IFAD Resumes Direct Investments in Somalia
Millions of Somalis are experiencing acute food insecurity as Somalia faces a historic drought, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has announced its decision to substantially strengthen its support to Somalia. IFAD will resume its direct investments after loan arrears resulted in a three-decade-long suspension. The announcement was made by President Alvaro Lario during IFAD’s 46th session of the Governing Council. He emphasized that this comes at a critical time when Somalia is facing major challenges to its food security.
The re-engagement has been welcomed by the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. However, he also called on governments to invest not only in immediate aid for countries like Somalia, but in addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty. This will require concerted efforts to build sustainable agricultural systems and resilience against climate change.
Governing Council meeting in Rome today
Acute Food Insecurity
According to the Integrated Phase Classification, 5.6 million Somalis are currently experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with 214,000 people considered in a catastrophe situation due to an unprecedented drought not seen in decades. Projections indicate that as many as 8.3 million Somalis could face high levels of acute food insecurity between April and June 2023. This includes preventing the loss of life of approximately 6.7 million of the most vulnerable people.
Despite the arrears and the suspension of loans, IFAD has been actively mobilizing grants from donors to Somalia and channelling resources for rural development projects in the country. Since the early 1990s, IFAD has channelled about US$40 million to Somalia. There are two ongoing projects at the moment, including one in Puntland that helps pastoralists and agropastoralists rehabilitate irrigation systems, improve livestock health, use drip irrigation, restore degraded rangelands, and use solar energy.
IFAD’s renewed direct investments are now made possible thanks to Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, which supported Somalia in clearing its arrears to IFAD. The arrears prevented Somalia from benefiting from IFAD’s highly concessional loans and grants since 1991, when the civil war started in Somalia. The new investments from IFAD will help to strengthen Somalia’s resilience against future shocks, including climate change and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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In Somali
Milyan ka tirsan shacabka Soomaaliyeed ayaa soo gaadheen cunto la’aan oo ay saba’been roob la’aan iyo biyo waa. Qaar ka mid ah deegaanka Soomaaliyeed ayaa lagu degdeg la’uuga gadheya in la’baad’baadiyo caafimaad daro daraadeed. Waxaana maanta (14ka Feb) qorshihii ka dhacay organisationkii Horumarinta Beeraha (IFAD) in ay ku tageeran sii dhakhso loo badbaadin laha shacabka Soomaaliyeed iyo sidii loo horumar galin laha.
Madaxweynaha IFAD Alvaro Lario ayaa ka hadlay Shirka 46aad ee Maamulka, isagoo muujinaya in Soomaaliya ay ku horumarayso sidii looga gadhi laha gaajada iyo caafimad daraada.
Madaxweyne Hassan Sheikh Mohamud oo ah madaxweynaha Soomaaliya, ayaa ka codsaday isgaarsiinta cusub, laakiin waxa oo kale uu codsaday dawladaadaha badan ee xadiirka ka ah shirka inaay sii fican u cawiyaan somaliyaa waliba qalabka lagu beero iyo kuwa lagu soo saaro ba.
Waxa ay xaqiijinayaan wax la yidhahdo ‘Integrated Phase Classification’ in ka badan 5.6 milyan oo shacabka Soomaaliyeed ay hadda ka sugan yihin cuunto la’aan. Sido kale, shirkanii wa muhiim inuu ka hortago sheyga loo yaqan famineka. Waxaana inta badan lagu eedeeyay madaxweynaha inuu deegdeeg uga gaadho 214,000 qof oo hada dhimashada udhoow cunta la’an daraadeed. IFAD oo ilaayo 1990-gii siinaaysay soomaaliya lacag lagu saabiin karayo afartan milyan (40 Million). Sido kale, waxaana shabakadda IFAD ku diwaan galinaysa horumarka cusub kuwaas oo halkan ka hawlgalaan dalalka Belgium, Germany, Italy iyo Sweden iyaago halkas ka balan qaaday inaay ka bixiyaan soomaaliya lacagta lagu leeyahay.
