Protect and restore the livelihoods of severely drought-affected communities of Shebelle Zone Somali Region, Ethiopia According to [June 2017-Jan 2018] the FEWSNET food security outlook “Following the below-average performance of the Gu/Genna rainy season after the failed previous season, other southeastern pastoral areas are expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 5) outcomes through at least November due to the poor regeneration of pasture and water resources that have negatively impacted livestock productivity and household income. Furthermore, the recent GU assessment carried out in Somali region confirmed ‘worst fears that another massive collective humanitarian effort will be needed to counter an unfolding severe nutritional crisis among the population of the region”. The deterioration of livestock production and productivity along with the increase in staple food prices [due to poor terms of trade] is contributing to food insecurity in vast parts of drought-affected area of Somali region and particularly in Shebelle  where this project will be implemented. Save the Children has designed the present drought emergency response action in order to restore and prevent further deterioration of food security and livelihoods of vulnerable households in one  drought stricken zones of Somali region. This will significantly contribute towards improving the livestock productivity and animal health which in turn enables drought affected households to get access for milk and enhance nutritional status of children. Save the Children will implement this action in  two woredas of Shebelle  Zone of Somali region. With respect to Shebelle zone, the action is planned to build up and scale the interventions in the previous two woredas (Adadale and Keleafo) where EHF project was implemented. Save the Children will closely work with  other implementing partners  so as to avoid duplication of efforts through  monitoring activities and coordinating the project at field level. The project is expected to benefit a total of 1,071 households (6,426 individuals) in the two targeted woredas. In a bid to, protect core-breeding animals and improve their productivity and health, the project seeks to provide livestock feed and voucher based livestock health treatment to selected households in the target woredas where availability of pasture and livestock health situation is at great risk due to failure of the Deyr [short] and GU [main rain] rains. Thus, implementation of these key interventions in the target areas would yield multiple benefits 1) increase survival rate of core animal breeds, 2) improve meat/milk production due to provision of animal feed and animal health treatment, and 3) prevent loss of key household assets and thus build resilience of target community until next rainy season. Selected/targeted households would receive 0.3 kg concentrate amp 1 kg of fodder and 1 kg concentrate amp 3 kg of fodder for each lactating shoat and cow on a daily basis respectively. Providing both concentrated feeding and fodder for the livestock, will ensure increased milk yield, thereby improving access to food for target households. The target households will also be linked with local vet drug shops and Community Animal Health workers (CAHW) in order to get required animal health treatment/services. Increasing the resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral households primarily necessitates increasing livestock feed production and availability through strategic interventions. Thus, the project further seek to promote fodder production.