poverty in somalia essay

Livelihoods

Health and nutrition

Climate and environment

Emergencies

Gender equality

Policy and advocacy

View all countries

View all publications

View all news

What we stand for

Our history

Why partner with Concern?

Public donations

Institutions and Partnerships

Trusts and foundations

Corporate donations

Donations over £1,000

How money is spent

Annual reports

How we are governed

Codes and policies

Supply chain

Through to 2

Hunger crisis appeal

Donating by post and phone

Corporate giving

Emergency support

Concern Philanthropic Circle

Donate in memory

Leave a gift in your will

Wedding favours

Your donation and Gift Aid

Volunteer in Northern Ireland

Volunteer internationally

• Ration Challenge

London Marathon

Climb for Concern

Start your own fundraiser

Charity fundraising tips

FAST Youth Ambassador

Knowledge Matters Magazine

Global Hunger Index

Learning Papers

Where we work

Research and reports

Latest news

Our annual report

How we raise money

Transparency and accountability

Donate today

Donate to Concern

Partner with us

Campaign with us

Buy an alternative gift

Other ways to give

Events and challenges

Schools and youth

Knowledge Hub

Knowledge Hub resources

• Debating at school
• Volunteer with us
• Job vacancies

Understanding hunger and poverty in Somalia

Somalia is currently going through its worst drought in over forty years. Following a fifth failed rainy season, the drought threatens a hunger crisis that could lead to the mass starvation of millions of people.

In 2011, over 250,000 Somali people were killed by drought induced famine, with half of the dead being children. However, despite recently avoiding an  official declaration of famine , the current drought in Somalia is likely to worsen and threaten a substantially larger amount of people.

The reasons behind the current crisis are multifaceted. Five consecutive failed rainy seasons aggravated by climate change has driven the ongoing drought, but years of locust infestations, Covid-19, political instability, as well as the effects of the Ukraine conflict on international food prices have further exasperated the country’s ability to ward off crisis.

The drought and locust infestations have destroyed farms and pastoral land, leading to total crop failures and the death of more than  three million livestock  across the country and a near halt of agricultural production in some regions. The current hunger crisis has resulted in  7.1 million people in Somalia  not meeting their daily food requirements. Without international action this number is very likely to rise, resulting in more deaths and devastation.

Poverty and hunger in Somalia

Somalia is one of the poorest countries in Africa.  Nearly 70%  of the population live below the international poverty line (defined as earning less than $2.15 a day), with numbers being higher in rural areas among nomadic pastoralists.

Around 1.8 million children are acutely malnourished. Between January and November 2022, at least 1,049 children died in health centres and hospitals due to hunger-related causes, with many more dying unrecorded.

Malnutrition needs to be quickly acted upon not only to increase an affected person’s survivability, but because hunger experienced in the first two years of a child’s life can have profoundly negative and permanent effects on their physical growth and intellectual development as they grow up. Adults who survive childhood malnutrition have a higher likelihood of being shorter, underweight and having weaker bone and muscle density, as well as achieving poorer academic attainment.

Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to hunger, as the risks of developing anaemia and fatal birthing outcomes for both mother and baby increase considerably. There is also a cyclical component of hunger, with parents who suffered extreme hunger earlier in life, often being unable to leave those conditions and becoming more likely to have children who are malnourished and impoverished.

Abdi-Rashid Haji Nur, our Country Director in Somalia joined Concern Worldwide in 1992 when Concern was responding to the 1991/92 famine. Having worked with Concern for over 30 years and being Somali himself, Abdi-Rashid has seen the effects of rising food prices in Somalia. Abdi-Rashid is acutely aware of the precarious situation regarding food pricing in Somalia, especially as Somalia is very dependent on imports. Somalia imports 90% of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine and the conflict has sent prices skyrocketing.  Abdi-Rashid  observes that, “Somalia is one of the worst hit by the global trends of not only fuel, but also rising food prices there…A 50 kg bag of sorghum is now $50, and it was $8 at the end of 2021. That is 50 kg of sorghum, which most people in rural areas depend on.”

Socioeconomic effects of the drought in Somalia

For many decades, Somalia has had to contend with an underfunded infrastructure and extreme poverty. This recent famine has placed another burden on the shoulders of an already fatigued infrastructure and has manifested itself in difficult societal challenges.

A combination of drought, political instability and conflict have led to an estimated 1.3 million Somalis being displaced throughout the country. Millions of people, pushed into further impoverishment, are leaving their rural communities in search of food and water, often into cities and internally displaced communities. As many as 1.1 million internally displaced people are facing acute food insecurity, which leads to pressure on local government as they struggle to provide health support as well as employment opportunities to those displaced.

The drought has been particularly hard on farmers, with many losing entire assets in their failed livestock and crops. Poorer farmers are more susceptible to the hardships of famines, often running up high debt burdens as the cost of livestock feed becomes more expensive, and as a consequence of going into further debt to purchase food for their families.

What we’re doing in Somalia

Although famine has been avoided for now, the hunger crisis in Somalia is still posing a threat to millions. With the impact of climate change worsening and many communities  at risk of being unable to adapt , Somalia needs further international support to combat future famines.

Somalia is not the only country being affected by severe droughts. Many countries across East Africa have also been impacted by drought and are struggling with ongoing humanitarian crises. Concern's Regional Director for East Africa  Amina Abdulla has said , “Our teams are on the ground in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya responding, but the resources we currently have are not sufficient to meet the growing numbers of people in need.”

Concern Worldwide has been working in Somalia since 1986 working to alleviate some of the crises the country has faced. We have been responding to this present crisis by supporting 2600 malnourished children per month with Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUFT), as well as cash transfers to help people purchase food and essential goods from local vendors. Our Concern staff have been working with local organisations to rehabilitate and perform maintenance on wells, latrines, handwashing stations and boreholes.

Our Somalia Country Director Abdi-Rashid has said that, “People’s support has made a big difference in Somalia already, whether it’s the lifesaving treatment or long term funding for a serious table of programmes there, and I can say that that generosity has saved millions of people previously.”

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of some of the people featured.

"It gave me hope": How the Graduation programme is making a difference in Rwanda

Concern Worldwide Statement on the announcement of the Paris Nutrition for Growth Summit 2025

Concern responds to spiralling food insecurity and childhood malnutrition in Yemen

Other ways to help.

Give a one-off, or a monthly, donation today.

Join an event

From mountain trekking to marathon running, join us for one of our many exciting outdoor events!

With an extensive range of alternative gifts, we have something to suit everybody.

Leave the world a better place with a life-changing legacy.

Become a corporate supporter

We partner with a range of organisations that share our passion and the results have been fantastic.

Create your own fundraising event

Raise money for Concern by organising your own charity fundraising event.

Share your concern

Relationship between poverty and violence against civilians. Evidence from Somalia

Gonzalo nunez-chaim.

Many countries around the world continue to experience episodes of violence and conflict. In these fragile settings, authorities are often unable to provide basic services and social safety nets to their citizens, resulting in terrorist groups seizing the opportunity to establish themselves as alternatives to governments. In developing countries, acts of terrorism further erode already precarious economic conditions. Although a terrorist attack may affect only a small fraction of the population and economy, the negative consequences can be far-reaching. Terrorism not only impacts the day-to-day lives of civilians, but over time, the loss of life, injuries, and negative psychological effects of an attack have a broad economic impact. 

Links between conflict and poverty

Given that nearly two-thirds of the world’s poor are projected to live in conflict-affected countries by 2030, it is important to shed light on and better understand the links between conflict and poverty. A recent World Bank study explores how acts of violence that took place in Somalia between 2016-2018 – terrorism in particular – has impacted household income and poverty levels  . It is one of the first studies to measure the causal impact of terrorism on consumption and poverty using household-level data in a fragile and conflict-affected country.

Somalia is one of the poorest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2017-18, it was estimated that 69% of the population lived below the standard international poverty line of $1.90 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Poverty incidence in 2017-18 across Somali regions (% of poor population)

The study focuses on the attacks from Al-Shabaab, a recognized terrorist organization, against civilians in Mogadishu by measuring the attack’s immediate impact (within one week) on the surrounding local economy  . The paper uses micro-data from two rounds of the Somali High Frequency Survey (SHFS), combined with geo-tagged information on the attacks. Round 1 includes 4117 household interviews done between February and March 2016, representing only 9 of the 18 Somali pre‐war regions, as the remaining areas were inaccessible for security reasons at the time of fieldwork. Round 2 expanded the coverage to 17 pre‐war regions and included 6092 household interviews done between December 2017 and January 2018. The analysis found that consumption of households exposed to terrorist incidents decreased by a third, mainly driven by a decline in food consumption. Consumption fell because fewer household members could work and earn income in the period immediately after an attack This ultimately led to a decline in consumption and exacerbated poverty and vulnerability. After a terrorist attack, limited food availability and higher prices also disrupt the economy and affect welfare conditions.

Poorer people were hit hardest

Households in the top 20% of the consumption distribution were not as severely impacted as those closer to the poverty line. This is because higher income households are more likely to have savings or other sources of income, allowing them to soften the economic shock from a terrorist attack and keep their consumption levels steady.

Within a week of the attack, only part of the city was impacted due to the localized disruption of roads and markets. For households located within a 4-kilometer radius from the incident–covering 10% of the area of Mogadishu and 25% of the population—the negative impact on consumption was similar. Conversely, those households located more than 4 kilometers away from the incident seemed to be far enough away for their consumption levels to be directly affected (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Spatial variation of the impact on consumption in Mogadishu

Economic damage can harm long term development

The analysis also found a deterioration in people’s perceptions of police competence following an attack. This could, over the long term, erode trust in formal institutions and ultimately hinder the government’s legitimacy and capacity for implementing development policies. Targeted and rapid support for affected households, such as a combination of cash and in-kind food assistance, can help to mitigate the sharp decrease in consumption following a terrorist attack  . Beneficiaries could be identified using geographical targeting, covering those within 4 kilometers from the incident. Effective labor-market interventions to support continuous employment –or at the very least, supplementary income– could provide the stability needed for households to purchase food and other necessary items.

Negative economic effects of terror attacks were not surprising. Although the findings were based on a short span of time, they still provide valuable information on where further research is needed. The next steps could include a longer-term assessment to determine whether the effect on consumption and poverty is transitory or permanent and the extent to which impacts are more acute in regions with repeated terrorist incidents  .

Until security conditions in Somalia improve, accelerating poverty reduction will be challenging

To improve long-term welfare benefits for Somalians national and international efforts should prioritize achieving peace. Terrorist groups and their attacks are a threat to government stability, representing a risk for the well-being of the population and limiting the capacity of the government to provide economic support to their communities.  

These findings can help governments and international partners to better design and implement long-term development policies and programming when working in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

• Fragility Conflict and Violence

Economist in the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Global Practice

Lead Economist, Poverty and Equity Global Practice

Join the Conversation

• Share on mail
• comments added

• Previous Article

This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) reviews the first Annual Progress Report (APR) on Somalia’s Ninth National Development Plan (NDP9).1 NDP9 is a nationally owned and comprehensive strategy for poverty reduction and inclusive growth. It covers 2020–2024 and is organized around the four pillars: Inclusive Politics, Security and the Rule of Law, Economic Development and Social Development . NDP9 was submitted to the IMF and World Bank on October 15, 2019, to fulfill the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative’s poverty reduction strategy requirement. The first Annual Progress Report (APR) was received by the World Bank and the IMF in June 2022. It describes the progress of the Federal Government of Somali (FGS) in implementing the first year of the NDP9, i.e., in 2020. The government is in the process of preparing the midterm review of NDP9, which will serve as APR for 2021 and 2022.

