Research Studies

Drought recurrence is a persistent phenomenon in Somalia. The latest one has continued for the last three years. Although the subdued Gu rains that fell between April and May provided some temporary relive, the depressed nature of this critical precipitation means the country is still experiencing the pangs of the drought to a great extent. At least for the herding community rainfall does not mark the end of drought. Rainfall failure is traditionally viewed as primary cause of a drought shock. Furthermore, overexploitation of natural resources leading to their degradation especially the vegetation cover (trees, grass etc) is a major contributor to drought conditions. The environmental degradation is basically characterized by depleting the natural resources and environmental pollution. These basic problems are themselves driven by population growth, rising urbanization, overgrazing, deforestation, soil erosion and climate change.

The women and value chain analysis and private sector development study was commissioned by a consortium of KAALO Aid and Development Somalia, Forum for Africa Women Educationist (FAWE)Somalia and Galkayo Education Center for Peace and Development (GECPD). It was carried out in January 2017 by Somalia Institute for Development and Research Analysis (SIDRA).

This gender analysis study of Somalia was carried out between October and November 2016 with the aim of providing a foundation for the implementation in Somalia and Somaliland of the EU “Gender Action Plan Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: Transforming the Lives of Girls and Women through EU External Relations 2016-2020 (GAP II)”, which has been formally adopted by the Council in October 2015 and which provides the framework for the European Commission’s (EC), the European External Action Services’ (EEAS) and European Member States’ (MS) approach to gender equality through external relations for the period 2016-20.

The study entitled ​‘2016 Elections in Somalia – The Rise of the New Somali Women’s Political Movements’ was carried out between September 2015 and April 2016 and looked at how Somali women and Somali women political movements are organizing themselves in anticipation of the political transformations taking place in Somalia including the 2016 Somali elections. The study investigated in details Somali women’s political activism in and out of Somalia including emerging organizations and networks such as online social networks by looking at three study areas and 10 research questions.

This research study was conducted by the Somali Institute for Development and Research Analysis (SIDRA) in partnership with UNDP Somalia. SIDRA Institute is a knowledge-policy interface established to fill the strategic gaps of shaping and dialoguing a wide range of policy agendas and in generating and communicating relevant research findings to policy actors in Somalia. The study aimed at assessing and documenting women’s political participation in Puntland, focusing on the recent political processes while drawing lessons from historical trends and broader societal issues surrounding women’s political participation. The study aimed to provide policy recommendations so as to influence future interventions.