Building resilient food systems in Somalia: Integrated approaches for conflict and climate challenges

This paper analyses Norwegian Church Aid's evolving agricultural interventions in Somalia, tracing the transition from emergency relief to resilience-focused development in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions. Drawing on thirty years of operational experience and mixed-methods evidence, it examines the effectiveness of climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy solutions, inclusive cooperatives and gender-responsive programming. The results show that combining sustainable inputs, clean technologies, cooperative governance and nutrition-sensitive practices has raised household crop yields by 68% on average, expanded local food security, diversified incomes and strengthened social cohesion. Cooperatives have emerged as critical platforms for inclusive governance and market access, while targeted interventions have empowered women and displaced households to lead agricultural and peacebuilding activities. The study concludes that flexible, locally driven approaches are vital for navigating persistent insecurity and climate shocks. It recommends greater investment in renewable infrastructure, tailored financing for smallholders and the institutionalisation of cooperative models to strengthen resilient food systems and sustainable rural recovery.