• Introduction

1. This Joint Staff Advisory Note (JSAN) reviews the first Annual Progress Report (APR) on Somalia’s Ninth National Development Plan (NDP9) . 1 NDP9 is a nationally owned and comprehensive strategy for poverty reduction and inclusive growth. It covers 2020–2024 and is organized around the four pillars: Inclusive Politics, Security and the Rule of Law, Economic Development and Social Development . NDP9 was submitted to the IMF and World Bank on October 15, 2019, to fulfill the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative’s poverty reduction strategy requirement. The first Annual Progress Report (APR) was received by the World Bank and the IMF in June 2022. It describes the progress of the Federal Government of Somali (FGS) in implementing the first year of the NDP9, i.e., in 2020. The government is in the process of preparing the midterm review of NDP9, which will serve as APR for 2021 and 2022.

2. Somalia began implementing NDP9 at a time of profound challenges posed by the ‘triple crises’ of locust infestations, a global pandemic, and floods . An outbreak of desert locusts started in 2019 that threatened the food supply across the Horn of Africa. In 2020, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The flash floods during the second half of 2020 affected over 555,000 people in Hirshabelle, South West, and Jubaland states, as well as the Sanaag and Banadir regions. The floods have damaged thousands of hectares of farmland, property, and infrastructure. The floods affected Somalia at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the humanitarian responses more difficult.

3. The APR addresses concerns raised in staffs’ 2020 JSAN on NDP9’s outdated macroeconomic framework underpinning NDP9, limited costing of NDP9 interventions, and the low level of pro-poor spending . The authorities revised the macroeconomic framework in mid-2020 which was incorporated into the revised FY2020 budget. The federal Ministry of Finance worked with major spending ministries in 2020 to cost major development programs linked to NDP9 and incorporate those into the FY2021 budget. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FGS mobilized funding to enable a doubling of social sector spending in the revised FY2020 budget and increased grants to the Federal Member States (FMS) governments to support their pandemic response. These steps are described in more depth.

4. Implementation by the FGS of the NDP9 as a full PRS for at least one year is assessed as satisfactory , Staffs concur with the APR’s assessment that important progress has been made on implementation of the NPD9, despite challenges from the triple shocks faced by Somalia in 2020. Notwithstanding the multiple shocks, the Somali authorities preserved macroeconomic stability and maintained the reform momentum, strengthening domestic revenue mobilization, public financial management (PFM), financial sector regulation and supervision, statistics and governance. 2 Key actions on social sectors include the prompt response to COVID-19, the implementation of a government-owned Baxnaano cash transfer program, 3 expansion of financial support to businesses provided by the Gargaara Company, 4 and legal reforms to provide the fundamentals for growth and poverty reduction. In addition, progress was made on channeling more external resources through the budget. Notwithstanding these accomplishments, the triple shocks in 2020 increased the needs of the population, created more demand for government support, and complicated government operations and logistics.

Macroeconomic Performance

• A. Introduction

5. Staffs recognize that, despite Somalia enduring triple shocks and political uncertainty, prompt action by authorities supported by international partners and resilient remittance inflows partially cushioned the impact of these shocks . The flooding, desert locust infestation, and the global coronavirus pandemic severely reduced growth prospects in 2020. In response to these shocks, the authorities implemented the Country Preparedness and Response Plan (CPRP) with the support of international partners. The fiscal and financial support measures include: (i) temporary tax relief on some basic food commodities; and (ii) externally funded expansion of the social safety net, lending-support to small and medium-sized enterprises and inter-governmental fiscal transfers to FMSs to assist them in coping with these shocks. Resilient remittance inflows and the Baxnaano social safety net program buoyed domestic demand and helped protect the vulnerable.

6. Staffs welcome the revisions to the FY2020 macroeconomic framework to account for adverse impact these shocks had on economic activity . Following the guidance provided by the March 2020 JSAN to update the NDP9 macroeconomic framework, in mid-2020 the authorities revised the macroeconomic framework. GDP growth was downgraded from 3.2 percent (NDP9 forecast) to -0.7 percent, with outer years consistent with the IMF’s November 2020 estimates, which anticipated a gradual increase from 2.9 percent in 2021 to 3.6 percent by 2024. The revised macroeconomic growth forecasts were used to update the government’s Medium-Term Fiscal Framework for the FY2021 Budget Strategy Paper, published on the Ministry of Finance’s website . The revised fiscal projections reflected the quantitative performance criteria and indicative targets under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF)-supported program.

• B. Fiscal Policy and Management

7. While Somalia has been actively building its tax capacity, stronger domestic revenue collection is essential to support NDP9 implementation . The authorities have been raising revenues through the implementation of tax policy and tax administration reforms, including the reinstatement of income and sales taxes, development of the Revenue Law, and the establishment of a large- and medium-taxpayer’s office. Nonetheless, the multiple shocks in 2020 hindered domestic revenue collection. Following a steady increase since 2013, in 2020 total domestic revenues (excluding grants) declined to 3 percent of GDP from 3.6 percent of GDP in 2019. Given that domestic revenue remains low and insufficient to cover recurrent expenditure, staffs encourage greater domestic revenue mobilization efforts, including timely implementation of tax policy and administrative reforms identified in the ECF-supported program and NDP9. In this regard, staffs recognize the ongoing efforts to improve customs administration, implement a single duty tariff at all ports, and develop a modern income tax law, which will also contribute to tax harmonization across the federation. Staffs commend the authorities on the recent efforts to increase revenue through such actions as the issuance of a spectrum fee schedule for telecom operators in 2022, which is expected to raise US$6 million per year over the next 10 years, and the publication of a report on tax exemptions as part of the 2023 budget package.

8. Staffs acknowledge the authorities’ efforts to strengthen the fiscal framework and service delivery to implement the NDP9 . With the support of the international community, authorities were able to redirect additional spending towards NDP9 priorities, particularly towards social spending on health, education, and social protection. The government implemented the Financial Management Information System, established expenditure controls with regular and reliable reporting, integrated non-civilian employees into the payroll, audited the FGS financial accounts, and enacted a new PFM Act, new Procurement Act and regulations, and the Petroleum Act. 5 In 2020, a budget table consolidating FGS and FMS revenue and expenditure (excluding Banadir and Somaliland) was included in the federal FY2021 Appropriation Act. Staffs welcome the build-up of a fiscal buffer in 2020 to reduce the risks associated with volatility in revenues, which enabled the authorities to maintain priority expenditure in 2021 despite the shortfall in the disbursement of grants. The authorities made important progress in improving management of security sector expenditure. The authorities also undertook several anti-corruption measures in 2020. Staffs encourage the authorities to continuously improve debt management by, among other things, strengthening the capacity of the Debt Management Unit to improve its analytical, negotiation, recording, and reporting capacity. Going forward, staffs encourage authorities to continue strengthening PFM (enhancing the accounting system, developing reliable in-year financial reporting, and improving the quality of fiscal data), debt management, statistical capacity and governance to support the fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability, needed to implement NDP9. In this vein, staffs recognize the recent actions that enhance PFM, such as the Pay and Grade policy and roadmap for payroll integration, approved by the Cabinet at the end of 2022, which sets out salary scales, eligibilities for allowances included in non-payroll payments, and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance and National Civil Service Commission in their controls and financial clearance.

9. Staffs welcome the progress on deepening fiscal federalism through increased fiscal coordination and transfers . FGS transfers to FMS in 2020 were around 16.7 percent (US$79 million) of overall expenditure, an increase of around 3 percentage points compared to 2019. Fiscal federal reforms are being mainstreamed across several aspects of the HIPC Completion Point (CP) triggers, IMF-supported program, and World Bank Development Policy Financing operations. Examples include the enactment of the Revenue Act as a key milestone toward the harmonization of tax policies across the country; the fuller harmonization of customs operations between FGS and FMS and the expected application of a single import duty tariff schedule at all major ports; the development of public financial management (PFM) regulations on natural resource revenue sharing; and continued monitoring of consolidated fiscal reporting from FGS and FMS. Discussions were undertaken between FGS and FMS on revenue sharing related to the issuing of fishing licenses. Over the longer-term, although progress has been made, staffs highlight the importance of implementing a durable fiscal federal framework to support Somalia’s political stability, security, and development goals.

• C. Monetary and Financial Sector Policies

10. Staffs welcome the financial sector reforms, including financial sector governance, anti-corruption, market regulation, and AML/CFT, undertaken by authorities . To strengthen financial sector, the Central Bank of Somalia (CBS) has improved its reporting and audit functions by subjecting banks and money transfer businesses (MTBs) to regular on- and off-site inspections, launched the licensing and regulation of mobile money operators (MMOs) and commenced the publication of CBS audited financial statements. Staffs welcome reforms to transform the CBS from being primarily a fiscal agent for the government into a modern and policy-oriented central bank, that have been supported by the IMF and World Bank technical assistance, including to: (i) strengthen financial sector legal and regulatory frameworks; (ii) build capacity for the regulation and supervision of commercial banks, MTBs and MMOs; (iii) modernize the payment system and develop financial market infrastructure; and (iv) strengthen the organization, governance, accounting, auditing, and risk management of the CBS. Recent actions on AML/CFT include (1) operationalization of the National AML/CFT Taskforce in 2021 to support the National Anti-Money Laundering Committee; (2) publication of the National ML/FT Risk Assessment (NRA) in 2022 and approval of the NRA Action Plan in 2023; and (iii) enactment of the Targeted Financial Sanctions Law in 2023. Staffs encourage further strengthening of the institutional capacity at CBS, including financial supervision, as well as continued efforts to address AML/CFT risks, with the support of further IMF technical assistance.

11. Staffs encourage improving financial inclusion to support private sector growth . Somalia is a de-facto dollarized economy, for financial assets and liabilities as well as for currency in circulation. Access to mobile money is relatively high in Somalia. The authorities report that approximately 82 percent of the Somali population 15 years of age and older use mobile money services. MTBs facilitate cross-border financial transfers, including remittances to households, transfers to businesses and NGOs in Somalia. However, in 2020 credit represented only 3.2 percent of GDP. Constraints include a relatively narrow formal sector and lack of financial infrastructures. The fragile nature of correspondent banking relations because of severe money laundering/financing of terrorism (ML/FT) concerns constrains banks’ ability to provide financial services and money transfer businesses are the main mechanism to transfer money in and out of Somalia. Staffs urge the authorities to further strengthen financial deepening and financial inclusion while protecting financial stability, which includes the establishment of a national unified social registry (a HIPC Completion Point trigger), efforts to address ML/FT risks, and taking steps to protect from cybersecurity risks. In this regard, the enactment in March 2023 of the Data Protection and the Digital ID Laws is welcome.

