Somow Abdi Mohamed, a 56-year-old father of four from Dag Gumar village in Somalia’s Bay Region, once relied on pastoralism as his primary livelihood. However, persistent conflict and recurring climate shocks had devastated his livestock, forcing him to flee his home. With his livelihood assets eroded and no access to productive land or capital, Somow resettled in Bulla Qalooc village in Dollow District, where economic opportunities were minimal.
Initially, like many in his situation, Somow resorted to collecting firewood and producing charcoal—an activity with high labour demands, minimal returns, and negative environmental externalities. The informal nature of this work offered no sustainable pathway to recovery or inclusion in broader economic systems.
Recognising the urgent need to bridge humanitarian relief with market-based recovery, the EU-funded BORESHA-NABAD programme, implemented by the Danish Refugee Council Somalia, introduced Cash-for-Work (CFW) and livelihoods support activities in the area. These interventions were designed to catalyse early-stage recovery through market-enabling approaches that support displaced and vulnerable populations in re-entering local value chains.
Somow was selected to participate in a Livestock Common Interest Group (LCIG)—a cooperative-based model designed to strengthen access to land, knowledge, and productive assets for economically excluded households. As part of the initiative, Somow gained access to two hectares of rehabilitated farmland that had been previously degraded by invasive Prosopis juliflora. The land was restored through community labour efforts, creating a shared productive asset.
Through the LCIG, he received hands-on training in dryland agriculture, fodder production, seed bulking, and market-oriented farming techniques, all of which are aligned with local agroecological conditions. He was also linked to local agrovets and input suppliers, strengthening the backwards linkages within the agricultural value chain.
“Before this, I had no land, no seeds, and no tools. Now I’m farming with others, selling in local markets, and feeding my children,” Somow reflects.
Today, Somow grows maize, drought-tolerant fodder, and fruit trees. Most notably, during the recent Ramadan season, he produced and sold over 1,000 watermelons to consumers in Dollow town. This outcome highlights his reintegration into a functioning local food system and his transition from a recipient of aid to a market actor.
Somow’s story is not just about personal recovery. It reflects the power of inclusive market systems development to transform displacement-affected populations into drivers of local economic growth and resilience.
“I am someone today because someone gave me a chance,” he says.
As BORESHA-NABAD partners continue to prioritise sustainable and scalable livelihood solutions, Somow’s experience offers a compelling case for investing in systems-based programming that addresses root causes, unlocks market potential, and empowers communities to build lasting resilience.