Attachments
KEY MESSAGES
• Household income and expenditure rose between baseline and endline, with the largest share spent on food and debt repayment for food. Despite these gains, spending remained well below Mandera's Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) - the average minimum cost of the culturally adjusted basic items, comprising essential commodities and services, required to support a six-person household for one month - highlighting continued financial vulnerability and reliance on external support.
• Cash assistance improved food security and reduced reliance on negative coping strategies. The proportion of households with an acceptable Food Consumption Score (FCS) increased from 9% at baseline to 44% at endline, while poor FCS declined from 16% to 7%. Employment of high coping strategies dropped from 38% to 9%, and severe livelihood coping also decreased, suggesting that the cash assistance contributed to improved food access and reduced reliance on coping strategies.
• The proportion of hoseholds relying on livestock as their main source of income declined, reflecting the impact of drought and livestock losses on pastoral livelihoods. Nearly all households (99%) reported being affected by drought, with significant water and hygiene needs reported.