Sida's work in Somalia
Decades of armed conflict between different groups, weak political governance and recurring climate crises are taking their toll on the Somali population. Sweden supports, among other things, peacebuilding, democracy, human rights, equal health and environment, climate and energy. The strategy that governs Sida's work in Somalia has been extended since 2022 until the Government decides on a new strategy. Sida's humanitarian aid saves lives and alleviates suffering for the people who are most vulnerable.
Important thematic areas in Somalia
Why does Sida work in Somalia?
Violent conflicts
Somalia is characterised by many parallel conflicts. There is an armed conflict between the armed group Al-Shabaab, which controls large parts of the country, and government forces. At the same time, there are violent conflicts between different clans fighting for power and land. People face high security risks and millions have been displaced within the country.
Recurrent humanitarian crises and disasters
Somalia is subject to recurrent climate-related disasters such as severe and recurrent droughts and floods, leading to serious humanitarian crises with severe food shortages and risk of starvation. A large part of the population has been displaced within the country. Agriculture and livestock, the backbone of the country’s economy, are severely affected, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and hampering recovery and development.
The population is vulnerable
Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Health care is in short supply, human rights are not respected and freedom of expression is limited. Female genital mutilation and child marriage are common. High unemployment and widespread corruption exacerbate the situation, hindering development and worsening people’s situation.
Challenges remain
State building and accountability
Sida has contributed to reducing conflict in most Somali states, particularly at the local level. To strengthen democracy, 30,000 people have received civic education, increasing understanding of democracy and the importance of good governance. We also supported election observation and the organisation of local elections.
Strengthening people’s resilience to climate change
In order for people and communities to be able to withstand recurring natural disasters and climate change, it is important to strengthen opportunities for recovery.
Sida supports, among other things, people in hard-to-reach areas who make their living from agriculture and livestock farming with climate-smart cultivation methods, water and sanitation. This improves health and water availability for households, animals and crops, increasing resilience to crises.
Basic health care for more people
Child health has improved with measles vaccination and treatment for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Support for water, hygiene and nutrition helped minimise deaths and the spread of disease during cholera outbreaks.
We also contribute to HIV prevention and midwifery training through 14 midwifery schools. This means that more women have access to antenatal care and safe deliveries.
Sidas work in Somalia
In Somalia, Sida conducts development cooperation that contributes to the country’s long-term development. We also provide humanitarian support to save lives and alleviate suffering in emergency situations.
Sweden, through Sida, is one of the largest donors. To improve people’s living conditions and reduce poverty, we work in the following areas: peacebuilding, democracy, human rights and equal health, as well as the environment, climate and energy.
Millions of Somalis are in need of humanitarian assistance in one of the world’s worst and most protracted humanitarian crises. Child malnutrition remains at alarming levels. Sida’s humanitarian support provides people with access to food, health care, shelter, water and sanitation.
Sida works with international humanitarian and civil society organisations and prioritises the people most in need of support.
Sida’s humanitarian support in Somalia saves lives and alleviates suffering.
- Danish Refugee Council DRC’s website
- Action Against Hunger AAH’s website
- UN Humanitarian Fund for Somalia (SHF) on OCHA’s website
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s website
- UN Children’s Fund UNICEF’s website
- United Nations Food Programme FAO’s website
- FAO’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit FSNAU’s website
Learn more about Sida’s analysis of the humanitarian crisis, Sida’s support and how much money is distributed to each organisation in Sida’s crisis analysis.
Somalia is characterised by many parallel conflicts. There is an armed conflict between Al-Shabaab, which controls large parts of the country, and government forces. At the same time, there are violent conflicts between different clans fighting for power and land.
For the individual, this means great risks of being exposed to violence, being forcibly recruited into armed groups and having their lives severely restricted due to security risks. Children and young people are particularly exposed to high risks and are forced to grow up in an insecure society with few opportunities for education and jobs.
In order to create peaceful development, it is important to have sustainable economic development that gives people better opportunities for work to support themselves and their families.
