Designing Social Protection Frameworks for Somaliland

Somalia has seen large-scale population displacement, deterioration of infrastructure and decline in access to services, all of which have limited the livelihood opportunities of poor Somali households. Declining access to natural resources and increasing frequency of drought cycles are making it increasingly difficult for rural households to maintain their livestock and crop production levels. This has eroded people’s capacities to cope through traditional means and left large parts of the population vulnerable to particular life cycle risks. This study found there is a strong rationale for establishing some kind of formal, long-term and predictable social protection, that could address chronic poverty/vulnerability, but also be ‘topped up’ in the event of crisis.

These studies were commissioned by UNICEF Somalia, and developed by the firm Development Pathways, in order to provide recommendations on features to incorporate in a social protection framework for Somalia. The documents were presented and discussed with a wide range of stakeholders in three locations in Somalia (Mogadishu, Garowe, Hargeisa), as well as Nairobi, and were edited substantially based on findings. All views expressed in the reports are those of the consultancy firm, and should not be construed as representing the views or planned interventions of UNICEF Somalia. The studies are living documents, and will continue to be revised to incorporate new information and interventions.