition Trainings

1. Cooperative Business Plan Development and Basic Nutrition Training.
Field story:
Under a canopy of acacia trees in Gatawaha village, roughly 50 men and women — members of a single cooperative — gather to learn how to turn their shared enterprise into a viable, bankable business. The training covers advanced financial literacy alongside business planning for livestock and agricultural cooperatives, equipping members to budget, forecast, and plan collectively. This cooperative is one of 34 that SCAN is supporting under the WFP-KOICA climate resilience programme — a mix of agricultural and livestock cooperatives spread across Somaliland — each working toward becoming a self-sustaining vehicle for household income and community resilience
Growing enough food is only half the challenge — using it well is the other. A SCAN trainer leads members of a crop cooperative through practical nutrition guidance: how to diversify diets, get more value from what they harvest, and identify affordable alternatives when certain foods are scarce. Delivered alongside the programme's livelihoods and financial literacy components, this session reflects SCAN's integrated approach — pairing income and production support with the knowledge households need to translate a better harvest into better nutrition.
2. Financial Bookkeeping Training for VSLA Groups.
Field story:
In a modest sitting room in Sayla Bari, ten women lean in as a SCAN trainer opens a savings ledger and walks them, line by line, through how to record contributions, track loans, and reconcile their group's books. This VSLA is one of dozens formed under the WFP-KOICA “Building Climate Resilience for Food Security” programme, which is building financial literacy and savings discipline among 500 women from pastoral communities hit hardest by recurrent drought. For women whose livelihoods depend on livestock and casual labour, a well-kept ledger is more than paperwork — it is the foundation of a savings and credit system they can trust, manage themselves, and rely on when the next dry spell arrives.

Project: Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland
Donated by: KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency)
Funded by: WFP (World Food Programme)
Implemented by: SCAN (Somaliland Community Action Network)
Coverage area: Maroodijeex, Awdal, and Gabiley regions, Somaliland

Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Groups Support.

Overview
Under the KOICA-funded project Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland, the Somaliland Community Action Network (SCAN) is currently supporting 34 Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups. These groups are composed primarily of rural women who lack access to formal financial institutions, and the initiative is designed to build their financial resilience and improve their livelihoods through structured savings and lending mechanisms.
Support Provided to VSLA Groups
SCAN provides the following support to each of the 50 VSLA groups:
Capacity Building Training
Training on cooperative governance structures, leadership roles, operational systems, and savings and lending rules. Operational Inputs
Provision of ledger books, meeting minutes documents, and savings boxes to support group record-keeping and financial management.

End-of-Cycle Grant
Upon completion of their savings cycle, each VSLA group will receive a grant to support and expand their livelihood activities. This grant is specifically designed to benefit rural women who are largely excluded from formal financial services, providing them with access to capital that will enable them to invest in income-generating activities, strengthen household food security, and build long-term economic resilience.
Expected Outcomes
• Strengthened financial literacy and savings discipline among VSLA members.
• Improved governance and management of community savings groups.
• Increased access to financial resources for rural women.
• Enhanced livelihoods and household food security through end-of-cycle grants.
• Greater economic independence and resilience among women in target communities.
• Sustainable community-based financial systems beyond the project period.

✔ 50 VSLA GROUPS ACTIVELY SUPPORTED
SCAN is actively supporting 50 VSLA groups with training, operational tools, and end-of-cycle grants to strengthen the financial resilience of rural women across target communities.

Published Media Officer Scansom Abdirahman Bulshawi

Field Visit to Kalabydh Village.

Background
A field monitoring and observation visit was conducted to Kalabydh Village to assess the implementation progress of the KOICA-funded project Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland, implemented by the Somaliland Community Action Network (SCAN).
The visit aimed to observe ongoing community-based interventions, assess community participation, and evaluate the effectiveness of SCAN’s implementation approaches in strengthening climate resilience and food security within the village.
Objectives of the Field Visit
1. To observe project activities implemented by SCAN in Kalabydh village.
2. To assess community participation and ownership of project interventions.
3. To engage with local leaders, beneficiaries, and community groups.
4. To review the progress and impact of resilience-building activities.
5. To identify implementation successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
6. To strengthen coordination and collaboration between WFP and SCAN.

Assessment Outcome
The field monitoring visit to Kalabydh Village was carried out successfully by the WFP Hargeisa Office team. All planned objectives were met, with constructive engagement recorded across community stakeholders, local leadership, and SCAN field staff.
✔ ASSESSMENT COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY
The WFP Hargeisa Office confirms that the field monitoring visit to Kalabydh Village under the KOICA project was conducted and concluded successfully in April 2026.

published Media Officer Scan Abdirahman Bulshaawi.

CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING ON GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS, SAVING AND LENDING RULES FOR AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK COOPERATIVE.

Background
As part of the KOICA-funded project on Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland, the Somaliland Community Action Network (SCAN), with support from the World Food Programme (WFP), conducted Capacity Building Training sessions for Agricultural and Livestock Cooperatives across 34 target villages in Maroodijeex, Gabiley, and Awdal regions.
The training aimed to strengthen the institutional capacity of newly established and existing cooperatives by enhancing their knowledge and skills in governance structures, operational systems, financial management, and savings and lending mechanisms. The initiative sought to improve cooperative management practices, promote accountability and transparency, and strengthen community resilience through sustainable economic and livelihood systems.
The training brought together cooperative leaders, committee members, women representatives, youth participants, and community stakeholders engaged in agricultural and livestock production activities.
Objectives of the Training
The overall objective was to strengthen the operational and governance capacities of agricultural and livestock cooperatives to enable them to effectively manage cooperative activities and improve community livelihoods.
Specific objectives included:
• To strengthen understanding of cooperative governance structures and leadership roles.
• To enhance knowledge of cooperative operational systems and management procedures.
• To build participants’ capacity on financial management, savings, and lending rules.
• To promote accountability, transparency, and participatory decision-making within cooperatives.
• To improve cooperative record-keeping and reporting practices.
• To encourage sustainable income generation and financial resilience among cooperative members.
• To strengthen women and youth participation in cooperative leadership and management.

Training Coverage and Participants
The capacity building training was conducted across the 34 target villages in the regions of Maroodijeex, Gabiley, and Awdal. Participants included:
• Agricultural cooperative members
• Livestock cooperative representatives
• Cooperative management committees
• Village leaders and elders
• Community development committees
Special emphasis was placed on ensuring inclusive participation of women and youth to strengthen equitable representation and leadership within cooperative structures.
Key Achievements
The training achieved several important outcomes, including:
• Improved understanding of cooperative governance and management systems among participants.
• Strengthened leadership and accountability capacities of cooperative committees.
• Increased awareness of savings and lending principles and financial management practices.
• Enhanced record-keeping and operational management skills.
• Strengthened participation of women and youth in cooperative activities.
• Improved community confidence in cooperative structures and financial systems.
• Increased commitment among cooperative members to promote transparency and collective decision-making.
The training contributed significantly to strengthening community-based institutions and enhancing economic resilience within the target communities.
✔ ASSESSMENT COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY
Capacity building training was successfully conducted across all 34 target villages in Maroodijeex, Gabiley, and Awdal regions during April 2026.

Published Media Officer Scansom Abdirahman Bulshaawi.

FIELD VISIT TO GUMBURAHA VILLAGE.

OVERVIEW

A field monitoring and observation visit was conducted to Gumburaha Village by World Food Programme (WFP) staff to assess and observe the implementation progress of activities carried out by the Somaliland Community Action Network (SCAN) under the KOICA-funded project Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland.
The visit focused on two core community-level interventions: the establishment of Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups, and the formation of a livestock cooperative — both designed to strengthen economic resilience and food security at the household and community level.

MONITORED ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

5
VSLA groups established 50
Female VSLA members (10 per group) 1
Livestock cooperative formed 50
Cooperative members (mixed gender)

ACTIVITIES MONITORED

► Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA)
Five VSLA groups were established in Gumburaha Village as part of the project's financial inclusion component. Each group comprises 10 female members, bringing the total VSLA membership to 50 women. The VSLA model empowers female community members with access to savings mechanisms and small loans, promoting economic independence and household food security.
Group 1
10 women Group 2
10 women Group 3
10 women Group 4
10 women Group 5
10 women

♀ All-female membership ⊕ 50 total members

► Livestock Cooperative
One livestock cooperative was established, bringing together 50 community members — both male and female — to jointly manage and benefit from livestock assets. This cooperative model supports collective decision-making, shared risk management, and improved livelihoods through sustainable livestock practices in the context of climate variability.
⊕ 50 members ⇌ Mixed — male and female

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Women-led savings groups
All 50 VSLA members are women, reflecting a strong gender inclusion focus across the project. Climate resilience in action
Both interventions are designed to buffer communities against climate-related food and income shocks.
Implementation on track
WFP monitoring confirmed SCAN's progress against project milestones in Gumburaha Village. Community-level reach
A combined 100 direct beneficiaries across both activities in a single village.

PROJECT PARTNERS

World Food Programme (WFP) — Funder SCAN — Implementing Partner KOICA — Project Donor

This report summarises the field monitoring visit conducted in March 2026 to Gumburaha Village, Somaliland, under the KOICA-funded project implemented by the Somaliland Community Action Network (SCAN) in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP).

Published Media Officer Scansom Abdirahman Bulshaawi.

Government Engagement and Community Sensitization & Mobilization Activities

Overview
This report presents the implementation progress and achievements of Government Engagement and Community Sensitization & Mobilization activities conducted under the KOICA-funded project titled Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in Somaliland. The project is funded through the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) and implemented by the Somaliland Community Action Network (SCAN) across 34 villages in Maroodijeex, Gabiley, and Awdal regions.
Primary Objective
The primary objective of the engagement and mobilization activities was to strengthen collaboration between government institutions, local authorities, community leaders, and beneficiary communities to ensure effective project implementation, local ownership, and sustainability of climate resilience interventions. The activities focused on raising awareness about:
Climate change adaptation
Food security challenges
Sustainable natural resource management Community participation
Inclusive decision-making

Reach & Participation
A total of 34 villages were reached through sensitization and mobilization activities, with active participation from community elders, religious leaders, women, youth groups, district officials, and line ministries. The activities promoted transparency, accountability, and community ownership while creating a conducive environment for smooth implementation of project interventions.

Published Media Officer Abdirahman Bulshaawi