Since 2002, poverty in Somalia has increased by an estimated 30%, with severe droughts, ongoing conflict and rising inflation making the Northeast African country increasingly harder to live in, with 67% of Somalian people living in multidimensional poverty – meaning that low income affects all aspects of their lives. Despite this, there are intense methods being put into place to fight this poverty, showing hope for a future nation without poverty.

The Somalia Household Integrated Budget Survey (SIHBS)

This national survey, conducted in 2022, reached more than 7,200 households and helped in gathering crucial information for the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS). The 2023 survey collected data on employment and household income, along with livelihood, land ownership and technology usage, for the government to see the data for the average person’s life.

This survey showed that approximately 70% of people were living on less than $2.15 per day, with a significant increase in poverty in rural areas, all information which the government could use to prioritise certain, more significant areas of poverty in Somalia.

Improvements in Infrastructure

The government’s strong efforts to improve Infrastructure are also helping to improve poverty in Somalia through means such as the Electricity Act of 2023. Implementing National Water Resource Strategies and promoting rainwater harvesting in rural areas, and regulating energy licensing and tariffs, providing easier access to lower-costing electricity for over 1 million Somalian people.

Another method was through the Somalia Urban Resilience Project, Phase 2 (SURP II), which aimed to improve urban resilience and infrastructure in large cities, such as Mogadishu and Kismayo, by uplifting local governments and pushing economic stability. SURP II exceeded their own expectations, more than 1 million people received improved access to climate-resistance infrastructure as well as improved support for women and children.

Increased Focus on Health and Education

With the government’s increased focus on education and health care, poverty in Somalia is seeing a gradual decrease. This funding has helped to support Street Child, a group that works to improve school attendance while tackling the high infant mortality rates. With this added funding, more than 33,000 children received high-quality education, as well as a significant increase in literacy rates.

In addition, the Baxnaano cash transfer program, started by the government in 2019, provides life-changing help to poor and vulnerable households through $20 cash transfers per month. In 2022, 500,000 people received monetary help, allowing 40% of recipients to access SIM cards, and education.

Whilst poverty in Somalia is definitely still strong, both the government and the public are putting strong efforts into fighting this difficult battle, and, slowly, appear to be winning.

– Daisy McDonald

Daisy is based in Nottingham, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr