Livelihood diversification and its determinants among rural households in the Maroodijeex Region, Somaliland

Rural households in climate-vulnerable regions, such as Somaliland, increasingly combine multiple livelihood activities to manage recurrent droughts and economic uncertainty. This study examined the extent of livelihood diversification and its determinants among rural households in the Maroodijeex Region of Somaliland. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Survey Data from 377 households were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an MM-estimator robust regression model, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results showed that off-farm and non-farm activities contributed 63% of the total household income, while on-farm activities (crop and livestock production) accounted for 37%. Wage labor provided the largest income share (34.8%), followed by livestock production (27.7%). The mean Simpson Diversification Index (SDI) was 0.275, with 39.3% of households remaining specialized. Diversification was positively associated with irrigation access, landholding size, livestock ownership, and age of the household head, whereas credit access, extension services, and market distance were not significant. The findings indicate that diversification in Maroodijeex is shaped mainly by access to productive assets and functions primarily as a risk management strategy for vulnerable households rather than a universal pathway to economic advancement. This study highlights how recurrent droughts, weak institutional support, and the conditions of a semi-arid and internationally unrecognized setting constrain livelihood opportunities. These findings have broader relevance for other drought-prone pastoral regions and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2, related to poverty reduction and food security.