Cash and Compassion – The Role of the Somali Diaspora in Relief, Development and Peace Building

Based on original research conducted in Somaliland, Puntland and South/Central Somalia, as well as in multiple cities (mainly Dubai, London, Minneapolis, Nairobi, Oslo, Toronto) with a high concentration of Somali diaspora members, this report examines the motivations of diaspora support, the factors that influence it, the means and mechanisms by which it is mobilized and transferred to Somalia and the ways in which local Somali actors put the support they receive to use.

The report: i) analyses the extent of diaspora contributions to relief and development, the types of contributions, and their impact on social protection and development in different sectors; ii) identifies the factors that influence the ability of diaspora to provide effective support, both in countries of residence as well as the areas of origin; iii) collects information about the mechanism for providing support to individuals, organisations and communities in Somalia and the factors that influence the effectiveness of these mechanisms; iv) identifies the factors that influence the impact of support provided by the diaspora, including issues related to security, the governance environment, the regulatory environment, and other environmental and economic factors, and v) recommends mechanisms by which the UN can facilitate the diaspora’s efforts to promote recovery and development in Somalia/Somaliland, and where appropriate explore opportunities for effective partnership.

For more information: 

• http://www.so.undp.org/content/somalia/en/home/library/poverty/publicat…
• http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full_Report_35…

GFMD 2014-2015 Roundtable 3.2 "Private sector-Government Partnerships to support migrant/diaspora entrepreneurship and job creation, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises​"

UNDP, Adamas University Somaliland, Puntland State University, and SIMAD, Interpeace Center for Research and Dialogue