Poor governance and weak social cohesion in Somalia’s Climate-stressed settings: the mediating effects of economic inefficiencies and limited human development

The purpose of this study is to investigate the complex relationship between poor governance and weak social cohesion in Somalia’s Climate-vulnerable setting, with a specific focus on how economic inefficiencies and limited human development mediate this dynamic. The study employs Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze survey data from Somalia, assessing the impact of poor governance, economic inefficiencies, and limited human development on social cohesion. The findings confirm that economic inefficiencies significantly contribute to weak social cohesion, while poor governance exacerbates both economic inefficiencies and limited human development. This cyclical relationship perpetuates social fragmentation, illustrating the critical need for governance reforms and targeted investments in human development to rebuild social cohesion. The study highlights the importance of integrated policy interventions that address governance reforms alongside economic revitalization and human development initiatives. Anti-corruption measures, equitable resource distribution, and community-based programs are essential to restoring social cohesion and fostering sustainable stability in post-conflict settings like Somalia. This research presents a conceptual model linking governance, economic, and social dimensions in a fragile post-conflict context, offering new insights into the cyclical effects of poor governance on recovery outcomes. This study reveals how governance failures and economic inefficiencies weaken social cohesion in fragile states.