Improving and sustaining food security and livelihoods in rural Somalia through social protection

Recent humanitarian response efforts in Somalia have demonstrated that large-scale assistance can significantly improve food security, particularly in the aftermath of a shock. However, these interventions present an opportunity to address Somalia’s protracted crisis more effectively by moving beyond "business as usual." Without a shift in approach, sustainable outcomes and long-term impacts will remain out of reach.

A long-term strategy is needed to strengthen the resilience of Somali communities to withstand recurrent shocks and break the cycle of emergencies and inter-generational poverty. Compounding shocks—such as locust infestations, the COVID-19 pandemic, drought, famine, and rising food prices exacerbated by the war in Ukraine—have deepened vulnerabilities, undermining macroeconomic stability and security. Somalia’s historical reliance on humanitarian aid and its weak institutional frameworks for social protection further complicate the situation.

Improving the adaptive capacities of households to risks and stresses is fundamental. A social protection system could significantly contribute towards t to reducing poverty and enhancing food security for the most vulnerable populations.

• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA)
• Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
• Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range
• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources

The feasibility studies targeted Somali federal government officials, with the ultimate goal of benefiting all vulnerable rural communities if the proposed programme is implemented.

The long-term cash assistance programme targeted 2 140 households and 72 Village Savings and Loans Associations were established, with over 60 percent of members being women. 

FAO supported the Federal Government of Somalia in consultative process for the development of two feasibility studies: one on a productive social safety net (PSSN) programme; and another on a livelihood insurance scheme.

The PSSN model built on existing collaborations between the government and supporting agencies to strengthen social protection system and aligned with FAO’s ongoing work in the country. In fact, between 2020 and 2021, FAO delivered monthly unconditional cash transfers of USD 35 for 14 months to chronically poor and vulnerable households. This was coupled with livelihood inputs, the creation of Village Savings and Loans Associations and nutrition education. This intervention delivered significant positive impacts, including reducing chronic food insecurity and breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty. Beneficiaries were able to transition from short-term assistance to greater self-reliance and resilience, laying the groundwork for the PSSN model proposed to government counterparts.

FAO also invested significant resources to promote cross-learning opportunities in the framework of South-South cooperation, by organizing and facilitating a knowledge exchange mission to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). This allowed Somali government officials to learn best practices and lessons from PSSN programming in other contexts.

The long-term cash assistance intervention provided a strong proof of concept, demonstrating the transformative potential of sustained productive income support in addressing chronic poverty. Beneficiaries experienced increased income levels, income diversification, improved dietary diversity, better food consumption, and enhanced access to land. These gains contributed to a higher Resilience Capacity Index overall. The model therefore proved effective in helping beneficiary households cope with stressors and shocks and as a result rely less on negative coping mechanisms.

Coupled with the PSSN feasibility study and extensive policy dialogue facilitated by FAO, these results garnered strong support from the Somali federal government and national and international partners for the establishment of a nationally-owned PSSN programme, to support the eradication of poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2) by 2030. The study's findings were widely disseminated through national forums, technical working groups, and a launch event in March 2023. 

In the long term, this significant policy and programmatic shift is expected to make a strong contribution towards breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty in the country.