World Bank Allocates $100 Million to Alleviate Flooding and Food Insecurity in Somalia

The World Bank has committed an additional $100 million in funding to aid over 200,000 Somali households facing challenges posed by flooding and food insecurity. Through the Somalia Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project (SNHCP), funded by the World Bank, emergency cash transfers will be extended to 215,000 households impacted by floods and drought, as outlined in an official statement by the lending institution.

The initiative not only entails immediate relief measures but also involves the continuation of safety net assistance to 200,000 economically disadvantaged households. These households will receive regular nutrition-linked unconditional cash transfers (UCT) over a six-month period, with an additional UCT provided to a recertified group of 50,000 beneficiaries.

The World Bank underscores the program’s broader objectives, emphasizing its role in strengthening the interconnection between the social protection initiative, available health and nutrition services, and the labor market. Concurrently, the initiative aims to facilitate the nationwide expansion of data collection for the unified social registry, serving as the foundation for a comprehensive national adaptive social protection platform.

In alignment with the World Bank’s vision, these investments are anticipated to empower the government to foster human capital development and fortify resilience against future crises. The statement notes that approximately 8.25 million people, constituting half of Somalia’s population, currently require humanitarian aid, primarily due to the adverse impacts of drought and floods.