Somalia
In the absence of a stable government and in the midst of a complex risk environment, Somalia is demonstrating progress through the relative vibrancy of its private sector. Investments in critical sectors, such as livestock markets and savings groups, are building resilience capacities that are critical to helping vulnerable households in Somalia meet basic needs, reduce malnutrition, and protect livelihoods.

Overview
Since the government’s collapse in 1991, Somalia has consistently been one of the lowest performing countries in the world in terms of economic growth and human development. Conflict, drought, and poor infrastructure, combined with a lack of effective governance, create a complex risk environment where recurring crises continually require emergency assistance.
Despite the government’s collapse, opportunities for progress have opened up through renewed vibrancy in critical sectors of Somalia’s economy. Evidence suggests investments in livestock markets and savings groups are having positive effects on the resilience capacities of individuals, households, and communities through the strengthening of absorptive and adaptive capacities.
Complex Risk Environment
Since 1991, Somalia has faced chronic food insecurity, widespread violence, and recurring droughts and floods resulting in some of the worst famines in recent history. Acute malnutrition levels remain among the highest in the world, and ongoing insecurity in the country – particularly in areas lacking established local authorities and where al-Shabaab is present – contributes to the complex risk environment. Sustained life-saving assistance, integrated with interventions aimed at building resilience, are critical to helping vulnerable households meet basic needs, reduce malnutrition, and protect livelihoods.
Resilience Approach
Resilience-building activities in Somalia are designed to increase food security, reduce malnutrition, and protect livelihoods. In the agriculture sector, training farmers and local agribusinesses in crop production and quality control helps increase exports of agricultural goods and increases job opportunities in sub-national regions recovering from conflict.
In addition, community savings groups and cash-for-work activities enable communities to generate revenue and improve household nutrition through sustainable access to capital. The cumulative resilience impacts and spillover effects of growth in these areas are increasing food security, contributing to the reduction of malnutrition, and protecting livelihoods.
Opportunities for Strengthening Resilience
Research shows that building people’s resilience to complex risk variables is most effective when done through a mixture of activities that increase income and assets; provide an early humanitarian response; and support safety net programming. Continued monitoring and evaluation of the impacts and cost-effectiveness of packages of resilience-building interventions is required to find the best combination of interventions in a particular context. In addition, a much broader perspective on adaptive investments that are responsive to the multiple and changing needs of households and communities is required to ensure resilience gains are effectively protected and sustained.
Featured Resources
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This report presents findings from a recurrent monitoring survey that was conducted during a time when Somalia was experiencing a severe drought...
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The workshop was intended to build the capacity of resilience program and M&E staff from USAID and implementing partners (IPs) to use resilience data to inform programming decisions and to adaptively manage their projects.
Evidence and AnalysisEthiopiaSomaliaKenyaUganda -
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The objective of this event is to compare and contrast resilience approaches, interventions, and partnership efforts in stable vs. fragile states. The event will highlight lessons learned and best practices from these two different contexts based on Africa Lead resilience programming and...
Conflict and FragilityCollaboration and Collective ImpactKenyaSouth SudanSomalia -
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The Strategy serves as a common framework for developing national and regional programmes that will be designed to enhance drought resilience through building sustainability in the IGAD region.
Collaboration and Collective ImpactKenyaEthiopiaUgandaSomaliaSouth Sudan -
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The Resilience at USAID 2016 Progress Report, produced by the USAID Center for Resilience, chronicles progress made since the large-scale drought emergencies in the Horn of Africa and Sahel in 2011–2012 that gave rise to whole-of-agency resilience-building efforts at USAID and the 2012 Policy...
KenyaEthiopiaSomaliaUgandaBurkina FasoNigerMaliNepal -
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A report comissioned by USAID to assess the cost savings that could result from an earlier and more proactive response to drought in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Value for MoneyEvidence and AnalysisEthiopiaKenyaSomalia -
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This paper reviews more fifteen years of research by the Feinstein International Center to examine the nexus of conflict, livelihoods, and resilience.
Conflict and FragilityEvidence and AnalysisSouth SudanKenyaEthiopiaUgandaSomalia -
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This synthesis paper reviews 20 years of research and focuses on the increasing socioeconomic differentiation in selected pastoralist areas, and the implications in terms of pathways to resilience.
HealthEducationDiversify Livelihood RisksSocial CapitalGender EquitySouth SudanKenyaEthiopiaUgandaSomalia -
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This report presents findings from a recurrent monitoring survey that was conducted during a time when Somalia was experiencing a severe drought. The report discusses several factors that helped household resilience during the drought, including informal social networks and access to information...
Evidence and AnalysisDiversify Livelihood RisksSomalia