As a member of the Somalia Returns Consortium (SRC) which is a hub of different UN agencies and NGOs committed to ensuring a multi-sectoral approach in the implementation of the voluntary return program in Somalia, DRC has facilitated voluntary return and reintegration of about 3,000 IDP households since 2012 in South Central (Banadir, Lower and Middle Shabelle and Hiraan Regions) and Puntland (Galkayo).DRC has engaged Researchcare Africa to conduct third party Post Distribution Monitoring (PDM) which are in support of the comprehensive evaluations of the SRC IDP voluntary return program in Jowhar and Balcad districts of Middle Shabelle region. The assignment covered populations of 334 IDP voluntary return beneficiary returnees in Balcad and Jowhar in Middle Shabelle region.
The purpose of the Post-Return Assessment (PRA) was to assess returnee integration into village of origin relative to agreed-upon Somalia Return consortium indicators. Particularly, it assessed the conditions of the household returnees including the level of income, access to food and shelter, healthcare and morbidity of the returnee households and access to water. It also assessed how security conditions are affecting the integration of the returnees into the community and recommendation for improvement and future interventions for each sector recommended. Finally, the results of the assessment was used to inform planning and implementation of future returnee programs.