Somalia: Humanitarian aid as a foundation for sustainable development
Somalia suffers from droughts, resource conflicts, and attacks by armed groups. Terre des Hommes partner organization NAPAD demonstrates how, despite these circumstances, people's resilience can be strengthened: through stable water supplies, improved harvests, and peaceful conflict resolution.
The partner organization
The non-governmental organization NAPAD (Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development) provides humanitarian aid and promotes sustainable development in the Horn of Africa. Its work focuses on food security, peacebuilding, education, and water and sanitation. NAPAD and Terre des Hommes have been working together since 2013.
Initial situation
Somalia is in the midst of a political and humanitarian crisis. Weak state structures and ongoing armed attacks by the Islamist terrorist group al-Shabaab hinder sustainable development. The economy is unstable, food prices are high, and recurring droughts destroy harvests. More than 1.8 million children in the country suffer from malnutrition. Approximately 3.7 million are in need of humanitarian aid.
Solution approach
The region faces many problems. The solution is a correspondingly multifaceted package of measures: Smallholder farmers are supported in sustainably increasing their production and adapting to the effects of climate change. Families are supported in building a sustainable income. At the community level, NAPAD stabilizes the water supply and establishes mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. The overarching goal is to strengthen the self-reliance and resilience of communities to crises.
implementation
Water supply
- To increase crop yields, irrigation systems with solar pumps, elevated tanks and underground pipe networks were built.
Food security
- Efficient agricultural equipment, high-quality seeds and beehives were purchased.
- Tree nurseries were established to positively influence the microclimate through agroforestry and to improve erosion and flood protection.
- Small farmers were trained in sustainable farming methods to better adapt their agriculture to the changing climate conditions.
- The construction of a value creation center has made it possible to process agricultural products and establish supply chains. For example, there is a continuous demand in local markets for honey as a sweetener for tea, coffee, or traditional pancakes.
Income security
Women and young people displaced by the violent conflicts in the region often live in camps near large cities. They have been and continue to be supported in starting small businesses or improving the profitability of their existing businesses.
Conflict resolution and peacekeeping
- To prevent conflicts over scarce resources from leading to violence, NAPAD works with community leaders, clan leaders, religious leaders and government officials.
- Inclusive peace committees were established in the communities to carry out reconciliation work through dialogue and to take into account the needs of women and children.
This work was supported by radio broadcasts, social media campaigns and sporting events to promote exchange, open up spaces for discussion and raise awareness of relevant issues facing different community groups.
Effect
The project measures have increased agricultural production in the target communities and improved the food security of families:
The installation of solar-powered irrigation systems has increased the cultivated land area and boosted yields. As a result, 8,400 community members and 175,000 farm animals have year-round access to drinking and utility water.
Five tree nurseries were established and three forest plots with a total of 2,000 trees were planted.
The newly constructed value creation center is available to 750 small farmers for further processing of their products, enabling them to achieve higher market prices and increase their incomes.
Thanks to the small business support program, 100 women and young people were able to increase their household incomes. They are organized in self-help groups to facilitate exchange on their business activities and social issues, and to promote their independence.
150 women who were supported in vegetable farming were able to improve their families' nutritional needs and sell surplus produce on local markets.
- Two hundred clan and religious leaders were trained in methods of nonviolent conflict resolution. Ten peace committees in the communities identify conflicts, which they
then resolve either independently or in cooperation with authorities. Currently, more than 80 percent of conflicts are resolved nonviolently.
"The goal is to create sustainable solutions for the community – solutions that will remain even when the project is eventually completed."
Follow-up project
A follow-up project is already in the approval phase. The value creation center will be further strengthened to ensure the takeover of the farms by the smallholder farmers themselves and to increase its reach. Training modules adapted to the specific circumstances are being developed to offer training and educational opportunities, particularly in agriculture, to young people and women.