Somalia

In a failed state, small successes go a long way toward building self-reliant communities.

Photo: Jeremy Barnicle/Mercy Corps

In a country fraught with danger, Somali Bantus are perhaps the most imperiled. Descendants of slaves, Bantus are marginalized and more vulnerable to attack and deprivation than others. Bantus tend to settle near rivers, which in southern Somalia flood regularly. Mercy Corps uses cash-for-work programs to help Bantus build levees that reduce the risk of losing their homes and raise their living standards.

There's more to Somalia than piracy ›

You've probably been following the recent news about pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia. Nearly everyone agrees that the root of the problem isn't at sea, but on shore.

Wellspring of Progress ›

Topics: Conflict & War, Displacement, Water/Sanitation

For most of the past seven years, Farhiyo Hussein spent much of her day walking as far as six kilometers to collect free or cheap water. Then Mercy Corps constructed a reservoir.

Building Safe Water Facilities ›

We are building facilities for clean drinking water and sanitation in Somalia – one of the most basic and cost-effective ways to improve life and prevent disease.

Helping Somalis Endure Hardship ›

Topics: Water/Sanitation, Hunger, Emergencies, Conflict & War, Children

As Somalia slides closer to famine, Mercy Corps continues to drill boreholes, build schools and offer short-term jobs in an area where few global relief agencies will tread.

Helping a Failed State Succeed ›

Topics: Displacement, Peaceful Change, Governance, Emergencies, Conflict & War, Civil Society

Mercy Corps' work in Somalia ranges from helping fishermen increase their yields to teaching new conflict-management skills to building vital transportation links.

Q&A with Abdikadir Mohamed ›

Topics: Civil Society, Conflict & War, Emergencies, Peaceful Change

An ethnic Somali, Abdikadir Mohamed has served as Mercy Corps' top representative in Somalia since June 2006.

The Ladies of Mercy Corps Somalia ›

Topics: Women's Empowerment

Jeremy Barnicle hosts a revealing roundtable in which he quickly realized his assumptions on Somali women were wrong.

Helping Somalia's Marginalized Minority ›

Topics: Marginalized Groups, Economic Development, Conflict & War

Mercy Corps is helping protect a community of Somalia's marginalized Bantus from floods.

Shoring Up Riverbanks - and Confidence ›

Topics: Economic Development, Agriculture

As part of its cash-for-work program in southern Somalia, Mercy Corps helped villagers in Bandarjadid meet their most pressing need.

Somalia Facts

Population: 9.6 million
Size: Three times the size of Kansas
Human Development Index rank: N/A
Failed State Index rank (2008): 1
Mercy Corps has worked here since 2005
Primary work: food distribution, economic development, reconciliation dialogues
Year of independence: 1960
Current government: Transitional Federal Government formed in 2004

Program Details

Within a country shattered into three pieces, Mercy Corps is helping unite communities to achieve peaceful change.

Read more ›

Recent posts on globalenvision.org, Mercy Corps' student-written blog that explores the confluence of markets and poverty alleviation through news, commentary and discussion.

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Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities.

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