12. To promote further financial inclusion, NDP9 identifies currency reform as a national development priority . The currency exchange project, supported by the World Bank, will reintroduce the Somali shilling as legal tender by replacing old and counterfeit notes in circulation. This initiative is expected to support financial inclusion of the most vulnerable populations that have limited access to formal financial services and fulfill an important liquidity function by facilitating payments for small value transactions. Staffs encourage the authorities to develop appropriate monetary and exchange rate policy frameworks for the currency reform and further strengthen the capacity of the CBS and financial institutions.

• D. Financing and NDP9 Costing

13. Staffs welcome the completion of NDP9 costing for FY2021 and encourage the authorities to build on the lessons learnt for the subsequent budgets . In 2020, the federal government, through the Ministry of Finance interacted with 16 federal spending entities to cost NDP9 development programs, explicitly linking financing with NDP9 programs in the FY2021 Appropriation Act. In the context of limited resources, Staffs emphasize the need to further refine the costing exercise for the subsequent budgets so that NDP9 implementation efforts are carefully prioritized, sequenced, and matched with planned expenditure interventions.

14. However, financing NDP9 through the budget system is challenging, with most of the grant financing (more than 70 percent in 2020) still off-budget . Staffs encourage development partners to channel aid flows through country systems to ensure their alignment with the priorities of NDP9, enhance their visibility, and facilitate monitoring and evaluation. To this end, the Ministry of Finance has worked with development partners through the Use of Country Systems (UCS) Working Group to encourage international partners to utilize the Aid Information Management System. This system links planned interventions and spending with NDP pillars. Staffs recognize the importance of reducing off-budget financing of development projects and encourage development partners to provide funding through the budget system and provide complete and timely information on their development activities in Somalia.

• Poverty Reduction

15. Staffs note that the FGS significantly increased pro-poor spending in 2020 . The midyear revised budget substantially increased social sector budget and grants to subnational governments in response to the triple shocks. The revised budget allocated US$149.1 million to social sector ministries, more than double the original approved estimate of US$64.5 million in January 2020 and increasing these ministries’ share of the total budget to 14 percent. This represents over seven-fold increase compared to actual spending of US$19.3 million in 2019. Cash transfers to households financed by IDA account for most of the increase (72 percent) while the health sector accounts for 22 percent. Although some of the assistance targeted the pastoral nomadic population, which are the poorest group, improvement can be made in aligning subnational transfers with local poverty levels.

16. Staffs welcome the inclusion of a poverty analysis . The APR reiterates NDP9’s goal to reduce poverty by 15 percentage points by 2024. The APR also discussed how poor and vulnerable populations identified by the poverty assessment are targeted through programs such as Baxnaano cash transfer and education. Finally, staffs reiterate the comments of the JSAN 2020 which highlight the importance for government to further analyze the poverty and distributional effects of development policies and plans.

17. Staffs note the limited data available to fully assess causes, extent, and distribution of poverty . The second wave of the Somali High Frequency Survey (SFHS), which was implemented in 2017/18, remains the main source of poverty data available in Somalia. A World Bank phone survey, conducted in July 2020, provides additional information on the decline in employment and income, highlighting many Somalis lack access to basic goods and services, particularly vulnerable populations – internally displaced persons (IDPs), nomads, and rural residents. The Somalia National Bureau of Statistics completed the comprehensive Somalia Integrated Household Budget Survey in 2022, which included a more detailed consumption module and, for the first time, an agricultural module and a module on household enterprises. The authorities will use the survey to strengthen measurement of poverty, CPI and GDP.

18. Going forward, staffs emphasize the importance of intensifying efforts to strengthen the availability and quality of poverty and social data . Future poverty analysis should track poverty across different areas of the country and profile demographic groups that are likely to be poor. In addition, the analysis can explore linkages between poverty and development challenges such as the lack of access to services and increased vulnerability due to climate change.

Progress During the First Year of NDP9 Implementation

• A. Pillar 1: Inclusive Politics

19. The APR reports that the onset of the global pandemic in 2020 deepened federalism in Somalia, a cornerstone of NDP9’s inclusive politics pillar . Faced with the need to respond to the crisis, the FGS increased grants to subnational governments above levels provided the preceding two years. In addition, the authorities developed rules and frameworks for revenue sharing and drafted the Inter-governmental Relations Act. Staffs acknowledge the efforts undertaken to deepen fiscal federalism during 2020 through the (i) revitalization of the Finance Ministers Fiscal Forum; (ii) agreement on an interim fiscal transfer policy; and (iii) extensive sharing of fiscal and economic data, enabling public reporting of consolidated FGS-FMS government financial operations for the first time.

20. The APR is candid about shortcomings in meeting objectives of the Inclusive Politics pillar . Outstanding constitutional issues prevented adoption of a federal constitution in 2020, despite continued technical work to resolve differences between the FMSs and the FGS. Although the Political Parties Act was enacted in February 2020, elections that were supposed to commence before the end-2020 were postponed to 2021 (and ultimately were not completed until May 2022). In line with NDP9, Staffs encourage tangible progress on electoral reforms to support greater political inclusion and representation.

21. Staffs note the challenges encountered in the implementation of the Inclusive Politics pillar but underscore the pillar’s importance for political stability, inclusive economic growth, and poverty reduction . Lack of political settlement leads to stagnation of reforms, discourages political inclusivity at all levels, and could worsen fragility. Constructing a federal state with a well-functioning allocation of spending and revenue responsibilities is inherently difficult but offers important benefits. Establishing a rule-based formula for revenue sharing and intergovernmental grants—linked to clear expenditure responsibilities—can narrow the fiscal gap between states with and without seaports (and their corresponding customs revenue), leading to reduced inequalities and increased citizen trust and state legitimacy .

• B. Pillar 2: Security and the Rule of Law

22. The APR acknowledges that the triple shocks contributed indirectly to increased conflict and greater incursion by Al-Shabaab in vulnerable areas with an increase in the severity of poverty, food insecurity, and displacement . Nevertheless, it reports that the authorities achieved noteworthy progress in 2020 in implementing interventions related to NDP9’s Security and the Rule of Law pillar. In the security sector, major accomplishments include progress towards the transition from AMISOM forces to the SNA and a strengthened legal framework for the security sector.

23. The authorities took several steps to address corruption in 2020 . The APR identifies the establishment of the Integrity Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Justice, which leads anti-corruption efforts for the FGS, and ratification in December 2020 of the UN Convention against Corruption (a HIPC Completion Point trigger) as major accomplishments, along with the drafting or review of 45 laws, policies, and strategies, including the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (an ECF structural benchmark) and the law establishing the Anti-Corruption Commission.

24. The rule of law has been strengthened . The APR reports that: (i) the government provided legal aid services to over 4,000 beneficiaries (75 percent women); (ii) over 5,000 beneficiaries, (40 percent women) used the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centers; and (iii) 1,040 beneficiaries (45 percent women) used mobile courts—more than doubling the final target of 500. Staffs encourage the authorities to continue efforts to improve governance and address corruption risks.

25. Staffs note that important progress on security sector registration, salary, and rations was not captured in the 2020 APR . For example, direct payment of security sector salaries strengthened expenditure management and reduced the risk of misuse of funds. In 2020, the FGS completed a second round of biometric registration for national security sector personnel, including all SNA forces (including those in the FMS), the Somali Police Force at the FGS level, the Federal Custodial Corps (prisons), and the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). In addition, the FGS continued its efforts to regularize the main security sector rations contracts.

26. Given the importance of security spending for political and therefore economic stability, staffs encourage the authorities to ensure that the security sector is carefully managed and that resources are adequate and timely . In this regard, the FGS should maintain its commitment to security sector registration and keep the information up to date. Efforts have been made to establish competitive tendering for security rations. NISA should resolve incomplete tender processes and ensure that rations are delivered under valid, competitively tendered contracts.

• C. Pillar 3: Economic Development

27. Staffs commend the authorities for the comprehensive update of the implementation and achievements under the Economic Development pillar . Several programs, to improve agriculture, livestock, telecommunication, infrastructure, and trade, have been instituted to respond to the economic shocks.

28. Water and energy . The water sector was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of climate shocks. The APR highlights the completion of the National Water Resources Strategy and Roadmap 2021–2025. However, the APR could have also discussed the implications of the climatic shocks on water scarcity and food security. While the FGS has made considerable progress to improve water conditions across the country, staffs encourage the continued shift from emergency assistance to long-term programmatic support to the water sector, with the adequate commitment and support provided by the development community, coordinated by the FGS. Staffs recognize reforms in the energy policy and legal framework. The Electricity Bill and Energy Policy were approved by the Council of Ministers and the bill submitted to Parliament in December 2020. 6 The Electricity Act was passed by both houses of Parliament and promulgated in March 2023. Staffs encourage the government to prepare for investments in transmission and distribution and to foster development of the regulatory framework of the sector.

29. Financial sector . Staffs welcome the comprehensive update and substantial progress made on the financial sector reforms. In addition to reforms discussed earlier, staffs welcome the launch of the National Payment System and Gargaara—the financial institution established to facilitate access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises. 7 The APR would have benefited from a more detailed update on the progress to implement digital ID, which is a critical enabler for financial inclusion, financial sector integrity, and government delivery of social services. Given NDP9’s emphasis on women’s empowerment, staffs would encourage future progress reports to include more discussion on the efforts made to increase access to finance for women.

30. Telecommunication . Staffs commend progress made to develop the policy, legal and regulatory framework for digital development and welcome the emphasis on ‘Telecom and IT’ in the APR. Future progress reports could assess information and communication technology (ICT) sector developments more broadly to include elements such as national ID, cybersecurity, data protection and digital infrastructure development. Staffs also note that some of the policies mentioned in the APR have not yet been fully implemented and would encourage the government to continue the work on digital inclusion and consumer protection policies. Staff encourage the government to accelerate implementation of data protection, cyber security, and digital ID activities and ensure that progress on foundational telecommunications regulation is sustainable. Staffs suggest that improved data collection is necessary for monitoring progress of reforms, with a focus on indicators for digital connectivity and internet access.

• D. Pillar 4: Social Development

31. The APR underscores the government’s prompt response (with the support of development partners) to the triple shocks through the introduction of a social protection system . Staffs welcome the extensive discussion of the Baxnaano program in addressing shocks from the triple crises in 2020. Staffs wish to correct the APR understanding: Baxnaano is a cash transfer program and does not provide food. As there was no previous social safety net program, Baxnaano was not built upon a pre-existing public social safety net program or as a result of a shift in a food basket program. Rather, Baxnaano is the first-ever, government-led, cash transfer program, carried out by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with WFP implementation assistance and financed by the World Bank. Baxnaano currently provides unconditional cash transfers to 200,000 poor and vulnerable households with children, reaching about 1.2 million people. Building on the successful implementation in 2020, staffs encourage the government to take over direct responsibility in implementing the program, build the unified social registry (a HIPC Completion Point trigger), and develop policies focused on pro-poor public spending in the remaining years of the NDP9 implementation.

32. The APR acknowledges the difficulties that the COVID-19 caused in implementing health and education programs proposed under NDP9 . It should be noted, however, that the FMS health ministries set up the COVID-19 Information System, which allowed for registration and maintenance of national COVID-19 statistics. Staffs encourage the government to continue expanding basic education opportunities with a focus on areas with largest gaps. To further build health institutions, FMSs should enhance management information systems, contract management and PFM.

