Saxansaxo’s Co-Design Workshop: Adeso’s Approach to Unlearning for Sustainable Community Change
By Zeinab Bille Abdullahi – Advocacy and Partnerships Intern
In a world that often prioritises top-down approaches, the essence of genuine community-led responses can get lost. Recently, our team in Garowe, Somalia, embarked on a transformative journey through a co-design workshop that was not only insightful but also deeply inspiring. This workshop focused on survivor and community-led response (sclr)-Saxansaxo- to crises, with an agenda that resonated with the heart of grassroots activism.
In addition to Adeso’s team, the workshop featured contributions from Endalkachew Mandfro of Citizen to Citizen and Justin Corbett of Local 2 Global Protection, all of whom played pivotal roles in the co-design initiative. It was termed a co-design workshop because it prioritized collaborative engagement among participants in reviewing and shaping the guidelines for survivor and community-led responses. The workshop fostered a shared ownership of the process, ensuring that the guidelines were both reflective of community needs and enriched by the collective insights of those directly impacted by crises, thereby creating a foundation for more effective and inclusive solutions.
Sclr is an approach designed to empower communities to lead their own recovery and resilience efforts by providing them with small, flexible funding that they can use to implement solutions tailored to their specific challenges. This grassroot approach ensures that aid is relevant, sustainable, and directly beneficial, as community members themselves decide on and manage the projects that will most effectively support their recovery and development.
In Somalia, Adeso renamed the initiative from sclr to Saxansaxo to enhance community ownership and engagement. Saxansaxo, a Somali term representing the delightful aroma and gentle breeze felt when the first raindrops fall after a long drought, symbolises hope, prosperity, and positive change. Adeso has been implementing Saxansaxo since late 2022, aiming to bring these transformative effects to the communities in Bari, Sanaag, Sool, and Nugaal regions of northern Somalia, fostering resilience and sustainable development. The term Saxansaxo resonates deeply with the Somali context, conveying a sense of renewal and optimism that aligns with the community’s aspirations and changes the dynamics of how aid is conceived and delivered.
The Co-Design Workshop Agenda: Unlearning, Reflecting, Rebuilding
The agenda was ambitious, aiming to unlearn biases, establish criteria for identifying genuine groups, reflect on past experiences, understand the multifaceted nature of crises, and most importantly, shift mindsets to return power to the people. The insights and discussions from this event were nothing short of profound.
Imagine a room filled with the vibrant energy of diverse voices, all united by a common purpose: to unlearn, to reflect, and to rebuild. The process of unlearning was the first step on this journey—a deeply emotional and humbling experience. They were encouraged to shed ingrained biases particularly on aid dependency and traditional notions of crisis. Many believed that crises were solely external events requiring immediate relief; however, they learned to view crises as opportunities for community growth and resilience. This shift emphasized the importance of local knowledge and experiences in crafting sustainable solutions. The team also re-examined exit strategies related to microgrants. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, they recognized the necessity of empowering communities to develop their own pathways to sustainability.
Reflecting on Previous Groups: Accountability and Transparency
Participants delved into discussions about previous groups and their approaches to crisis response. Accountability and transparency were identified as critical components. They noted important areas for improvement, such as enhancing community accountability and transparency about their actions and the responsible use of the “safe to fail” concept. Through honest and constructive conversations, the team reviewed instances where some groups had faced challenges in writing strong proposals and where the criteria for identifying a genuine group could be more rigorous.
These reflections were not about placing blame but about learning from past mistakes to build a more robust and trustworthy response system.
The emphasis on accountability and transparency was linked to the core principles of Saxansaxo, highlighting the importance of ensuring both horizontal and vertical accountability. This includes responsible power handover, fostering both upward and downward accountability. It ensures that decisions and actions are transparent and inclusive, with community members holding each other accountable through participatory planning, regular community meetings, and open sharing of progress and outcomes. Both forms of accountability are essential for building trust, ensuring effective use of resources, and achieving meaningful, sustainable development outcomes.
Understanding Different Types of Crisis
The workshop explored various types of crises, from natural disasters to social upheavals and health emergencies. Communities in Somalia face multiple crises, including acute droughts leading to severe water shortages and livestock deaths, particularly affecting pastoralists. Climate change has intensified these conditions, causing economic instability with skyrocketing water prices. Flash floods have displaced millions, damaging homes and infrastructure. The humanitarian response is delayed due to security issues, leaving vulnerable populations with limited resources. Each region, including neighbouring areas, faces unique challenges, requiring tailored approaches to address food insecurity, lack of education, and employment opportunities.
Shifting Mindsets: Giving Power Back to the People
The final and perhaps most critical agenda item was shifting mindsets to return power to the people. Traditional crisis response models often place power in the hands of external agencies and experts, sidelining the very communities affected by the crisis. This workshop aimed to challenge and change that dynamic.
The team discussed ways to empower communities, ensuring they have the resources, knowledge, and authority to lead their own response efforts. This shift requires not only changes in policies and practices but also a fundamental change in attitude. It involves recognizing the value of community-led initiatives and supporting them wholeheartedly.
Caption for Photos: As the sun dipped below the Garowe skyline, our team gathered for a traditional Somali afternoon. The air was filled with the soulful strains of Qaraami music; classic Somali songs played on a traditional guitar. The melodies seemed to weave together the threads of their discussions, creating a synchronicity of hope and solidarity.
Beyond the Workshop
The journey took the team beyond the confines of the workshop room. They visited a creek on the outskirts of Garowe, where they passionately spoke about geology and rock formations. This moment was a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of the world—the land, its people, and the stories they hold. It was a fitting metaphor for their work: understanding the layers, the history, and the unique challenges of each community.
Caption for Photos: Adeso teammates along a creek on the outskirts of Garowe
Adeso believes that those who are closest to the problems are also closest to the solutions. Through Saxansaxo and by empowering local communities and leaders, Adeso is working to ensure that aid is more relevant, effective, and sustainable. This shift in power dynamics not only enhances the impact of humanitarian efforts but also fosters a sense of ownership and agency among local communities.
To achieve this, Adeso focusses on sharing knowledge, providing training and resources to the team. The co-design workshop was more than an event; it was a movement. It reaffirmed the belief in the power of community-led responses, in the strength of collective wisdom, and in the possibility of a world where power is truly in the hands of the people. As Adeso’s team in Somalia move forward, they carry with them the lessons learned, the connections made, and the unwavering commitment to fostering genuine and lasting change through Saxansaxo.