Factors influencing household adaptive capacity and its association with food security in Somalia

Building adaptive capacities is a crucial pathway to improving food security of households experiencing multiple shocks. Despite several studies documenting the effect of adaptive capacity on food security in the Horn of Africa, relatively little is known about factors influencing adaptive capacity and its association with household food security in Somalia. This study analyzes factors influencing household adaptive capacity and its association with food security in Somalia. Using quantitative data from 1551 households in 17 districts, Poisson regression models were used for estimation. Group membership, governance, livelihood diversification, bridging social capital and credit access were positively associated with household adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity was associated with an improvement in household dietary diversity and food consumption by 0.7% and 0.2%, respectively. Group membership, credit and governance were positively associated with food security, while shocks had a negative effect. Donors are encouraged to fund projects that build household adaptive capacity and food security in Somalia. The public sector in Somalia, complemented by Non-Governmental Organizations need to promote interventions that build household adaptive capacity and improve food security. Promoting membership in farmer groups, provision of tailored credit and good governance should be promoted as viable strategies for enhancing food security in Somalia. These should be promoted in tandem with disaster risk management interventions to eliminate the effects of shocks on household food security.