• Implementation, Donor Coordination, and Monitoring and Evaluation

33. Staffs welcome the FGS effort to coordinate contributions from development partners . The coordination of aid and donor-government relations is an ongoing issue in Somalia, as highlighted in the March 2020 JSAN for NDP9. The FGS has made efforts to improve aid coordination by reviving the UCS Working Group in November 2020, which resulted in a revised UCS roadmap for 2021–2023 that included FGS, development partners, with joint commitments and milestones. Despite these efforts, coordination between international partners and the FGS remains a challenge. This lack of coordination can hinder alignment of support with NDP9 priorities, and can result in a lack of accountability, transparency, trust and cooperation between the FGS and development partners. To address these issues, it is crucial for the FGS and international partners to work together to channel development support through the budget and improve the overall effectiveness of aid delivery in Somalia.

34. Staffs commend efforts to improve data and the statistical system in Somalia . FGS has made substantial progress in producing data needed to monitor progress of NDP9. The authorities have strengthened programming and analytical capacity of the fiscal agencies to inform implementation of policies and programs. To help strengthen data transparency, Somalia implemented the IMF Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e-GDDS) in June 2022 by publishing essential macroeconomic and financial data through a National Summary Data Page . The Somalia National Bureau of Statistics has collected and published new data for the required indicators such as Somali Health and Demographic Survey, the Labour Force Survey, and the Somalia Integrated Household Budget Survey. Going forward, FGS needs to continue to build its capacity to analyze such data to guide evidence-based policy making. Staffs also welcome the government’s ongoing efforts aimed at implementing the Statistics Act that was operationalized in 2020. These efforts have contributed to a successful fulfillment of the statistics HIPC Completion Point trigger – the publication of Somalia Facts and Figures. Further strengthening of the national statistical system will be achieved with implementation of the legal and institutional reforms that are contained in the Statistics Act, continued implementation of the Statistical Action Plan and advancing within the e-GDDS framework, supported by technical assistance from development partners.

35. Staffs welcome the progress made in creating a strong monitoring and evaluation framework and urge the government to continue strengthening the system . Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development’s (MoPIED) Monitoring and Evaluation Department (MED) is responsible for coordinating all government monitoring and evaluation activities. To do so effectively, MED has developed a National Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (NIMEF) that will be used as a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanism, working with the various entities involved with data collection and analysis. NIMEF’s overarching strategic goal is to support evidence-based decision-making and accountability in the implementation of NPD9 by providing integrated monitoring and evaluation framework for regular and systematic tracking, documenting and evaluating progress of the strategic priorities in the NPD9. However, limitations exist between NDP9 strategic planning and actions undertaken at the ministries and/or agencies. In this regard, staffs encourage government to take steps to increase the linkages between priority setting, planning, and budgeting processes within the budget preparation process. This includes reviewing all key performance indicators in the budget preparation documents and in other ministerial strategic and planning documents to ensure the indicators included in these documents have appropriate data available for tracking progress on implementation. Finally, staffs encourage strengthening linkages between the activities of MED and those of national statistics system deemed critical for monitoring and evaluation of projects and programs outlined in NDP9.

• Conclusion, Risks, and Recommendations

36. Staffs believe that the APR accurately captures the key achievements in the implementation of the PRS in 2020, as well as the ongoing challenges . Important progress has been made on implementation of the NPD9 despite challenges that were exacerbated by the triple shocks faced by Somalia in 2020. Major achievements include: (i) the implementation of the Baxnaano program, which is a government owned program and financed through the budget; (ii) sustained reform momentum across a number of areas, including revenue, PFM, CBS institutional capacity, statistics and governance; and (iii) the increase of development partner support that is being channeled through the budget, with the adequate safeguards in place. Moving forward, the government could build upon these achievements, to sustain the reform momentum. Staffs encourage the authorities to further strengthen the PRS as a management and monitoring tool for government action.

37. Implementation by the FGS of the NDP9 as a full PRS for at least one year is assessed as satisfactory, in fulfillment of the HIPC Completion Point trigger . Staffs recognize the costing exercise for the NDP9. The FGS successfully implemented NDP9 with a partial cost projection exercise in 2020. The APR reported that the Ministry of Finance worked with 16 Federal spending entities to cost 29 programs under the NDP’s four pillars. APR activities are also reflected in the national budget. The first review of the ECF-supported program also indicated the implementation of NDP9, Somalia’s PRS. In this regard, the APR should have referred to the NDP9 as a full PRS.

38. Staffs are encouraged to note that the authorities continue to make progress towards the HIPC Completion Point by remaining steadfast to macroeconomic reforms under the ECF-supported program, IDA’s Inclusive Growth Development Policy Financing, and HIPC Floating CP triggers (see Annex) . Negotiations with creditors on external public debt restructuring are advancing. The first review of the ECF-supported program was completed in November 2020, and subsequently the second to fourth reviews of the program have been completed, highlighting the authorities’ commitment to reforms under the program, a necessary condition to reach HIPC Completion Point.

39. NDP9 implementation continues to face significant risks, while some effort to address these risks were reported in the APR . Some of these risks were also highlighted in the JSAN 2020 for NDP9. NDP9 implementation risks stem from (1) insecurity; the APR highlights how the increasing insecurity in the country could impede progress in various sectors, such as infrastructure and education; (2) the lack of policy prioritization, particularly on expenditure policy; (3) absence of full costing aligned with FGS and FMS fiscal frameworks; (4) political risks, including those stemming from the lack of full consensus regarding the federal system (which creates tensions in the intergovernmental relations) and uncertainty around the process for national elections; (5) the perception of pervasive corruption and weak governance; (6) heavy reliance on off-budget donor support for financing of the NDP9 combined with an absence of coherent aid policy strategy to catalyze and align large donors’ assistance to support the NDP9; (7) limited monitoring and evaluation capacity, as well as data to monitor progress and develop a medium-term policy framework; (8) risks related to revenue collection, including ability of the tax administration to ensure adequate registration, filing, declarations, and payments by the private sector; (9) risks associated with ensuring sound public financial management in line with the PFM laws and regulations; (10) severe capacity constraints, where institutions have only recently been created and staffed with few adequately trained and experienced employees. Finally, climate change poses a significant risk to the successful implementation of NDP9. The APR highlighted that climate change is a leading cause of natural disasters.

40. This JSAN highlights the following recommendations to support achievement of all the goals of the NDP9 :

Protect fiscal sustainability and strengthen debt management. Even after reaching the HIPC Completion Point, future borrowing decisions should be aligned with Somalia’s future capacity to repay while maintaining medium-term fiscal sustainability;

Accelerate domestic revenue mobilization reforms to increase resources to support implementation of NDP9 priorities;

Continue strengthening public financial management to improve expenditure implementation, transparency, and accountability;

Continue reforms to support institutional capacity, including making progress on key legislation;

Improve transparency and accountability through greater attention to improving governance. In addition, the authorities are encouraged to step up efforts to reduce the perception of corruption;

Ensure that the security sector is carefully managed and that resources are adequate and timely, given the importance of security spending for political and therefore economic stability;

Promote tangible progress on electoral reforms to support greater political inclusion and representation; and

Incorporate climate change resilience into its implementation of NDP9 programs to ensure successful implementation and sustainable development. The midterm review of the NDP9 should explore in detail how to improve climate resilience during the second half of the program’s implementation.

41. The authorities are already working on a number of near-term reform measures in the lead up to the HIPC Completion Point that are in line with these recommendations, among others :

Strengthening domestic revenue, including by taking steps to operationalize the Customs Automated System at the main ports, operationalize point-of-sale machines in key sectors, introduce a turnover tax, and initiate the development of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS);

Enhancing PFM, including integrating all federal government workers into the payroll, launching the invoice tracking system, improving reporting, and strengthening PFM capacity of FMS;

Improving governance and transparency, including by seeking enactment of a modernized Audit Bill, working towards finalizing the legal framework for the extractive industries, and developing a policy for the management of non-financial assets. In addition, a taskforce was commissioned to coordinate implementation of the measures announced in the Prime Minister’s Directive of May 2023 on financial governance and integrity, including stronger oversight over concessions and procurement and development of a merit-based system for appointments; and

Mainstreaming climate resilience, by creating a new Ministry of Environment and Climate Change that is to focus on incorporating climate change resilience into the implementation of NDP9 programs.

42. Staffs will assess progress in implementing these recommendations and the evolution of risks in future JSANs based on subsequent APRs . These JSANs will be shared with the IDA and IMF Boards. Combined with annual monitoring data, this information would enable staffs to advise the IMF and IDA Boards of Executive Directors on Somalia’s further implementation of the NDP9.

• Annex. Status of HIPC Completion Point Triggers

1 Progress as of June 16, 2023

NDP9 is Somalia’s poverty reduction strategy (PRS).

For example, the enactment of the Public Financial Management Law, Revenue Administration Law, and the Company Law.

Baxnaano is a developmental social safety net program that takes a two-pronged approach, focused on addressing urgent needs in the short-term while investing in national systems and capacities through long-term programming. The program includes providing families with nutrition-linked unconditional cash transfers, delivered via mobile money, which were later scaled up and expanded to address new shocks as seen in 2021 and 2022.

The Gargaara Company Limited was incorporated in 2019 with the aim of mobilizing financial and technical resources for micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Gargaara expanded its credit facility in 2020 to respond to the triple shocks.

More recent steps to develop the petroleum sector legal framework include: (1) approval of the model Production Sharing Agreement in 2021; (2) issuance of the PFM regulations on natural resource revenue management in 2022; (3) approval of the tender protocol in 2022, and (4) enactment of the Extractive Industries Income Tax Law in 2023.

Staffs note that the suspension of Parliament during the protracted electoral delay precluded legislative action of the bill. Enactment of this law is a HIPC Completion Point Trigger.

It is important to clarify that only the first draft of the national risk assessment was available in 2020 and that the report was not completed until 2022.

Other IMF Content

• Somalia: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-Joint Staff Advisory Note
• Sudan: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-Joint Staff Advisory Note
• Liberia: Joint Staff Advisory Note of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
• Liberia: Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: Joint Staff Advisory Note
• Republic of Congo: Joint Staff Advisory Note on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
• Sudan: Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper-Joint Staff Advisory Note
• Bangladesh: Joint Staff Advisory Note of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
• Niger: Joint Staff Advisory Note on the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
• Uganda: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper: Joint Staff Advisory Note

Other Publishers

Asian development bank.

