Running projects in Somaliland/Somalia is considered a high risk venture. This is due to many factors including religion intolerance, insecurity and extreme cultural practices.
How to adapt and adjust to local culture and religion
✅ The 3-Hour Midday Blackout/Break:
In Nairobi, stopping work from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM is unthinkable. In Somaliland, I learned it is the structural spine of society. Dialing during these hours is a profound intrusion. By respecting this sacred time for prayer and family, we protected our images trust. We therefore skipped these hours and continued calling after the break.
✅ The Gender-Matching Advantage:
The CATI team comprised of more females than males. In a gender-segregated market like Somaliland, a woman at home will immediately hang up on an unknown male caller. Also male respondents are more comfortable cooperating with unknown female callers than males. By having more female agents, our completion rates hit record highs because respondents felt safe and comfortable.
✅ Operational Respect:
From exchanging a hand-over-the-heart greeting instead of a handshake and also wearing thwab(male Muslim traditional cloth) mirroring local standards wasn’t just about compliance, it built deep authority and trust with my local team and the surrounding community.
💡Conclusion:
Data collection cannot be separated from cultural reality. To get authentic insights, your logistics must bend to the rhythm of the market.
Note:This blog post was created by our Senior Field Coordinator, Emmanuel Bita.