Assessing the Impact of Infrastructure Development and Training on Meat and Hides & Skins Sector in Somaliland

This study assessed the impact that development of meat marketing infrastructure, supply of equipment and associated training has had on the quality of meat and hides and skins sector in Somaliland State of Somalia. Ahmed Gureh meat market was selected for rehabilitation. Meat vendors operating in the market were supplied with various meat selling equipment and trained in good hygiene practices. Moreover, hides and skins value chain actors were trained to improve the quality of hides and skins along the value chain. The overall objective of the study was to assess the economy, efficiency, effectiveness (3Es) and impact of past meat marketing infrastructure development and the associated training programs in the Somaliland meat sector. Data collection involved use of a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies whereby a team of enumerators (interviewers) backstopped by the researcher interviewed key informants from the study sites to collect information. Research data was collected using a triangulation of data sources to enhance reliability of both primary and secondary data from the target sites and stakeholders. The study employed four main data collection techniques: (i) document analysis; (ii) in-depth interviews (key informant interviews); (iii) focused group discussions and (iv) observation. Moreover, the impact evaluation from hides and skins mainstream stakeholders followed Kirkpatrick’s four level of training impact assessment that evaluates training modality, knowledge gained, behaviour change and impact realized. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics involving percentages to determine varying degrees of response-concentration and standard deviations to measure response-disparity particularly for the Likert-scale question items. xvii To cross-check the accuracy of results obtained from the interviews using questionnaires and visual appraisal of the intervention and control meat markets, 100 swab samples were obtained from meat contact surfaces (meat display tables, hooks and knives) from the rehabilitated Ahmed Gureh meat market (intervention) and another 100 swab samples were collected from Halane 1 meat market (control). Both markets are located in Borama municipality of Awdal region; Somaliland State of Somalia. All the samples were analyzed against Total Viable Counts (TVC) and E. coli contamination levels. Questionnaire results included value for money calculation from the intervention market to be an investment of USD 1 generated USD 4.17 return on investment (ROI). The IRR or ROI from the intervention was less than a quarter a year (three months). The rehabilitated meat market attracted 151 new traders who occupied the market to sell meat. These increased annual meat sale volumes handled through the market by 286% and increased annual profit per trader by US $2,608 following a project investment of US$ 625 per beneficiary. This was in compliance with the 3Es for value for money intervention. Moreover, eighty percent (80%) of the intervention respondents were very satisfied while only 20% were satisfied with the rehabilitation works and supply of meat selling equipment at the market. The rehabilitation was reported to have resulted in the increase of the number of clients in the meat market where intervention was done. The majority, 67%, of the traders in the rehabilitated market stated that the number of clients had increased, 13% reported no change while 20% reported a decrease in the number of clients.