Somalia
In the absence of a stable government and in the midst of a complex risk environment, Somalia has fostered sources of resilience through decentralized social networks and private sectors. Investing further in these areas is essential. Equally important is enhancing the capacity for governance inclusive of marginalized groups, which is necessary to manage shocks and stresses, reduce the humanitarian caseload and to sustain Somalia’s development progress.
Overview
Since its 1991 civil war, Somalia has faced repeated disasters. Despite political progress post-2012, Al Shabab still disrupts most rural Southern areas, while clan-dominated governments control all cities and Northern regions. The country has faced repeated humanitarian crises, including famines in 2011 and near-famine in 2017 and 2022, compounding its ongoing challenges.
Risk Environment
Somalia’s humanitarian, development and peace efforts are interconnected. Decades without conventional governance and services has led Somali society to depend on social networks for survival and opportunities, leaving the socially marginalized vulnerable to extreme poverty and disaster risks from climate, conflict and other shocks. These marginalized groups are central to Somalia’s political economy, caught between two power structures: Al Shabab’s extreme Islam and competing government factions rooted in the clan system. This power struggle has a key dynamic: restrictions by extreme Islam push Somalis toward the government, but clan dominance in the government drives the marginalized toward Al Shabab.
Resilience Approaches
USAID's strategy in Somalia addresses the complex risk environment and political dynamics by empowering the socially marginalized to manage shocks and stresses and increase their power in the Somali government to reduce the humanitarian caseload and diminish Al Shabab’s influence.
This requires managing ongoing, local emergencies through timely humanitarian actions reaching marginalized groups. Meanwhile, development and peace initiatives strengthen household, community and market resilience, and promote inclusive, democratic governance. Through addressing the stresses of marginalization, weak governance and urbanization, and the climate, conflict and market shocks, USAID advances its goal for Somalia to effectively manage disruptions and drive its own development.
Opportunities for Strengthening Resilience
Opportunities for USAID’s Feed the Future initiative are found at the household, community and systems levels. In rural areas, strengthening sources of resilience are needed for communities to withstand climatic disruptions and diversify livelihoods away from climate risks. In rapidly urbanizing areas, internally displaced people and migrants need more human and financial capital for productive livelihoods and better integration into urban society, particularly through improved governance. Somalia’s strong social capital, with kin networks spread across urban and rural areas sharing resources, presents an opportunity. Enhancing two-way social and financial investments between urban and rural areas can reinforce rural resilience to climate shocks and urban financial access.
Related Resources
Leveraging Digital Technologies to Enable Program Monitoring in Remote, Fragile, and Conflict-Affected Areas
03 Oct 2023 - World Bank Group
Digital technology like the World Bank’s Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision enables remote project monitoring in Somalia and other challenging contexts.
The Role of Mental and Psychosocial Well-Being and Support in Household Resilience in Somalia
02 Aug 2023 - USAID , ACDI/VOCA , Mercy Corps
Mental health and psychosocial factors are significant in household resilience. Designing programming with these contributors in mind is vital in a crisis.
Assessing Communities’ Coping Strategies during the Current Drought in Somalia
02 Aug 2023 - USAID , ACDI/VOCA , Mercy Corps
While all Somalians struggled with drought, outlier households provide insight into less common, but highly effective, coping strategies.
The Role of Social Connections in Coping with the Current Drought in Somalia
02 Aug 2023 - USAID , ACDI/VOCA , Mercy Corps
Building and maintaining social connections with the community may be the key to resilience during drought.