The track to a better life, against all odds
The story of Ubah, and livelihoods restoration after displacement in Somalia
Ubah Weyrah Abdi, a farmer, harvests maize crops from her farm in Qansaxley, Dollow, Somalia, on 1 December 2024.
©FAO/Arete/Madad Said
21/01/2025
Ubah, a 48-year-old mother of two girls and three boys, strides purposefully through her lush green field in Qansaxley, located in the Gedo region of Somalia. The vibrant green colour of her crops stands in stark contrast to the hardships she and her family have had to endure. As she steps into her green field, her eyes light up. As she leans forward, with steady hands, she grips the corn ears, firmly frees the corn from the maize stalk and holds it aloft. “Our livelihoods have now been restored”, she says.
Ubah and her family, originally from Qansaxdheere, Baidoa were forced to flee their home due to the dual crises of conflict and drought. After an arduous journey in search of safety, they eventually settled in Doolow, near the Ethiopian border, finding refuge in Qansaxley, a makeshift camp for internally displaced persons. Here, they strive to rebuild their lives, regardless of the daunting challenges they face daily. “We’ve faced many challenges from the drought and displacement, and loss of our livestock, which is a vital asset” says Ubah, reflecting on their struggles.
Displacement in Somalia, driven largely by a changing climate—manifesting as severe droughts and devastating floods—and further worsened by ongoing conflict, has inflicted immeasurable hardship on communities. Families are uprooted from their homes, losing their livelihoods, security, and access to basic resources, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty and vulnerability. Families are forced to migrate to urban areas, often permanently. These disasters prevent displaced communities reliant on agriculture from producing or trading food, while movement restrictions worsen their food insecurity.
Yet, a joint resilience programme, funded by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), brought a glimmer of hope to Ubah and restored her community’s battered livelihoods. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation (MoAI), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education (MoECHE), Ministry of Livestock, Forestry & Range (MoLFR) in Jubaland, the programme has been implemented in three phases in southern Somalia. It integrates nutrition, health, education, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) with food security and livelihood initiatives to build resilience among affected communities. Under the food security and livelihoods component, FAO successfully advocated the allocation of farming land to IDPs, granting Ubah the opportunity to be among the beneficiaries. FAO provided climate-smart irrigation infrastructure, livelihood inputs, and technical support in food production, rainfed agriculture, poultry, horticulture, beekeeping, fodder, and livestock management.
A key highlight of the support provided in Qansaxley was the construction of a floating solar-powered irrigation system within the camp. The project integrates clean energy into sustainable agricultural practices by utilizing solar power to drive irrigation systems. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, it helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and promotes environmental sustainability. The solar-powered irrigation canal delivers a consistent water supply to crops, ensuring efficient use of resources while reducing energy costs and environmental impact. This clean energy solution enhances agricultural productivity, builds climate resilience, and supports resource efficiency, offering a sustainable path forward for the community.
"Before this support, we faced severe challenges like droughts and had nowhere to turn for help, but now, thanks to this project, our livelihoods have improved significantly," Ubah reflects, her words expressing a mix of gratitude and hope for the future.
The objective is to provide households with sustainable food security and livelihood solutions that enable communities to produce, access and afford nutritious food. In doing so, these approaches generate surplus that can be sold and enhanced through value addition, linking households to higher-value markets and enabling income and savings. This increased income, in turn, gives families the means to afford education, health, and WASH services.
The project provided Ubah with training on best agricultural practices, a variety of seeds, and monthly cash transfers of 80 USD for six months. This support, she explains, allowed her and her community to start small businesses, purchase livestock, and even build local infrastructure like small shops and restaurants.
Ubah explains how FAO’s technical training changed farming practices in the community. "We used to plant seeds randomly, leading to poor-quality crops. Now, we plant fewer seeds per hole and harvest high-quality produce," she explains. Crops such as corn, spinach, peppers, and tomatoes not only feed their families but have also diversified their diets and improved overall nutrition.
