1. INTRODUCTION
Over the last fifteen years, Somalia's private sector has expanded, facilitating the growth of a system of trade that
has contributed to the rise of markets throughout the country. The development of Somalia's urban centres and their linkage to rural livelihoods has prompted FSAU to shift an analytical focus to urban economic activities to ensure that urban populations' livelihood systems are sufficiently captured and that their needs are adequately addressed by the humanitarian, and development community. The growing significance of the urban livelihood system has particularly increased the need for baseline livelihood assessments of Somalia's main towns. Baseline livelihood assessments describe how a livelihood functions during a normal year, thereby providing a base with which to compare and measure any new threats to the population's food security, as well as to inform recovery and development programming and policy. Since 1998, FSAU has conducted two comprehensive urban baseline livelihood assessments: 1). Hargeisa (1998) and 2). Belet Weyne (2003).
In April-May 2008, FSAU conducted its first baseline livelihood assessment of Baidoa town, a major economic and political centre located in the central part of Somalia's Sorghum Belt. The findings of that assessment are presented here in this report, which includes a thorough analysis of Baidoa's livelihood system. More specifically, the report contains a wealth breakdown of Baidoa's urban livelihoods, a description of seasonality and markets, a summary of livelihood assets and various sectors, an analysis of household income and expenditure, an examination of risk and vulnerability factors and recommendations for opportunities for response.
The main goal of this assessment is to identify and document Baidoa's urban livelihood system, using FSAU's Baseline Livelihoods Analysis framework, which embraces both a Sustainable Livelihoods and Household Economy Approach to the analysis of livelihood assets and livelihood strategies. The analysis also explores the linkages of the urban livelihoods to the surrounding rural livelihoods, gender issues and identifies potential risk factors that influence the population's vulnerability to acute and long-term food insecurity. In addition, the information provided in this assessment will help establish a better system of monitoring food security in Baidoa and will improve future advocacy and programming.
2. METHODOLOGY
This study applies FSNAU's expanded Baseline Livelihood Analysis framework for analysis, which not only draws on the Household Economy Approach (HEA), but also the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) for understanding livelihoods. The Household Economy Approach (HEA), a rapid food security and livelihood analysis approach for the field-based livelihood information collection and analysis, was used for urban livelihood zoning, determining the urban wealth breakdown and profiling of livelihood strategies. A Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) was used for profiling urban livelihood assets, drawing heavily on secondary information and analysis. In addition, data from FSNAU's monitoring and sector systems was analyzed to identify seasonal and long-term sector and market trends.