ODI Report: "International aid dominance is a key problem" in Somalia's peacebuilding efforts

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Tuesday August 6, 2024

A Somali woman discusses local peacebuilding efforts during a meeting with international aid representatives. CREDIT / AMISOM Public Information / Flickr

Mogadishu (HOL) — A new Overseas Development Institute (ODI) report reveals major challenges and potential in Somalia's peacebuilding efforts. Despite recent progress in stability and governance, international aid practices are complicating locally-led initiatives.

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The report highlights that the unpredictable flow of humanitarian aid has disrupted local peace efforts, creating vested interests and significant challenges for local civil society. "The scale and volatility of humanitarian aid to Somalia has created a political economy of aid that is antithetical to locally led peacebuilding and conflict resolution," the report states. This situation has led to a wide range of vested interests related to aid capture, severely disrupting local civil society actors' efforts to achieve long-term impact.

Despite these challenges, there are opportunities to support local peacebuilding. International actors need to build trust with Somali peace groups and take informed risks. Programs like the Road to Sustainable Peace (RSP) and Nexus consortia show the importance of long-term, flexible funding. Their success is built on years of trust between local and international actors. The report emphasizes, "Long-term, consistent and flexible funding flows are critical for peacebuilding, as well as for humanitarian and development action, but they remain the anomaly rather than the norm."

Effective peacebuilding requires better cooperation between international aid agencies and Somalia's Federal Government (FGS), and state authorities to ensure aid coherence and sustainability. Addressing systemic issues in the aid system is crucial, including reducing international dominance and providing more direct support to local actors. "Most international aid actors continue to neglect financial engagement and collaboration with the FGS and other state authorities, which undermines aid coherence and the sustainability of impact," the report notes.

The report points out that large and unpredictable aid inflows have encouraged short-term thinking, undermining the long-term planning needed for peacebuilding. The current aid system often bypasses the FGS and other local authorities, leading to inconsistent and unsustainable aid efforts. The dominance of international agencies and the project-based nature of aid create significant barriers. Trust issues and short-term funding further complicate peacebuilding. One interviewee highlighted, "International dominance is still a key problem; aid contractors are doing mega budgets with no grassroots connection. Peacebuilding is essentially trust-building, but mass aid influxes continue to aggravate many long-term relationships."

To support local initiatives more effectively, the report recommends a shift towards long-term and flexible funding. Direct funding and equitable partnerships with local actors can enhance peacebuilding efforts. Peacebuilding should be integrated with broader development and humanitarian activities to ensure coherence and community unity. Additionally, international actors should advocate for changes in the humanitarian aid system to support sustainable peacebuilding.

The report added that Somalia stands at a critical juncture with opportunities for significant progress in peacebuilding. Achieving this potential requires international actors to reform the aid system, build trust with local peace groups, and support long-term, flexible funding strategies. "There are unique opportunities to support locally-led peacebuilding considering the recent contextual improvements, but international aid actors must increase their trust-building with Somali peace actors and their informed risk tolerance," the report concludes.

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