Building Resilience Against Acute Malnutrition in Rural Communities of Baidoa district (Empower Baidoa) ltpgtSARD proposes to implement a 12 months nutrition project in Baidoa aimed at building the capacity of rural communities to  treat and prevent acute malnutrition. The project aims to reach households across eleven villages, including Adable Adde, Aykiilaban, Adeyka, Haween, Ismoodnoy, Laanbuule, Aw-Adiinle, Boqolka Iitir, Watanle, Buulo Ayhadiigow, and Buulo Waabiyow.lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtThe project activities will include routine and mass MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) screenings to strengthen the identification and referral of acute malnutrition among children and women. Further, it will involve family MUAC an initiative aimed at  empowering households to self-screen and refer malnutrition cases. Further, SARD will provide outpatient therapeutic programme through use of two outreach teams.lt/pgtltpgtOptimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices will be promoted through social behaviour change communication approaches. This will involve set up of temporal community breastfeeding corners/Child friendly spaces(CFS) to support breastfeeding mothers and promote early childhood development (ECD) activities and establishment of  Mother-to-Mother Support Groups (MTMSGs) and Father-to-Father Support Groups (FTFSGs) who will act as change agents in the community.lt/pgtltpgtThe project will mainstream critical issues such as Child Protection, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and Prevention of Aid Post-Distribution Aid Diversion (PDAD). Child Protection measures will ensure that all children involved in or affected by the project are safe from harm and exploitation, with safeguarding policies, staff training, and child-friendly spaces. PSEA will be a key focus, with stringent measures to prevent, detect, and respond to any instances of sexual exploitation or abuse. GBV prevention and response will be integrated into all project activities, including training staff and community members on GBV awareness, creating safe spaces for survivors, and establishing referral pathways. Accountability to Affected Populations will be ensured through transparent and open communication with the community, feedback mechanisms, and regular community meetings to gather input and address concerns. PDAD will be promoted by implementing strict monitoring and control measures to ensure aid reaches its intended recipients and is not diverted.lt/pgtltpgt  ltbrgtThe project will train nutrition workers, including community outreach workers, to improve their skills and knowledge in integrated management of acute malnutrition (IMAM), cross cutting issues and IYCF practices. The project staff will include a project manager, nutrition officer, two nurses, four nutrition screeners, two nutrition registrars, two SCOPE registrars, 11 female IYCF counsellors and 11 community health workers(CHWs).lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtSARD will actively engage in the Baidoa Areas Based Coordination forum (ABC) and Operational Cell (OC), ensuring effective coordination with humanitarian actors and stakeholders. Training in Child Protection, GBV, AAP, and Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) will be coordinated with relevant AoR/Clusters to align with sector standards. A detailed mapping exercise will be conducted in collaboration with all sectors to establish clear referral pathways, enhancing collaboration and streamlining processes.lt/pgtltpgtltbrgtSARD will continue coordinating with different stakeholders in Baidoa to implement this project. It will work closely with government ministries for endorsement and capacity building. The community will be central to the implementation, with open communication channels maintained for effective grassroots involvement. Additionally, SARD will partner with humanitarian actors in nutrition, health, and protection sectors to strengthen referral systems, support immunization, promote health-seeking behavior, and facilitate referrals for survivors of SGBV, ensuring comprehensive support for vulnerable populations in Baidoa.ltbrgtlt/pgt