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 Livelihoods| IOM upgrades Balcad Market to strengthen local economies and reconnect communitiesIn the month of September, IOM rehabilitated the Balcad Vegetable Market in Middle Shabelle, creating safer and more secure trading spaces for local businesses and helping reconnect farmers, traders and consumers. The upgraded market now has 56 improved stalls, better roofing and walkways, water and solar lighting, with around 70 per cent of stalls allocated to women-headed households, women-led businesses and small enterprises.The improvements are helping traders protect their goods, reduce losses and operate in safer conditions, while strengthening agricultural value chains that connect rural producers to markets and support livelihoods across the wider community. By investing in local economic infrastructure, the rehabilitation is contributing to Balcad’s recovery and strengthening connections between communities and local markets. Click for more. Health| UNICEF supports the launch of the national guidelines on Small and Sick Newborn Care,The Ministry of Health of Somalia working with UNICEF and partners has launched three national guidelines on Small and Sick Newborn Care, Essential Newborn Care and Kangaroo Mother Care, marking an important step towards strengthening newborn health services in Somalia.The guidelines establish a national framework for standardised, quality newborn care, providing health workers with clear guidance to better respond to the needs of newborns, including small and sick babies requiring specialised care. Their introduction will help embed consistent standards across health services and strengthen the capacity of the health system to deliver quality newborn care.By translating evidence and best practices into national standards, the guidelines provide a foundation for more consistent and sustainable newborn care across Somalia. This is an important step towards improving quality of care and giving every newborn the best possible chance to survive, thrive and reach their full potential.Click here for more.  Urban Development| UN Habitat support strengthens land administration in Jowhar In September, with support of UN Habitat, the Jowhar Municipality marked the completion of rehabilitation works at two offices used by its Department of Public Works. Undertaken through the Somali Joint Fund-supported Maareynta project, part of the wider Jowhar Off-stream Storage Programme, the rehabilitation will benefit municipal staff and strengthen land administration and public service delivery. Staff previously worked in deteriorated offices with poor sanitation, inadequate ventilation and limited secure storage for land documents. Structural repairs, roofing and flooring improvements, electrical works and improved document storage have created a safer, more functional working environment. The rehabilitated facilities provide better spaces for staff and meetings while helping the municipality safeguard important land records.Click here for more. 
Food Security| FAO Somalia provides supports to home-grown school feeding programmesAmid drought, conflict, and funding shortages, nearly 1 million children in Puntland are out of school, and many school meals lack dietary diversity. Through the FAO-WFP French Initiative for Food Security and Nutrition (FIFSAN), funded by the Government of France, FAO is supporting the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme with the Ministries of Education and Fisheries and Marine Resources.The initiative links 1,330 local producers, including farmers, fisherfolk, and Mother-to-Mother groups, to schools serving 18,700 children. It also promotes school gardens, nutrition education, climate-smart agriculture, and stronger fisheries value chains, helping provide safe, nutritious food while boosting livelihoods and community resilience.Click here for more. Security| UNMAS supports vital Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) campaign In the month of September the Somali Explosive Management Authority (SEMA), with support from UNMAS, conducted an Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) campaign in Baidoa reaching hundreds of students and teachers. Through classroom sessions, educational leaflets, and Risk Education Talking Devices, the initiative delivered life-saving safety messages to help communities recognize and avoid explosive threats, contributing to safer and more resilient communities.By combining practical school-based outreach with locally adapted EORE materials and innovative learning tools, SEMA and UNMAS are working together to enhance awareness, protect vulnerable groups, and build safer, more resilient communities across SomaliaClick here for more.