Somalia

KEY FACTS

• Population: 7 million

• GDP per capita: N/D

• Population below poverty line: N/D

• Labour force by occupation: agriculture 71%, industry and services 29%

• Total land area: 637 657 sq km, bordering the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, Ethiopia and Djibouti

• Total arable land: 2%

• Life expectancy: male: 46 years; female: 50 years

• Literacy rate: male: 49.7%; female: 25.8%

• Human Development Index: N/D

(Source: UN; World Bank; CIA Factbook)

FAO IN SOMALIA

FAO’s programme in Somalia in 2005 includes the provision and analysis of food security and nutrition information, water and land information management, emergency assistance to drought-, flood- and conflict-affected farmers, support to the livestock trade and a tsunami-relief programme focused on affected fishing communities.

Background

After fourteen years of total central state collapse, characterized by factional rivalry, violence and human misery, Somalia is at a crossroads. A nascent government, including a recently-formed transitional parliament, is striving to reassert authority in the country, though peace, security and national reconciliation are still some way off.

The environment for aid operations and beneficiaries remained varied and complex in 2005, with some areas including Somaliland and Puntland experiencing political development, economic recovery and relative stability. Southern and Central zones remain in a complex emergency environment, with lack of sustained humanitarian access a major factor affecting human survival.

While the new government works towards building peace and improving security, it is envisaged that a wave of hope amongst the majority of the Somali population, many of whom are tired of conflict, will lead to increased humanitarian access especially in the central and south zones of Somalia, where limited humanitarian assistance was reaching the most vulnerable populations in 2005.

The humanitarian appeal for Somalia in 2006 seeks to target one million chronically vulnerable people, the majority of whom can barely meet their basic needs, including some 400 000 IDPs. Among those experiencing severe livelihood distress are returnees who left Somalia during the height of conflict and since returning have struggled to find employment. Support from the international community will be decisive in ensuring the sustainability of the new government and improving livelihoods in the country, which consistently ranks among the world’s poorest.

Needs analysis: Food security and agriculture sectors

Chronic food insecurity and high malnutrition levels persist in many areas in Somalia. Up to 17 percent of the population suffers from malnutrition, with rates above 20 percent in some areas. More strikingly, around a quarter of the under five population is experiencing levels of acute malnutrition. Such unacceptably high malnutrition rates would trigger external emergency interventions anywhere else in the world.

Somalia is subject to various natural hazards such as droughts and floods, resulting in crop and livestock losses. The climatological setting of Somalia is complicated. The agricultural cycle revolves around two rain periods: Gu (April-June) and Deyr (October-December). Poor rainfall impacts the availability of water and pasture in the pastoral areas, which can increase resource-based conflicts in these communities.

For the past four years, Somalia has suffered through prolonged droughts and poor rains. In many parts of the country, pastoralists have lost around 50 percent of their livestock and destitution is on the increase.

Armed clashes over power and resources have plagued central and southern Somalia. Militias have dispossessed farmers of valuable and fertile riverine lands. The legitimate inhabitants have been killed, evicted or conscripted as forced labour on the lands they once owned.

FAO’s focus in 2006 is to assist victims of total loss of livelihood assets, localized violence and insecurity, as well as unfavourable climatic conditions. Specific goals include increasing food availability and access for IDPs and returnees, improving livelihood assets with special focus on gender equality, bolstering rapid response capacity, and mitigating conflicts over resources. Pastoralists are in need of re-stocking of income generating small stock and poultry together with rangeland improvement. FAO also intends to continue to support stakeholders involved in the food security and livelihoods sector by strengthening coordination, monitoring and evaluation, as well as advocacy.

PROPOSALS

FAO RELIEF AND REHABILITATION ASSISTANCE
Funding required: US$7 598 000

Issues addressed: Pockets of high food insecurity due to total loss of livelihood assets (e.g. destitute pastoralists in Puntland and Somaliland), localized insecurity (e.g. Gedo region) and/or unfavourable climatic conditions (e.g. Juba Valley) persist in Somalia.

Objectives: Increase food availability and access particularly for IDPs and returnees.

Activities: Distribution of agricultural inputs to resettled communities and families affected by floods or drought. Distribution of fisheries equipment to riverine communities and IDPs/returnees. Pre-positioning and/or contingency planning of inputs to prevent total depletion of livelihood assets.

Beneficiaries: 40 000 households in Humanitarian Emergency situation.

Implementing partners: ASEP, WVI, Agrosphere, Coopi, Vetaid and local authorities.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds Requested: US$ 1 880 000.

Issues addressed: Vulnerability is often linked to a lack of productive assets, access to know-how and/or appropriate technology to achieve food security and generate marketable surplus, as well as access to markets. Women and girls are among the most vulnerable groups and special attention should be given to their needs and priorities.

Objectives: Improve/enhance livelihood assets with special focus on gender equality.

Activities: Support to crop diversification. Introduction of progressive and adapted technologies (both for agriculture and fisheries). Post-harvest losses reduction (both for agriculture and fisheries). Improve farm management. Improve marine resources management. Support to market-oriented activities in the fisheries sector.

Beneficiaries: 15 000 households in Alert food security phase.

Implementing partners: Cefa, Agrosphere, Coopi, Sado, ASEP, WVI, World Concern and local authorities.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$2 943 000.

Issues addressed: Unsustainable coping strategies, lack of productive assets, poor resource management.

Objectives: Improve/enhance livelihood assets with special focus on gender equality.

Activities: optimization of water resource management (irrigation and drainage).Provision of agricultural inputs and farm implements. Support to re-forestation activities to reduce environmental degradation related to charcoal production. Support to minimum tillage practices.

Beneficiaries: 5 000 households in acute livelihood crisis.

Implementing partners: Cefa, Agrosphere, Vetaid, Sado, ASEP, WVI, World Concern and local authorities.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$ 1 715 000.

Issues addressed: Unsustainable coping strategies, lack of productive assets, lack of rangeland management.

Objectives: Increase food availability and access particularly for IDPs and returnees and Improve/enhance livelihood assets with special focus on gender equality.

Activities: Strategic re-stocking of income generating small stock and poultry for destitute pastoralist in peri-urban areas. Support to rangeland improvement, targeting land issues (through re-seeding of perennial forage species on depleted rangelands and development of grazing perimeters around villages/urban areas), soils issues (through terracing, field hedges, strips of trees, etc.) and water (through water conservation and harvesting).

Beneficiaries: 5 000 households.

Implementing partners: Vetaid, Candlelight and local authorities.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$ 775 000.

Issues addressed: Coordination of aid interventions. Optimal use of intervention resources.

Objectives: Strengthening coordination, monitoring and evaluation and advocacy within the sector.

Activities: Together with relevant authorities support a shift of sector coordination mechanisms. Develop specific monitoring and evaluation tools for the agricultural sector, including indicators, data warehouse and mapping. Support advocacy through the preparation of an annual report for food security and livelihoods.

Beneficiaries: All stakeholders involved in the Food Security and Livelihoods sector.

Implementing partners: National and regional authorities, SACB, national and international NGOs.

Duration: January 2006 - December 2006.

Funds requested: US$ 285 000.