Since its launch in Somaliland in 2024, the Damal Caafimaad Project has significantly strengthened the region’s maternal and child healthcare services, supporting 49 health facilities and serving over 425,000 outpatients. Female outpatient attendance reached 76,527, representing 56.5% of the targeted population, while more than 16,000 pregnant women completed at least four antenatal care visits, reflecting a marked increase in coverage. Funded by the World Bank, the project aims to reach 1.84 million beneficiaries across Somalia, including internally displaced persons and nomadic communities.
On the outskirts of Hargeisa in the Maroodi-Jeh region, local mother Ayaan Dahir Ainan exemplifies the impact of the project. Traveling nearly an hour with her six children to Hawadle Health Center, she now accesses routine immunizations, malnutrition screening, and maternal health guidance for her family. A community health volunteer had introduced her to the center during her sixth pregnancy, and since then, she has seen transformative improvements in her children’s health. Her previously unvaccinated fifth son received essential immunizations, and her family benefited from nutrition advice and maternal health education, which helped her space pregnancies and recognize pregnancy warning signs.
The Damal Caafimaad Project, also known as the Improving Healthcare and Services in Somalia Project, is the first World Bank-financed investment in Somalia’s health sector in 30 years. Implemented by the Ministry of Health Development with support from Alight International, the project has strengthened government capacity in health workforce regulation, health management information systems, and NGO contract management. Outpatient visits increased by 27% in 2024, highlighting the project’s effectiveness in reaching women and children across Somaliland.
A key factor in the project’s success is its community outreach model, which delivers health services directly to underserved areas. Health workers provide vaccines, nutrition kits, maternal supplies, and education in Somali, ensuring families understand the importance of immunizations, nutrition, and follow-up care. This approach has reduced emergency cases and encouraged more women to proactively seek healthcare for themselves and their children.
As Damal Caafimaad continues to expand, its focus remains on creating an inclusive and resilient health system in Somaliland and across Somalia. By increasing equitable access to essential health and nutrition services, particularly for women, children, and marginalized communities, the project is fostering long-term improvements in maternal and child health outcomes.
