Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Joint Risk Assessment for Somalia 2024

Country: Somalia Source: Inter-Agency Standing Committee Somalia Please refer to the attached file. The 2024 SEA Joint Risk Assessment (JRA) provides a comprehensive baseline analysis of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) risks across Somalia’s humanitarian and development sectors. Conducted as part of the UNICEF Somalia Country Office’s support to the PSEA Network’s 2024 Action Plan, the assessment evaluates vulnerabilities, response mechanisms, and organisational capacities within a highly complex and dynamic environment. The findings underscore the persistent challenges of SEA in a context marked by conflict, displacement, and socio-economic disparities, emphasizing the urgent need for robust, context-specific interventions. Key SEA risks include: Enabling Environment: The fragmented legal framework for addressing SEA, coupled with limited enforcement of SEA-related laws, and insufficient PSEA awareness among government institutions hinder effective prevention and response. Additionally, cultural norms, stigma, and power imbalances further contribute to the survivor silence. Operational and Humanitarian Contexts: Aid delivery mechanisms, such as cash and food distribution, livelihood programs, and recruitment processes, present high SEA risk points. Vulnerable groups, especially displaced women, girls, and persons with disabilities, are disproportionately affected. Reporting Mechanisms: Despite the availability of multiple channels, barriers such as fear of retaliation, distrust in systems, and cultural stigma significantly hinder community and staff reporting. Safe, accessible, and confidential mechanisms remain inconsistent. Protective Environment: Weak investigation capacities, gaps in inter-agency coordination, and limited training on SEA handling for GBV/CP service providers undermine accountability and su...

Original source: Relief Web