• ADB East Asian Working Paper Series No. 10: Poverty Reduction and Development, National Strategies and a Case Study of ADB-Funded Pilot Project in Nayong County in Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China
• Enhancing Productivity for Poverty Reduction in India
• Future of Regional Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific
• Poverty Reduction Policies and Practices in Developing Asia
• Asia Bond Monitor: 'September 2020
• Developing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategies for Sector Agencies in South Asia: A Guidance Note
• Effective Approaches to Poverty Reduction: Selected Cases from the Asian Development Bank
• 2 Decades of Poverty Reduction and Partnership: The Story of the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction 2000-2021
• Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction Annual Report 2021
• Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction Annual Report 2019

Inter-American Development Bank

• What Challenges do Poverty Reduction Strategies Face?
• Bolivia: Poverty Reduction Strategy
• Nicaragua: A Strengthened Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy
• Poverty Reduction and the IDB: An Evaluation of the Bank's Strategy and Efforts
• Strategies for Poverty Reduction: The Poor and Highly Indebted Country's Experience
• Priorities and Strategies in Rural Poverty Reduction: Experiences from Latin America and Asia
• Chile's Experience in Poverty Reduction
• Background Paper: Disaster Risk Reduction
• Sharpening the Bank's Capacity to Support the Housing Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean: Background Paper for the Implementation of the Social Development Strategy
• Poverty Reduction and the Promotion of Social Equity

International Labour Organization

• Social dialogue and poverty reduction strategies
• Growth, employment and poverty reduction in Indonesia

The World Bank

• Impact of Drought on Poverty in Somalia
• A macroeconomic framework for quantifying growth and poverty reduction strategies in Niger
• Minding the gaps: integrating poverty reduction strategies and budgets for domestic accountability
• Estimation of Poverty in Somalia Using Innovative Methodologies
• Strengthening governance through engaged societies: lessons from the implementation of poverty reduction strategies
• Bangladesh Poverty Assessment: Facing Old and New Frontiers in Poverty Reduction, Volume 2 Background Papers
• Aid Allocation and Poverty Reduction
• Beyond the numbers: understanding the institutions for monitoring poverty reduction strategies
• China and the WTO: accession, policy reform, and poverty reduction strategies
• Rural development strategies for poverty reduction and environmental protection in Sub-Saharan Africa

Table of Contents

• Front Matter

International Monetary Fund Copyright © 2010-2021. All Rights Reserved.

• [66.249.64.20|185.148.24.167]
• 185.148.24.167

Character limit 500 /500

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

The Impact of Local Governance on Poverty Reduction in Somalia

After 1991, Somalia became a prime example of economic collapse and state failure, clearly illustrating the pernicious effects of lack of development and poor local governance on establishing and sustaining central authority. Currently poverty in Somalia becomes a prominent and continuing affair. People in Somalia, have acclimatized to the consequence of poverty. Approximately, 43% of Somalia’s population lives below the poverty line. Poverty in Somalia is more pronounced in the local areas than in the national areas and there is no a reduction plan from the central government of Somalia.The objective of this paper is to examine the effects of local governance on poverty reduction in Somalia in general and the local governance performance in Mogadishu. The article also analyses the relationship between local governance and poverty reduction based on three dimensions of local governance which are; accountability, responsive and community participation. Data was collected from university lecturers and Mogadishu municipality workers through cross-sectional survey. The study shows that there are positive direct relationship between local governance and poverty reduction. Therefore, if effective poverty reduction policies are set by local government then poverty can be eliminated.

Related Papers

Abdiaziz Ahmed

International Journal of Academics & Research, IJARKE Journals

The study aimed at investigating the effect of local government strategies on community development of Mogadishu Somalia. The study was guided by four objectives including; to determine the effect of provision of health services on community development of Mogadishu, Somalia, to find out the effect of provision of education on community development of Mogadishu, Somalia, to investigate the effect of community planning on community development of Mogadishu, Somalia and to assess the effect of local budgeting on community development of Mogadishu, Somalia. This study adopted a descriptive survey design and the target population of the study was 490 members from the government, and civil society organizations. In order to conduct the study, the researcher used a questionnaire to collect data in this study. The study investigated the effect of local government provision of health care services on community development and found out that the presence of health care facilities in the community improves on community development. The study examined the effect of local government provision of education on community development of Mogadishu, Somalia. The study found out that education increases the chances of getting employment. The provision of education by local government helps the community members to acquire new skills which make them able to get jobs. Community planning helps in reducing poverty in the community. Local government Planning plays a transformational role in improving the quality of life of all the community members and has a critical responsibility to tackle poverty. Community Budgeting also enables local public service providers to come together and agree how services can be better delivered. A Community Budget enables local public service providers to come together and agree how services can be better delivered, how the money to fund them should be managed and how they will organize themselves. Local government provision of health care services improves on community development and it recommends increased construction of health care facilities to support the poor. The study recommended for increased central government expenditure on education in order to increase the amount of funds available for local government expenditure. The study also recommended for increased recruitment of professional planners to be deployed in the different local governments in Somalia.

Yeshtila Wondemeneh

After 1991, Ethiopia has introduced an ethnic federal governance system constituting nine regional states and two autonomous city administrations, Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. The restructuring of the state seemingly led to the decen-tralisation of power to the regions and Woreda (district authority) levels local governance structure in 1995 and 2002 respectively. The purpose of this article is to examine the practices of decentralised local governance in Ethiopia in general and the local governance performance at the level of peasant association (Kebele) in particular. The article also analyses the link between the local governance and poverty based on three indicators: decentralisation and self-rule (DSR), local capacity for planning (LCP), and effectiveness of local governance system (ELGS). Data was collected from eight selected Kebeles of three different regional states through household survey, qualitative interviews and focus group discussions. The study shows that while the power and control of the central government is well established, the Kebeles lack the capacity and resources to deliver development. The LCP at Kebele level is weak because of organisational incapacity and institutional constraints related to DSR. The ELGS is also poor since Kebeles do not have any fiscal rights and administrative power for the reasons associated with DSR and LCP. The government has been implementing poverty reduction strategies using productive safety net programmes and farmer training centres. These, however, have not had the desired outcome due to organisational and institutional incapacitation of Kebele administrations.

Mugambwa Joshua

Kennedy Mahlatsi

Jordan Pocock

Over the last decade reports from the World Bank illustrate that we have seen great strides in poverty reduction (WorldBank, 2014; Weissreport, 2013). Figures show that global poverty is down by 51% since 1981 (WorldBank, 2014). However, many authors are arguing that these figures are misleading (Wade, 2004). For example, while we are seeing an eradication of poverty in places such as China there inherently remains a polarization between rich and poor (Chen and Ravallion, 2004). It is this inherent polarization that this paper will turn in order to discuss the relationship between poverty reduction and governance.

Saransh Agarwal

Background This report was prepared by Ms. Suchitra Punyaratabandhu, a member of the Committee for Development Policy, as a background paper for deliberations by the Committee at its sixth session (29 March-2 April 2004) on how to evaluate progress towards good governance in the context of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The first part of the report reviews the concept of good governance as it has evolved over the past 15 years. Key defining properties of the concept of good governance are presented. The second part of the report examines current efforts to measure governance. As might be expected, different working definitions have led to the specification of different sets of indicators and indices of governance. The third part briefly reviews studies on governance that examine the relationship between good governance and other desired outcomes, such as poverty alleviation and policy performance. The report concludes by summarizing the key issues in the evaluation of good governance.

Ben Alexandre MPOZEMBIZI

Ben Alexandre Mpozembizi

Some scholars have argued that the enhanced local self-governance of in any nation is a product of good governance, accountability, transparency and trust, which in turn brings about the improvement in the living standard of the people. The implication of this position is that where good governance is absent, accountability of governmental agencies and development in such a society is likely to be affected negatively. With the analysis of primary data, this research examined the impact of local self-governance in ensuring good governance through accountability, transparency and efficiency for sustainable democratization of socio-economic development of citizens. Our case study was Huye District, in Rwanda. Therefore, the ample evidence indicated that their increasing effectiveness in delivering social services, they have been able to effectively promote local socio-economic development. This study therefore set out to find out the impact of local governments on citizens through good governance with its pillars such as accountability, transparency and efficiency. The study analyzed how the local government carried out its local socio-economic development promotional drive, its capacity, the involvement of other stakeholders and other factors influencing its involvement in the process. It employed the use of mainly qualitative research methodology. The case study approach was adopted as the research strategy. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used and a variety of methods including documentary analysis, observations, group discussions and questionnaire administration were employed to ensure triangulation and the quality of data collected and analysed. The study revealed that the local government played several roles in the development of citizens by rapidly addressing the local socio-economic development needs of the district. The various strategies and tools applied are widened in scope. The local government was also more committed to the implementation of programmes and projects stated in its development plans that were of direct benefit to economic entities in local communities. Moreover, the local government‘s involvement of other stakeholders in its local socio-economic development process was obvious. The study therefore recommends that for the local government to be effective, it must put in pragmatic and relevant strategies and tools, have the needed capacity, a strong institutional set-up and should consciously involve all the necessary and potential stakeholders in all the stages of the local socio-economic development process. This should also be complemented by efforts of the central government to strengthen the local government in the process of local socio-economic development of citizens.

surjono surjono

Assoc. Prof. Muhammad Yusuf Dandume

RELATED PAPERS

Jouko Väänänen , Jorg Flum

Journal of Engineering and Management Industial System

emma sulistiarini

Journal of Nursing Measurement

Meftaha SENHAJI

Schizophrenia Research

Ann Summerfelt

Science of The Total Environment

IEEE Transactions on Robotics

Mehdi Delrobaei

Qonita Safitri

Revista Habanera De Ciencias Medicas

DAYANA MICHELLE QUI�ONES DIAZ

Mucosal Immunology

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

sandeep Vishwakarma

Prof. Dr. Martina Hasseler

riska septifani

Annals of Vascular Surgery

Ardin Ardin

Journal of Oriental Institute

Dhananjay Vasudeo Dwivedi

TEODOROVICZ, Jeferson ; BRITO, Jorge Alves. A Carga Tributária no Mercosul. Revista de Derecho Internacional y del Mercosur, v. 04, p. 159-167, 2005.

Jeferson Teodorovicz

ALMA ITZEL GARCIA GONZALEZ

Minerals Engineering

Telhma Franco

Physics Letters B

Armen Nersessian

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Mariana Armbruster

KABACHENKO DMYTRO

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

Selçuk Kaya

Studies in Educational Evaluation

Ron Oostdam

Springer eBooks

elisabeth de schauwer

Open Book Publishers

Malte Zierenberg

See More Documents Like This

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

• High contrast
• Representative
• Situation of women and children
• Work for UNICEF
• Press centre

Search UNICEF

• Social policy

For every child a fair chance

Children under the age of 14 represent nearly half of the Somali population. 73 percent of these children are poor. While an adult may fall into poverty temporarily, falling into poverty in childhood can last a lifetime.

A child seldom gets a second chance at an education or a healthy start in life. Child poverty puts children at risk and it is likely to be passed on to future generations, establishing and even aggravating inequality in society.

In addition to the lack of income, children are also disproportionately affected by multidimensional poverty which deprives them of the things they need most for survival and development, including health, nutrition, shelter, water and education.

UNICEF supports the Government of Somalia to develop more effective and equitable social and economic policies to fulfill the rights of all children.

We support the Government in building child-sensitive and shock-responsive social protection systems to protect children and their families from economic and environmental shocks. This covers a range of programmes and policies needed to shield children from the immediate and lifelong consequences of poverty – with proven impacts on addressing malnutrition, lack of clean water, and poor-quality education. We also help the Government to monitor and assess the situation of Somali children and support the development of national policies that meet the needs of children. 

Protecting children from poverty requires also resource allocations. In 2019, Somalia allocated eight percent of its budget to social sectors that mostly benefit children – the total budget for education was increased from two to five percent and the budget for health from less than one percent to two percent. Despite the tremendous increase in budget allocations, Somalia still lags far behind the international benchmarks for public expenditure. For education the global target is 20 percent and for health 15 percent.

To realize children’s right to social protection, reduce poverty and enhance development, Somalia must scale up its investments in social protection and social services.

At UNICEF, we work with budget decision-makers to ensure that public finance delivers results for children, through effective and equitable social sector spending. Together with international finance institutions, UNICEF advocates for debt relief for Somalia to free fiscal space that will allow the Government of Somalia to increase its investments in social sectors. We also work to improve budget transparency and to strengthen the Government’s capacity in managing public finances.

UNICEF supports local governments in the federal member states to increase their investment in service delivery in education and health from local revenues. UNICEF provides develops the capacity of 17 districts in the areas of decentralized service delivery through a service delivery model, social accountability and civic engagement.

Somalia Social Protection Policy

Background, jurisdiction, vision, overall policy objectives, and implementing strategies for a gradual transition to a nationally owned protection system.

Investing in Social Development

Budget Brief 2022

Related news and stories

From the Battlefield to Life Skills

Adan's Path to Reintegration

Statement by UNICEF Representative Wafaa Saeed on the death of Hon. Khadija Mohamed Diriye, Minister of Women and Human Rights Development

Bill brings justice to Somaliland children

Testimonies of rights and reform

Statement by Nejmudin Kedir Bilal, acting UNICEF Representative in Somalia, on increased deaths and serious injuries to children involved in landmine explosions

Famine Imminent in Gaza. Take Action Now.

The Struggle for Survival in Somalia: Adan’s Story

• Population: 16.8 million
• People in Need: 7.7 million
• People Helped Last Year: 1,131,478
• Our Team: 85 employees
• Program Start: 1992

The worst drought in 40 years has struck the Horn of Africa. Four failed rainy seasons — with a fifth in progress — have created a country-wide hunger crisis , forcing more than one million climate refugees to flee their homes in search of water and food in Somalia alone.

The UN has already announced that “ famine is at the door ” in the East African country. Without increased humanitarian assistance, half a million children under five years old could die from malnutrition in the coming months. This unprecedented crisis has been exacerbated by worldwide disasters — climate change, local conflicts, the war in Ukraine, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.

A two-year-old’s fight against hunger

Hassan and Jelow Lamow, two parents in Somalia’s Bay Region, are doing everything they can to save their child’s life. For three weeks, their two-year-old son Adan Kher was on the brink of dying from malnutrition. In search of lifesaving treatment, the family trekked 15 miles from their home to the hospital in Baidoa — their last chance to save their son.

Adan had endured unimaginable distress. His limbs were weak, and his skin was peeling off. His body had succumbed to severe malnutrition — he was frail and small, ribs protruding from his chest.

Despite their best efforts, Hassan and Jelow did not have the means to buy him basic necessities. They could not afford escalated food prices, which have skyrocketed due to the drought and the war in Ukraine. To make matters worse, more than 1.5 million livestock have already died from the drought, and most crops have failed.

Several regions in Somalia have already fallen into famine conditions, meaning thousands of people are facing a hunger catastrophe. Other districts, like Baidoa, are teetering on the edge, about to cross into famine. The mortality rate is spiking, and thousands are desperate for support.

The catastrophic conditions have prevented thousands of parents from feeding their children. Many end up just like Adan. When the little boy and his parents reached Action Against Hunger’s Nutrition Treatment Center in Baidoa, he was clinging to life.

For weeks, when left alone, Adan had been eating sand to quell his hunger. He developed kwashiorkor, leaving his legs and stomach swollen with fluid and the rest of his body extremely emaciated. This is one of the telltale signs of severe malnutrition and signals a rapid deterioration in health.

Thanks to effective and thorough care, Adan is on the road to recovery. Without proper nutrition treatment and constant surveillance from Action Against Hunger’s team, he could have died.

Saving Lives in Somalia

Action Against Hunger’s teams work tirelessly to save the lives of malnourished children in Somalia and around the world.

An impossible choice

Hassan and Jelow’s other children, Adan’s four brothers and sisters, faced a similar crisis. They stayed at home as both parents sought emergency care for their brother. They both hoped to remain by their son’s side in the hospital, but their concern for the other children grew stronger by the day. Their ten-year-old daughter was left in charge of the household, with only five glasses of millet and two hens to sustain them for a week.

After a few days, the couple decided that Hassan would stay with Adan and Jelow would return home. She took the last dollar they had left and made the long walk home by herself to care for their four other hungry children.

Try as they might, Hassan and Jelow constantly struggle to find enough food for their children. They work for low wages: Hassan does labor work at construction sites in Baidoa, earning what little he can for his family; and Jelow works in fields for just $2 per half-day. She does what she can to purchase sugar, millet, and cooking oil.

It’s rarely enough. Farmers who have helped Jelow in the past are now unable to plant many crops this year. Due to the drought, harvest might not even come.

“Jelow tries her best, but food prices are increasingly becoming unaffordable,” Hassan says. “One kilo of sugar cost $0.6 dollars last year but now is one dollar. The price of three liters of oil has risen from $3.2 to $10 this year.”

Every day in Baidoa, Hassan faced an impossible choice—to go home to provide for his family or to stay at the hospital to care for his ill son. Even with Hassan’s paycheck, the family barely earns enough to keep the children alive and well.

“There are moments when I consider leaving the hospital,” Hassan says. “But I recall how bad Adan was in the beginning and how quickly he recovered. God will make it easy for us.”

Clinging to hope

More severely malnourished children than ever before are being admitted to Bayhaaw Treatment Center. In August and September alone, 109 children were admitted — 70% more than in the same months in 2021. Hundreds of families, just like Adan’s, flock to the hospital in search of treatment. Many have been permanently displaced by the drought.

Action Against Hunger is committed to saving as many children as we can. We have added more beds at the treatment center to accommodate the influx of patients and the doctor’s consultation room has been transformed into another intake ward.

We run the treatment center in Baidoa with funding from the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid through the Caafimaad Plus Consortium. Together with our partners, we continuously provide care to dozens of patients each day.

After five long weeks, Adan finally began to recover completely. Hassan received three months of cash assistance through a program that helps families like his, who are struggling to survive as a result of the drought. Hassan can now cover his family’s urgent needs.

“I wasn’t expecting money,” he said. “Thank you very much. We can now buy food for the family.”

Hassan held his little boy’s hand as he graciously accepted the funds. With Adan safely discharged, Hassan will take the food they bought back home to feed the rest of the family. Father and son begins their long trek home — this time, with hope.

Story and Photos by Ahmed Issak Hussein, Somalia Communications Manager

More On Africa Climate Change Conflict Disaster & Emergencies Horn of Africa Drought Nutrition & Health Somalia

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Explore More

Keep up with the action.

Join our community of supporters passionate about ending world hunger.

or text "ACT" to (855) 794-2619

• Share this selection via email
• Share this selection via Linkedin
• Share this selection via Facebook
• Share this selection on Twitter

Causes of Poverty in Somalia and the Need for Aid

Leading Causes of Poverty in Somalia

The War on Hunger

Famine looms as a very viable threat. In just 48 hours, 110 people died from starvation and drought-related illness in rural Somalia . The drought is more severe in the country’s rural regions . Many Somalis from these areas took to the road out of necessity. Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu offers feeding centers and food distribution.

Like most, Fadumo Abdi Ibrahim made the 30km journey on foot with her nine-month-old malnourished son in arms. While she was fortunate to complete the trek, others were not so lucky. “We found several bodies of children on the road,” Ibrahim said. The malnourished children died in their mothers’ arms; mothers too weak to carry the small corpses the rest of the way.

Like Ibrahim, Somalia travelled a long and challenging road to arrive at its current state of affairs. There are many causes of poverty in Somalia. The following are a few of the most significant.

In the early 1980s, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank instigated an intervention in Somalia and imposed economic and agricultural reforms in hopes of spurring development.

In theory, macroeconomic development seems reasonable.

POVERTIES is an online publication reporting social scientific research and information on economic development, public policy, human rights and discrimination. One article helps to simplify the damages of neoliberal reforms. The neoliberal ideology consistently follows a pattern of “currency devaluation for cheap exports and cheap labor, trade liberalization by opening the borders to world trade (and to global competitors), reducing budget deficits through massive cuts in the public sector and reduction of social services.”

Somali met with many of these consequences thanks to the IMF’s reformations. Unemployment, extremely limited wages and higher food prices proved among the most punishing.

Growing Dependency

Somalia was largely self-sufficient in food until the 1970s. Its economy was based on an exchange relationship between herdsmen and agriculturalists. The IMF’s economic reforms undermined these fragile relationships, victimizing food distribution and the agricultural economy.

Since the collapse of the country’s last government in 1991, social and political order in Somalia presents itself in the form of clans. The situation has proved surprisingly less violent than expected. Most conflict, however, is rooted in land and water resources. There is a necessary method within this madness: for many Somalis, access to such resources is dependent on their clan — that is, if they have a clan at all.

Again, the causes of poverty in Somalia are countless, but the IMF and the loss of a centralized government certainly caused the greatest damage.

Somalia’s traditional pastoral economy presented itself as the perfect project for modernization, but forced reformation led the population towards a fight for survival. The reforms devastated Somalia’s agricultural sector, and war and civil war further strained essential resources (as well as other factors too numerous to list).

When the rain stopped, the entire population was at the mercy of drought, with no centralized government to provide relief from impending famine.

The fate of more than half of all Somalis now lies in the hands of foreign and humanitarian aid. Somalia and its citizens like Ibrahim have fought to make it this far on a challenging journey; the question is, will help be waiting to greet them?

– Sophie Nunnally

Photo: Flickr

“The Borgen Project is an incredible nonprofit organization that is addressing poverty and hunger and working towards ending them.”

-The Huffington Post

Inside the borgen project.

• Board of Directors

Get Smarter

• Global Poverty 101
• Global Poverty… The Good News
• Global Poverty & U.S. Jobs
• Global Poverty and National Security
• Innovative Solutions to Poverty
• Global Poverty & Aid FAQ’s

Ways to Help

• Call Congress
• Email Congress
• 30 Ways to Help
• Volunteer Ops
• Internships
• The Podcast

• Follow the latest changes to data, locations, organisations, topics and crises
• Share data publicly or privately
• Add data visualizations as gallery items alongside datasets
• Contact data contributors
• You need to be affiliated with an organization to access these features

Somalia - Population Living in Poverty

Nearly 7 of 10 Somalis live in poverty, making Somalia one of the poorest countries in Sub-saharan Africa. About 69 percent of the population lived in poverty in 2017. Somalia has the sixth highest poverty rate in the region, only after the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Burundi and South Sudan. Poverty incidence is lower in other urban areas, excluding Mogadishu, compared to nomadic households, IDPs in settlements, and those in rural areas and Mogadishu. Nearly half of the population is not even able to meet the average consumption of food items, confirming the dire living standards of most Somalis.

• 600+ Downloads
• This dataset updates: Every year
• Contact the contributor

Related Showcases

There are no showcases for this dataset.

• Data and Resources
• Preview on HDX

Data Check - Use data with HXL hashtags to automatically detect errors and validate against common vocabularies.

Export metadata for this dataset: JSON | CSV

Poverty Around the World Essay

Introduction, poverty in australia and somalia.

