Evidence Brief – Nutrition in Crisis: What Drives Malnutrition in Somalia? (2025)

Somalia faces one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies, where climate shocks, displacement, and conflict compound chronic food insecurity. Understanding the drivers of malnutrition in these settings is critical for designing effective interventions. The Johns Hopkins-led research team used data from a 3-arm cRCT on cash assistance to assess what factors were associated with wasting among children under five and their mothers. Researchers examined environmental, health, socio-economic, and dietary variables, using a multilevel conceptual framework to inform regression models.