GEMSDO seeks to empower communities and strengthen systems to prevent malnutrition before it occurs.  It works with the local authorities and partners to implement nutrition interventions that address malnutrition in Somali region of Ethiopia including; Ensuring access to quality health care for pregnant women; providing food stuffs to household with pregnant women and young children; undertaking hygiene promotion among beneficiaries; educating mothers on how to adequately feed their children; and providing access to clean water and sanitation.  GEMSDO also focusses on systematic identification and referral of acutely malnourished cases within the local health facilities.  The food distribution component focusses on strengthen lifesaving preventive nutrition for vulnerable IDP communities by improving nutritional status through provision of supplementary nutritious food staffs, appropriate infant and young child feeding practices in an emergency, and micronutrient interventions.