For many, the transformation has extended beyond farming. "We’ve used the crops and livestock to meet our children’s education fees and other needs," she says. With their newfound stability, families are now planning and saving money to build larger stores and maximize their agricultural output.
This story of resilience and transformation illustrates the profound impact of targeted support in helping displaced communities rebuild their lives. With continued investment, families like Ubah’s can move beyond survival, unlocking opportunities for long-term stability and growth.
Ubah and her family, originally from Qansaxdheere, Baidoa were forced to flee their home due to the dual crises of conflict and drought. After an arduous journey in search of safety, they eventually settled in Doolow, near the Ethiopian border, finding refuge in Qansaxley, a makeshift camp for internally displaced persons. Here, they strive to rebuild their lives, regardless of the daunting challenges they face daily. “We’ve faced many challenges from the drought and displacement, and loss of our livestock, which is a vital asset” says Ubah, reflecting on their struggles.
Displacement in Somalia, driven largely by a changing climate—manifesting as severe droughts and devastating floods—and further worsened by ongoing conflict, has inflicted immeasurable hardship on communities. Families are uprooted from their homes, losing their livelihoods, security, and access to basic resources, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty and vulnerability. Families are forced to migrate to urban areas, often permanently. These disasters prevent displaced communities reliant on agriculture from producing or trading food, while movement restrictions worsen their food insecurity.
Yet, a joint resilience programme, funded by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), brought a glimmer of hope to Ubah and restored her community’s battered livelihoods. In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation (MoAI), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education (MoECHE), Ministry of Livestock, Forestry & Range (MoLFR) in Jubaland, the programme has been implemented in three phases in southern Somalia. It integrates nutrition, health, education, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) with food security and livelihood initiatives to build resilience among affected communities. Under the food security and livelihoods component, FAO successfully advocated the allocation of farming land to IDPs, granting Ubah the opportunity to be among the beneficiaries. FAO provided climate-smart irrigation infrastructure, livelihood inputs, and technical support in food production, rainfed agriculture, poultry, horticulture, beekeeping, fodder, and livestock management.
A key highlight of the support provided in Qansaxley was the construction of a floating solar-powered irrigation system within the camp. The project integrates clean energy into sustainable agricultural practices by utilizing solar power to drive irrigation systems. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, it helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and promotes environmental sustainability. The solar-powered irrigation canal delivers a consistent water supply to crops, ensuring efficient use of resources while reducing energy costs and environmental impact. This clean energy solution enhances agricultural productivity, builds climate resilience, and supports resource efficiency, offering a sustainable path forward for the community.
"Before this support, we faced severe challenges like droughts and had nowhere to turn for help, but now, thanks to this project, our livelihoods have improved significantly," Ubah reflects, her words expressing a mix of gratitude and hope for the future.
The objective is to provide households with sustainable food security and livelihood solutions that enable communities to produce, access and afford nutritious food. In doing so, these approaches generate surplus that can be sold and enhanced through value addition, linking households to higher-value markets and enabling income and savings. This increased income, in turn, gives families the means to afford education, health, and WASH services.
The project provided Ubah with training on best agricultural practices, a variety of seeds, and monthly cash transfers of 80 USD for six months. This support, she explains, allowed her and her community to start small businesses, purchase livestock, and even build local infrastructure like small shops and restaurants.
Ubah explains how FAO’s technical training changed farming practices in the community. "We used to plant seeds randomly, leading to poor-quality crops. Now, we plant fewer seeds per hole and harvest high-quality produce," she explains. Crops such as corn, spinach, peppers, and tomatoes not only feed their families but have also diversified their diets and improved overall nutrition.
For many, the transformation has extended beyond farming. "We’ve used the crops and livestock to meet our children’s education fees and other needs," she says. With their newfound stability, families are now planning and saving money to build larger stores and maximize their agricultural output.
This story of resilience and transformation illustrates the profound impact of targeted support in helping displaced communities rebuild their lives. With continued investment, families like Ubah’s can move beyond survival, unlocking opportunities for long-term stability and growth.