Sida supports civil society organisations working for peaceful development in Somalia, especially at the local level.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects we support:
Conflicts within and between clans are worsening the security situation in Somalia. Sida supports, among others, Interpeace and Finn Church Aid, as well as several Somali organisations working to achieve ceasefires and peace agreements in conflicts between clans.
The situation regarding democracy, the rule of law and human rights is serious. Women’s rights are particularly neglected. All parties to the ongoing armed conflicts commit human rights violations. Access to formal justice is limited, especially in rural areas. Civil society is relatively free on paper but self-censorship is common.
The country’s authorities are weak, making it difficult for people to access basic social services such as healthcare, education and infrastructure. Corruption is widespread and law and order is poorly maintained.
Sida’s aid supports democratic development and increased respect for human rights and gender equality.
Here are some examples of programmes and projects we support:
In the country’s political system, female representation is very low. Sida supports efforts to strengthen female representation at the local level.
Many people in Somalia lack access to basic public services and tax revenues to the government are very limited. Sida’s support to the World Bank is helping to strengthen public financial management and increase tax revenues. Slowly but surely, it is helping to improve citizens’ access to basic services.
Sida also supports co-operation between Swedish and Somali authorities – for example via Statistics Sweden, the Public Health Agency of Sweden and Stockholm University – to strengthen the Somali state administration.
Sweden also supports other forms of services such as livelihood support to vulnerable groups.
Journalists are regularly harassed in Somalia. Both Al-Shabaab and state institutions are behind many arbitrary arrests and attacks on journalists, as a way to silence independent voices. Sida supports International Media Support, Fojo and BBC Media Action, which work for an independent, stronger and free media sector in Somalia.
Through Sida’s support, the safety of journalists has been strengthened, the quality of journalism has increased, and Somalia has received its first higher education programme for journalists.
Somalia is severely affected by the impacts of climate change, including more frequent droughts, floods, cyclones and pest infestations. The most vulnerable people, such as internally displaced persons, minority groups and those living in conflict-affected areas, are particularly affected.
To ensure that people and communities are better prepared for recurring climate crises and natural disasters, our work focuses on supporting resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
Here are examples of programmes and projects that Sida supports:
omalia’s ability to recover from droughts, floods and other natural disasters is low. Through the Somali Resilience Programme, Sida is helping people who live primarily from livestock farming to cope better with recurring crises. This has become even more important in connection with the severe drought.
Through cooperation with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), 131,000 people have gained access to clean water between 2021-2023, and contributed to improved hygiene and sanitation for about 14,200 people through the construction of latrines, many in hard-to-reach areas.
Strengthening resilience to natural disasters has so far largely taken place at national level.
Sida is supporting the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to increase the capacity of Somali authorities working in water, environment and disaster risk management at local and regional level to prevent the consequences of climate change. This includes engaging young people to disseminate information and knowledge about disaster risks and to help vulnerable households when the crisis strikes.
Somalia suffers from a severe lack of health care, leaving many people without access to basic medical treatment. Health facilities are few and often understaffed, with shortages of medicines and equipment. Weak health systems exacerbate the situation during outbreaks of communicable diseases, and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Rural populations are particularly vulnerable, leading to increased health risks and unnecessary deaths.
Sida supports health services in Somalia to give people better access to health care. We provide direct support to health clinics and strengthen government institutions working in health.
Here is an example of a programme that Sida supports:
Through support to Save the Children International’s programme, which Sweden supports together with Switzerland, hundreds of thousands of women and children have gained access to maternal and child health services. Save the Children Somalia also played an important role in formulating the updated Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) strategy on which the World Bank’s health support is modelled, and in which sexual and reproductive health and rights are a key component.
Sida has also contributed to strengthening capacity within the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health, specifically with health data management and the ability to detect, track and control disease outbreaks.
The Swedish government’s strategy for development cooperation in Somalia is extended until 31 December 2025, or until the government decides on a new strategy.
Updated: July 7, 2025