Every society and country across the world has a number of people who lack food, shelter, and water. Although most of these people work hard in an attempt to put food on the table, it is undeniable that they encounter numerous obstacles in their respective societies. They find it hard to achieve their goals due to the existing social and economic structures. Inequality in the world is therefore used to explain why many people encounter a wide range of challenges and obstacles. The term “poverty” refers to the scarcity of money, material possessions, and basic needs. The issue has been analyzed using economic, social, and political concepts. Poverty can either be extreme (also referred to as absolute) or medium (also called relative) depending on the issues faced by the targeted individuals. Extreme poverty usually occurs when an individual is unable to meet his or her basic demands such as shelter, food, and clothing. On the other hand, relative poverty is experienced when an individual cannot enjoy “a specific level of a living standard as compared to the other citizens in the same country” (Symaco, 2014, p. 64). In order to understand the nature of poverty across the world, this presentation uses the cases of Australia and Somalia.

Australia is ranked as one of the richest nations in the world. However, studies and statistics have indicated clearly that poverty is still a major challenge in this nation. The outstanding fact is that the kind of poverty experienced in this country does not manifest itself in the form of starvation, premature death, or famine. A report released by the Australian Council of Social Service in the year 2012 indicated that around 2.2 million people (or 12.5 percent of the total population) were living below the poverty line (Phillips, Miranti, Vidyattama, & Cassells, 2013). Homelessness is a major sign of poverty in Australia. Most of the poor people in this nation still have jobs. Most of the people who are believed to be poor in the country live below 59 percent of the average income (Phillips et al., 2013). Several factors have been observed to contribute to the kind of poverty experienced in this country. For instance, the level of wages in this country has been stagnating within the past three decades.

The issue of long-term unemployment has become a major concern that affects the welfare of more people in society. Individuals who earn low wages or incomes will be forced to struggle with a number of issues in Australia. For example, some of the affected people will find it hard to get new jobs or access quality health services. Consequently, the individuals will be unable to lead quality lives and realize their goals in life. Since poverty is a critical concern in many developed countries, it becomes quite clear that the government’s inability to distribute resources and opportunities is something that should be addressed in a proper manner (McDonald, 2012). Wealth inequality has led to numerous problems such as violence, increased costs of living, and lack of opportunities in the country. Consequently, the affected individuals will acquire some of the basic needs such as food, shelter, and education. However, they will be unable to lead quality lifestyles.

In Somalia, poverty appears to have a totally different meaning. Before analyzing the nature of poverty in Somalia, it is important to observe that violence, famine, and political conflicts have been experienced in this nation for several decades. Most people rely on foreign aid in order to acquire basic needs such as food, water, clothing, and shelter. Somalia, according to many analysts, is one of the poorest countries in the world. The country’s government has been unstable for many years. This situation has made it impossible for more people to get food and clean water.

Over 73 percent of the population lack basic commodities and materials (Jeffer & Hotez, 2016). Many children and elderly persons die prematurely due to a lack of basic needs. Famine and droughts have characterized this nation for very many years. Most of the citizens living in the country encounter a wide range of challenges associated with poverty, such as hunger, disease, and lack of sustainable health services (Jeffer & Hotez, 2016). The lack of adequate resources to deal with the increasing level of poverty is the reason why more people die annually due to various diseases such as malaria and malnutrition. Terrorism has remained a major challenge due to the threat of Al-Shabaab (Hansen, 2013). The emergence of terrorist groups and organizations is attributable to the extreme poverty experienced in this country. These problems explain why the country’s life expectancy is below 55 years.

The kind of poverty experienced in Australia can therefore be termed as medium or relative. This happens to be the case because most of the people living below the poverty line have access to a number of basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. However, they find it hard to lead better lifestyles or realize their potential due to a lack of secondary needs such as quality healthcare. The existing systems have been blamed for failing to promote the best processes and opportunities that can make it easier for more people to succeed. The level of homelessness is also rising steadily in Australia (McDonald, 2012). The percentage of persons who lack some of the basic needs is quite small in Australia. On the other hand, the kind of poverty experienced in poor (or underdeveloped) nations is extreme in nature. In Somalia, poverty is an epidemic that calls for immediate solutions and strategies. Many citizens in the country continue to lose their lives annually due to the issues existing in the country. The problem of poverty is worsened by numerous issues such as droughts, famines, terrorism groups, and poor government systems. These factors have created the best environment whereby poverty continues to thrive. Poverty in this country has affected all age groups equally, including small children and the elderly members of society. The economic and political instability experienced in this country will make it impossible for more people to realize their potential and lead quality lives.

This analysis shows conclusively that poverty is a common problem in each and every nation. However, the nature of poverty experienced in developed and poor nations will differ significantly. Using the case of Australia, it is agreeable that some citizens in the country do not have access to basic needs and opportunities. It would therefore be necessary for the government to implement powerful policies and systems to overturn the situation. In Somalia, the kind of poverty affecting the citizens might get out of hand unless powerful measures are implemented (Hansen, 2013). The global community should present the best support systems and resources in order to transform the situation and safeguard the lives of many citizens living in extreme poverty.

Hansen, S. (2013). Al-Shabaab in Somalia: The history and ideology of a militant Islamic group, 2005-2012. New York, NY: Hurst & Company.

Jeffer, A., & Hotez, P. (2016). Somalia: A nation at the crossroads of extreme poverty, conflict, and neglected tropical diseases. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 1 (1), 1-6. Web.

McDonald, C. (2012). Poverty in Australia and the social work response. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 23 (1), 1-13. Web.

Phillips, B., Miranti, R., Vidyattama, Y., & Cassells, R. (2013). Poverty, social exclusion and disadvantage in Australia . Web.

Symaco, L. (2014). Education, poverty, malnutrition and famine. New York, NY: A&C Black.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, March 1). Poverty Around the World. https://ivypanda.com/essays/poverty-around-the-world/

"Poverty Around the World." IvyPanda , 1 Mar. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/poverty-around-the-world/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Poverty Around the World'. 1 March.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Poverty Around the World." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/poverty-around-the-world/.

1. IvyPanda . "Poverty Around the World." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/poverty-around-the-world/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Poverty Around the World." March 1, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/poverty-around-the-world/.

• Analysis of Piracy in Somalia
• A New Approach to the Somalia Crisis
• Why did Somalia Become a Failed State?
• The Relationship Between Religion and Politics in Somalia
• Somalia Health Care Assessment
• Ethnic Conflict in Somalia Analysis
• Somalia: A History of Events
• Water Shortage in Somalia: Reasons and Solutions
• The Humanitarian Intervention in Somalia
• Somalia's State Building and Failing Approaches
• Poverty in Los Angeles
• Dennis Rasmussen: The Problem With Inequality
• "Rethinking the Sociological Measurement of Poverty" by Brady
• Poverty in the US: Essentials of Sociology
• Violating Norms: A Day in the Life of a Homeless Person

Future of evaluation: Charting a path in a changing development landscape

• Google Calendar
• Yahoo! Calendar
• iCal Calendar
• Outlook Calendar

Join us for a series of virtual conversations from April 8 to 10, 2024, on the future direction of the independent evaluation practice, the questions it will have to answer, and the impact of new technologies for ever greater data gathering and analysis.

To tackle these issues, the Future of Evaluation will bring together practitioners and scholars from across the evaluation field, together with users of evaluative evidence from both development and government circles.

The event will also feature the announcement and presentation of the winner of the Young and Emerging Evaluators essay competition on culturally responsive evaluation.

Hosted by the Independent Evaluation Group and the Global Evaluation Initiative, this will be the culminating event of the IEG@50 celebrations.

Please save the dates!

Monday, April 8, 2024

9:00 – 10:00 AM ET |  REGISTER Session 1: The Role of Evaluation in a Changing Global Context How can evaluation remain relevant and provide policymakers with reliable evidence on global issues such as climate change, fragility, and pandemics, among others?

• Welcome:  Sabine Bernabè , Vice President and Director-General, Evaluation, Independent Evaluation Group.
• Opening Remarks:  Raj Kumar , Founding President and Editor-in-Chief, Devex.
• Speakers:  Andrea Cook , Executive Director, Sustainable Development Goals System-Wide Evaluation Office, United Nations;  Juha Ilari Uitto , former Director, Independent Evaluation Office, Global Environment Facility;  Patricia Rogers , Founder, Better Evaluation, former Professor of Public Sector Evaluation, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
• Moderator:  Marie Gaarder , Executive Director, 3ie.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET |  REGISTER Session 2: How is evaluation evolving as a practice? How is evaluation evolving as a practice between its professionalization with global standards and its use in different cultural contexts?

• Welcome and announcement of winner of Young and Emerging Evaluators competition:  Sabine Bernabè , Vice President and Director-General, Evaluation, Independent Evaluation Group.
• Opening Remarks: Culturally Responsive Evaluation (presentation of the winning essay of the Young and Emerging Evaluator competition.)
• Speakers:  Elliot Stern , Editor, Evaluation - international journal of theory, research and practice, Emeritus Professor of Evaluation Research, Lancaster University;  Asela Kalugampitiya , former President, Asia Pacific Evaluation Association, Visiting Lecturer, University of Saarland and University of Sri Jayewardenepura;  Josephine Watera , Assistant Director, Research Services and former Head of Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Parliament of Uganda.
• Moderator:  Jozef Vaessen , Adviser, Independent Evaluation Group.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET |  REGISTER Session 3: The Institutionalization of Evaluation What is the changing role of international organizations in fostering the institutionalization of evaluation across the globe?

• Opening Remarks:  Ian Goldman , President, International Evaluation Academy, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, JET-IP Programme Management Unit, Presidency of South Africa.
• Speakers:  Emmanuel Jimenez , Director General, Independent Evaluation Department, Asian Development Bank;  Geeta Batra , Director, Independent Evaluation Office, Global Environment Facility;  Howard White , Director, Evaluation and Evidence Synthesis, Global Development Network.
• Moderator:  Dugan Fraser , Program Manager, Global Evaluation Initiative.

10:15 – 11:15 AM ET |  REGISTER Session 4: The Impact of New Data and Technology on Evaluation A range of new technologies, from geospatial analysis to mining social media, offers new ways of gathering data. Advances in machine learning have increased the amount of data that can be processed for evaluations. What opportunities does this present for evaluators in an increasingly complex development landscape?

• Opening Remarks:  Veronica Olazabal , Chief Impact and Evaluation Officer, BHP Foundation, Lecturer, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University.
• Speakers:  Emmanuel Letouzé , Director, Data-Pop Alliance, Founder and Executive Director, Open Algorithms;  Nagaraja Rao Harshadeep , Disruptive Technology Global Lead, Sustainable Development Practice Group, World Bank;  Estelle Raimondo , Head, Methods, Independent Evaluation Group.
• Moderator:  Deon Filmer , Director, Research Group, World Bank.
• Closing Remarks:  Sabine Bernabè , Vice President and Director-General, Evaluation, Independent Evaluation Group.

• WHEN:  8-10 April, 2024
• TIME:  9am to 11:15am
• WHERE:  Online

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here .

Read our research on: Gun Policy | International Conflict | Election 2024

Regions & Countries

3. problems students are facing at public k-12 schools.

