In November-December 2010, FSNAU and partners successfully piloted food security urban survey in five towns of the North West of Somalia namely: Boroma, Gebiley, Berbera, and Zeylac and Hargeisa. A multi-stage cluster sampling with probability proportional to size method was employed in the survey with a sample of 243 households who were selected randomly using systematic sampling method.
To identify the socio-economic factors informed by a gender perspective that correlate with food security vulnerability, the following variables were considered due to their relative importance in determining household food security, namely: household headship; household size and per capita expenditure; source of income; access to productive labour; assets e.g. land, education, health care, remittances and non-productive or basic assets, such as fridge, motor vehicle and mobile phones.
This Gender Facts and Figures Series is a snapshot of gender indicators considered influential in determining food security and vulnerability.
Key messages:-
- The urban Northwest households are increasingly becoming feminized, with the population of female headed households at 53% percent. The increase is an indicator of increasing economic freedom for women as well as the changing traditional gender roles.
- Male and female headed households are able to meet their minimum expenditure baskets (MEB). However, female headed households are able to do so by diversifying their income sources through upholding 2-3 jobs.
- Male headed households have larger families, and more stable incomes from formal employment in government institutions and humanitarian agencies. The large household size could be attributed to prevalence of polygynous marriages and also presence of temporary or permanent relatives.
- Illiteracy rates are high among female heads of households, at 65 percent, making it difficult for them to access formal employment.
- Gender disparity in school attendance is high (in favour of boys) with a GPI of 0.75 and 0.48 in secondary and tertiary school respectively. Policy intervention and affirmative action on education at higher level would facilitate women’s future access to formal employment.
- Health care facilities are scarce with 82 percent of female headed households compared with 62 percent of male headed households accessing health services from pharmacies at higher cost compared to other health services providers.
- Charcoal is the main energy source in majority of households with no difference based on sex of the household head.
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