Somalia: the challenges of operating in a protracted crisis

01.01.2016
- 31.12.2016
Besides living in extreme poverty, the people of Somalia suffer time and again from violence and climate shocks. The fighting makes it difficult to provide any assistance. The SDC supports the ICRC, one of the very few organisations that is able to operate throughout the country. In 2016, the SDC is contributing CHF 4 million for ICRC activities which are also aimed at providing people with the resources for medium and long-term development.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Somalia |
Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Human rights
Material relief assistance
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
|
01.01.2016 - 31.12.2016 |
CHF 4'000'000 |
Project completed
State reform in Somalia

01.08.2013
- 31.12.2017
The SDC is supporting a decentralisation project in Somalia. The aim is to promote peace and development by strengthening the capacity of local authorities to meet the needs of the population. The project has already produced some encouraging results.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Somalia |
Governance Conflict & fragility Conflict prevention and transformation
Decentralisation
Public finance management
Conflict prevention
|
01.08.2013 - 31.12.2017 |
CHF 9'000'000 |
Project completed
No quick fixes: building Somalia’s ability to handle and overcome crises

01.08.2013
- 30.04.2016
With the aim of improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations in Somalia, SDC is contributing CHF 6 million to the three-year Resilience Programme of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which forms part of the FAO’s overall Somalia programme. With innovative monitoring instruments, risk mitigation measures and through close partnerships, the programme paves the way for a transition from humanitarian interventions to sustainable development in large parts of Somalia, including in the south-central region where humanitarian access to the population in need is highly limited.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Somalia |
Agriculture & food security Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Agricultural development
Agriculture value-chain development (til 2016)
Emergency food assistance
|
01.08.2013 - 30.04.2016 |
CHF 7'500'000 |
Horn of Africa: IFC - Private sector solutions for regufees and host communities
01.01.2025
- 09.07.2031
The Horn of Africa is fraught by political and economic fragilities and conflicts, leading to protracted displacement situations. They involve confinement in camps with few opportunities to establish sustainable livelihoods. Switzerland contributes to durable solutions for displacement-affected communities by promoting private sector development, leading to greater economic and employment opportunities and socio-economic integration in the region, which is in the Swiss interest.
Horn of Africa: One Health Units for Humans, Environment, Animals and Livelihoods
01.09.2024
- 30.06.2032
The project aims at improving the well-being of targeted pastoral communities challenged with inadequate access to basic health/veterinary services and environmental conditions in Somalia, Ethiopia and Northern Kenya through integrated health service delivery for both pastoralists and their livestock. The project will contribute to stability and vulnerability’s reduction of citizens in the region, thereby reducing their displacement/migration which is in the interest of Switzerland and the international community.
Building Regional and National capacities for improved Migration Governance in the IGAD Region
01.01.2022
- 31.08.2027
The Horn of Africa is of high interest for Switzerland in terms of migration policy. Swiss support to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its Member States will contribute to improve their migration governance capacities so as to enable the organisation to effectively implement regional, continental and global regulatory standards for the protection of refugees and vulnerable migrants in the region.
Planned project
Somalia - Inclusive and accountable governance
01.06.2021
- 30.06.2026
In 2012, a comprehensive state-building process along federalist principles started in Somalia. The project will contribute to a more inclusive, accountable and equitable governance system by focusing on the constitutional review process and strengthening the parliamentarians’ capacities. It will promote knowledge sharing, exchange of Somali, Swiss and international expertise, and public discourse to foster Somali-led and owned governance arrangements.
Planned project
Somalia - Private Sector Partnerships for Health (PSPH)
01.06.2021
- 31.12.2030
Despite high dependence on international aid, the Somali health sector remains dominated by local business providers. In 2017, SDC piloted a business-franchising model as a component of the health delivery system in Somalia. This project “Private Sector Partnership for Health” will investigate further and promote the most effective and relevant private and/or public-private models for improved quality and affordable health services delivery in Somalia.
FAO Desert Locust Emergency Response in the Horn of Africa Region
20.02.2020
- 19.06.2021
To control the spread of the worst outbreak of desert locusts in decades in the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya) and safeguard livelihoods of thousands of affected vulnerable households, Switzerland intends to contribute to the regional desert locust crisis appeal by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Allocation of SDC Funding to ICRC Operations in 2020
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2020
SDC funding to ICRC
operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to
respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people
affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the
Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the
necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in
humanitarian crises.
Somalia: Strengthening State Institutions for better service delivery
01.09.2019
- 31.12.2022
Building state institutions and the capabilities of the Somali government to implement better services is of primary importance to realize the developmental objectives contained in the Somalia National Development Plan (NDP) and the Sustainable Development Goals. With the contribution to the World Bank Multi-Partner Fund (MPF) Switzerland will support the rebuilding of core state functions and the socio-economic recovery in Somalia.
IGAD Land Governance Programme
01.09.2019
- 31.08.2023
Land is a source for livelihoods and a valuable economic asset in the IGAD region. Drawing on experiences from other land related partnerships at national, regional and global levels, Switzerland supports the Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGAD to translate continental and global land governance frameworks and guidelines into practice in order to improve access to land and tenure security for all, especially for vulnerable groups like pastoralists, women and youth.