Dadaab / Hagadera refugee camp. Community assessment report 2015

UNHCR and WFP in Kenya in coordination with the Coverage Monitoring Network (CMN) conducted a community assessment for Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program in Hagadera Refugee camp, Dadaab. This community assessment was carried as part of Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC) for CMAM program from March 18 to April 1, 2015 which is supported by UNHCR and WFP and implemented by IRC. The main objective was to understand and analyze the program context to identify existing systems, resources, community structures and cultural factors in order to design a community mobilization strategy that fits with and builds on local resources to improve access and use of the CMAM service.

Hagadera refugee camp has an impressive network of refugee leadership structures and community-based groups, such as section and block leaders, Community Health Committee (CHC), Mother to Mother Support Groups (MTMSGs). The section and block leaders are the gatekeepers of the communities and expressed their commitment to support the community mobilization for CMAM program. The refugee leaders meeting with partners, and subsequently dissemination of information to the refugees is among effective communication channels in the camp.