Somalia

Recurring drought, decades of conflict and lack of infrastructure have left the economy in a fragile state. Nearly a third of the population lives in crisis, dependant on aid.

Though it’s not easy to work in Somalia, over the last 40 years we have nurtured partnerships with local Somali civil society organizations to provide emergency relief and development. Through our partners, we are currently able to reach more than 1.6 million people, reaching from Somaliland, to Puntland, to Central and Southern Somalia.

Find out more about our emergency response in Somalia

Oxfam’s work in Somalia

Oxfam is bringing support to the Somali people through the following goals:

Promoting active citizenship and gender justice

Oxfam aims to empower women and men to advocate for their rights. We work to strengthen their social organizations, as stable and accountable local institutions are necessary to tackle the continuous conflicts and crisis situations in Somalia.

Providing humanitarian assistance and protection

We aim to reach some 1.6 million people affected by drought and conflict in Lower Shabelle, Mogadishu, Middle/Lower Juba and Gedo regions with safe water, sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion. We’re also providing livelihood support mainly through cash relief, cash for work and skills training. Throughout, we focus on the rights and needs of women.

Education for All

Due to the absence of government provision of essential education and health services in most parts of the country, NGOs and community/diaspora groups have re-established many such services. Oxfam is supporting educational programs in all three zones of Somalia. We focus on providing sponsorships, quality primary and secondary education, vocational and life skills training for youth, as well as integrating education work into our emergency work with internally displaced people (IDPs) and the most vulnerable groups.

Rebuilding sustainable livelihoods

Building on our humanitarian relief work in Somalia, our livelihoods work helps to build and strengthen the resilience of communities to shocks by ensuring there is adequate linkage between relief and development. We focus on supporting the livestock sector, arable farming, natural resource management, alternative livelihoods and climate change adaptation.

Read our Somalia program update, May 2013