We asked teachers about how students are doing at their school. Overall, many teachers hold negative views about students’ academic performance and behavior.

• 48% say the academic performance of most students at their school is fair or poor; a third say it’s good and only 17% say it’s excellent or very good.
• 49% say students’ behavior at their school is fair or poor; 35% say it’s good and 13% rate it as excellent or very good.

Teachers in elementary, middle and high schools give similar answers when asked about students’ academic performance. But when it comes to students’ behavior, elementary and middle school teachers are more likely than high school teachers to say it’s fair or poor (51% and 54%, respectively, vs. 43%).

Teachers from high-poverty schools are more likely than those in medium- and low-poverty schools to say the academic performance and behavior of most students at their school are fair or poor.

The differences between high- and low-poverty schools are particularly striking. Most teachers from high-poverty schools say the academic performance (73%) and behavior (64%) of most students at their school are fair or poor. Much smaller shares of teachers from low-poverty schools say the same (27% for academic performance and 37% for behavior).

In turn, teachers from low-poverty schools are far more likely than those from high-poverty schools to say the academic performance and behavior of most students at their school are excellent or very good.

Lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Among those who have been teaching for at least a year, about eight-in-ten teachers say the lasting impact of the pandemic on students’ behavior, academic performance and emotional well-being has been very or somewhat negative. This includes about a third or more saying that the lasting impact has been very negative in each area.

Shares ranging from 11% to 15% of teachers say the pandemic has had no lasting impact on these aspects of students’ lives, or that the impact has been neither positive nor negative. Only about 5% say that the pandemic has had a positive lasting impact on these things.

A smaller majority of teachers (55%) say the pandemic has had a negative impact on the way parents interact with teachers, with 18% saying its lasting impact has been very negative.

These results are mostly consistent across teachers of different grade levels and school poverty levels.

Major problems at school

When we asked teachers about a range of problems that may affect students who attend their school, the following issues top the list:

• Poverty (53% say this is a major problem at their school)
• Chronic absenteeism – that is, students missing a substantial number of school days (49%)
• Anxiety and depression (48%)

One-in-five say bullying is a major problem among students at their school. Smaller shares of teachers point to drug use (14%), school fights (12%), alcohol use (4%) and gangs (3%).

Differences by school level

Similar shares of teachers across grade levels say poverty is a major problem at their school, but other problems are more common in middle or high schools:

• 61% of high school teachers say chronic absenteeism is a major problem at their school, compared with 43% of elementary school teachers and 46% of middle school teachers.
• 69% of high school teachers and 57% of middle school teachers say anxiety and depression are a major problem, compared with 29% of elementary school teachers.
• 34% of middle school teachers say bullying is a major problem, compared with 13% of elementary school teachers and 21% of high school teachers.

Not surprisingly, drug use, school fights, alcohol use and gangs are more likely to be viewed as major problems by secondary school teachers than by those teaching in elementary schools.

Differences by poverty level

Teachers’ views on problems students face at their school also vary by school poverty level.

Majorities of teachers in high- and medium-poverty schools say chronic absenteeism is a major problem where they teach (66% and 58%, respectively). A much smaller share of teachers in low-poverty schools say this (34%).

Bullying, school fights and gangs are viewed as major problems by larger shares of teachers in high-poverty schools than in medium- and low-poverty schools.

When it comes to anxiety and depression, a slightly larger share of teachers in low-poverty schools (51%) than in high-poverty schools (44%) say these are a major problem among students where they teach.  

Discipline practices

About two-thirds of teachers (66%) say that the current discipline practices at their school are very or somewhat mild – including 27% who say they’re very mild. Only 2% say the discipline practices at their school are very or somewhat harsh, while 31% say they are neither harsh nor mild.

We also asked teachers about the amount of influence different groups have when it comes to determining discipline practices at their school.

• 67% say teachers themselves don’t have enough influence. Very few (2%) say teachers have too much influence, and 29% say their influence is about right.

• 31% of teachers say school administrators don’t have enough influence, 22% say they have too much, and 45% say their influence is about right.
• On balance, teachers are more likely to say parents, their state government and the local school board have too much influence rather than not enough influence in determining discipline practices at their school. Still, substantial shares say these groups have about the right amount of influence.

Teachers from low- and medium-poverty schools (46% each) are more likely than those in high-poverty schools (36%) to say parents have too much influence over discipline practices.

In turn, teachers from high-poverty schools (34%) are more likely than those from low- and medium-poverty schools (17% and 18%, respectively) to say that parents don’t have enough influence.

Social Trends Monthly Newsletter

Sign up to to receive a monthly digest of the Center's latest research on the attitudes and behaviors of Americans in key realms of daily life

Report Materials

Table of contents, ‘back to school’ means anytime from late july to after labor day, depending on where in the u.s. you live, among many u.s. children, reading for fun has become less common, federal data shows, most european students learn english in school, for u.s. teens today, summer means more schooling and less leisure time than in the past, about one-in-six u.s. teachers work second jobs – and not just in the summer, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Improving writing skills since 2002

(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Poverty in somalia.

• Word Count: 916
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• View my Saved Essays
• Downloads: 1
• Grade level: High School
• Problems? Flag this paper!

            I think that Somalia is a beautiful place, but they just lack food, sanitation, health care, and education. You probably know the people that have never seen Somalia just talk rubbish and say stupid things to hurt the people's feeling. The photos that you see on the news of Somalia are the places where homeless people live. Also, when you see the kid on the television that has a dirty face, it's just to show the whole world that Somalia is a bad and dirty place. But, we all know that one-day Somalia is going to be the place everyone wants to visit. However today poverty is killing Somalia. Yes, poverty is killing Somalia, but Somalis can improve. If every country just did a little more then just donating money, you will see families off the streets in to homes. Just think about when everything becomes better. We all want to go see are homeland. All the Somali people in other country want to go back and see are homeland. Somalis have suffered much. They have experience much conflict and have lost countless citizens and lost many of their people in the fighting.              The number one thing that started poverty in Somalia is food scarcity.              People think food is a joke, but it is not. You eat 3 times a day and eat snacks when you are hungry.  The people in poverty don't pick when they want to eat.  When you get hungry you run to the refrigerator and look for food, but in Somalia there is no refrigerator. Money is one of the most difficult things to make in Somalia. You make less than a dollar a day. If you have no money, you can't buy food. Also their livestock is unprotected and vulnerable to wild animals. Lot of people in Somalia is dying of starvation. .              When crop seasons come they are not good at all. They keep planting food at the same place every year. It means if you keep you keep planting seeds every year the soil will dry, and the soil can't be used.  In Somalia it doesn't snow. It's 9-month of sunshine and 3 month of rain.

• Page 1 of 3

Essays Related to Poverty in Somalia

1. famine in somalia.

Somalia is a country located at the horn of Africa. ... Somalia has been in civil war for quit along time now. ... This civil war in this country has led to poverty and hunger to many in this country. ... Famine in Somalia is not only a problem now but a crisis. ... This problem is now spreading to other neighboring countries of Somalia because of the many refugees they are receiving from Somalia. ...

• Word Count: 898
• Grade Level: High School

2. The Globalization in Somalia

Somalia's terrain includes mostly plateaus, plains, and highlands. ... The Republic of Somalia also has its own monetary unit known as the Somali shilling. ... The current Occupy Wall Street protests are a great example of how angry citizens are with the present set-up, those who govern us should take notice but are not taking notice, and they should also be working towards alleviating poverty but they are not. ... The Republic of Somalia now has current political problems. ... The gates of globalization opened in Somalia when the thousands of Somalis who settles outside of Somalia'...

• Word Count: 2338
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Somali Refugees Flee From Country Without International Assistance

To make matters worse, Al-Shabab, the militia associated with al-Qaeda that now holds power in much of southern Somalia, prohibits any international aid agencies from assisting the poverty-stricken Somalis (Raghavan). ... In fact, this militia denies that Somalia is even suffering from a famine, but the United Nations has revealed the extreme condition of the country to outsiders. ... Kenya welcomes about 1,300 Somalis everyday, while Ethiopia receives almost 400 more daily (Raghavan). ... The United Nations declared famine in two southern Somali regions last week. These two regions will...

• Word Count: 518
• Approx Pages: 2

4. Piracy Off the Horn of Africa

Somali pirates tend not to go after the tangible cargo of a captured ship. ... The question now raised is, why is this happening in Somalia? Piracy is a phenomenon that tends to serge when poverty, lack of economic growth, and crime and not addressed at the national and regional level, the result has been a proliferation of piracy in the Horn of Africa. Somalia can be considered a failed state. ... Militant Islamism is seeking to make Somalia its own. ...

• Word Count: 2247

5. The Concept of Failed States

Somalia can be taken as a rare example that all abovementioned dimensions occurred at the same time. ... These states are unhelpful in poverty alleviation, as they cannot control territory-related issues, safety and security, public resources and delivery of basic services to the poor people. ... Marchal (2009) takes Afghanistan and Somalia as examples of states that are failed at ensuring peace and security. For instance, a group of terrorists related to Al-Qaeda, namely Al-Shabaab, attacked African Union peacekeepers in Somalia. ... While terrorism is believed to root from the poverty of a ...

• Word Count: 2721
• Approx Pages: 11

6. Persuasive Essay - Youth Violence

For example, teens may travel to other places in the world like Somalia, where many people live in poverty and famine. During this time they will partake in activities that educate the people of Somalia about things like, disease prevention, birth control and other useful information. At face value, it appears that the people of Somalia are the beneficiaries, but underneath the surface the teens receive a great deal out of the experience as well. ...

• Word Count: 591

7. Globalization on the Nationhood of Countries

The United States turned their sights to Ethiopia's neighboring country Somalia, the U.S then started to provide the country with the military support that they once provided to Ethiopia. This lead to an eventual war between the Ethiopia and Somalia which saw Somalia capture most of the southeastern part of the country, the Soviets then began to use their forces and allies to push the Somalis out of Ethiopia (Shinn). ... Somalia and Ethiopia were clear examples of being pawns in a bigger game, and this is due to globalization, if these countries had been strong enough to ignore the influe...

• Word Count: 1705
• Approx Pages: 7

8. Canada's Fall in Peacekeeping

Examples of this instance include the mass genocide in Rwanda, the civil war in Somalia and Yugoslavian crisis. ... Due to poverty, over half the children who survived stopped their schooling. 40,000 survivors are still without shelter, many whose homes were destroyed in the genocide. ... During their time in Somalia, Canadians did many things to try to improve the desperate situation there. ... In late 1992, the 900 soldiers of the Canadian Airborne Regiment were sent to Somalia on a difficult peacekeeping mission. ... On March 4, two Somalis were shot by soldiers on patrol at the compoun...

• Word Count: 1176
• Approx Pages: 5

9. National Geographic

Does the magazine idealize and render exotic third-world peoples, with a tendency to downplay or erase evidence of poverty and violence? ... The article, "In Somalia's Hour of Need," is about Somalia and the struggles the people face living in one of the poorest nations. ... It tells how the Somalis have unity, tradition, religion, and only strive for peace. ... After first reading this article and looking at the photos, I felt empathy for the Somalian people. ... The death of 700 Somalian children were recorded in just three months! ...

• Word Count: 1216