Building a City of Belonging – An Integrated Approach to Durable Solutions in Somalia

For decades, displacement in Somalia often been met with short-term responses: emergency shelters, non-food item distributions, and temporary fixes designed to ease immediate suffering. Families displaced due to instability or the impact of climate change sought a place they could call "home."  

At Grible, just outside of Bossaso, this hope is becoming a reality.  

What started as a relocation project, is now an example of how the collaborative efforts of the Saameynta  (which means “Impact” in English) Programme that is jointly implemented by   IOM, UNDP and UN Habitat are changing lives from the ground up through an integrated approach.  

An integrated approach goes beyond emergency assistance to ensure displaced people have secure land tenure that protects them from eviction; access to essential services such as health care, water, and education; opportunities to rebuild livelihoods and economic independence; and initiatives that foster social cohesion and peaceful coexistence with host communities. 

At the heart of Grible’s transformation is land - the local government allocated land for displaced families to build a new future. With secure land tenure and formal documentation, families are protected from eviction and able to invest in their homes and communities with confidence.
 

Faiza Hashim Ali and her family, who relocated from Tawakal Site for displaced persons to Grible, describe the transition as life-changing.  

“Before moving to Grible, life was so difficult,” she recalled. “We lived in a hut. When it rained, we paid too much for water and didn’t even have showers. It felt like we were displaced people in our own country.”

 

Today, Faiza and her family live in a durable home equipped with veranda and proper sanitation. Each of the 61 newly constructed houses in Grible comes with a land deed, offering something many displaced families have never had: legal recognition of ownership and protection from being displaced once again.

 

“This is not just shelter,” Faiza said. “It is a completely new life.” 

Access to services is another cornerstone of Grible’s integrated approach. Families now live within reach of water points, electricity, schools, recreational spaces, and health facilities — services that are essential not only for survival, but for restoring dignity and opportunity.
 

For Qali Mohamed, who spent years living in the informal settlement known as Boqolka Buush — the “Hundred Bush” — safety and access to care were once daily concerns.

 

“Every night we expected to be robbed,” she said. “You couldn’t leave your house, even if you were sick. We had no freedom.”

 

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