FAO is intensifying its efforts to strengthen livelihoods in Somalia through a large-scale intervention focused on the Fodder Value Chain (FVC). With a portfolio worth USD 70 million—half of which is dedicated to fodder development—FAO’s systems-based approach is enhancing resilience, productivity, and income stability. This initiative is crucial as Somalia’s livestock sector supports nearly two-thirds of its population and constitutes 80 percent of national exports. However, the country faces a 34 percent shortage in dry matter feed, exacerbated by recurring droughts and conflicts, making investment in fodder production essential for both survival and economic recovery.
FAO’s FVC programmes have demonstrated tangible resilience and economic impacts. According to data from the Resilience Capacity Index (RCI), beneficiary households were more capable of coping with drought, showing only a 5 percent decline in resilience compared to 12 percent among non-beneficiaries. Economically, households recorded an average net benefit of USD 603, with a Benefit-Cost Ratio of 4.3, meaning a USD 4.30 return for every dollar invested. The initiative also increased fodder cultivation by 44 percent and significantly reduced post-harvest losses, allowing communities to maintain stability during lean periods without resorting to migration.
The success of FAO’s approach lies in its integrated and market-oriented Livestock Development Hub (LDH) model, which serves as a foundation for replication across the Horn of Africa. In Somaliland alone, 52 LDHs have been established, operating as self-sustaining enterprises that generate revenue from processing, storage, and marketing services. These hubs are governed by transparent community management systems, promoting accountability and inclusion. Gender dynamics have also evolved, with women increasingly taking leadership and technical roles in FVC enterprises, contributing to greater equity and shared economic participation.
Building on these achievements, FAO Somalia is scaling up through its Future of Pastoralism – a Joint Transformative Initiative, which transitions successful LDHs into broader Pastoralist Development Hubs. These hubs integrate fodder value chains with animal health, water management, conflict resolution, and mobility support to foster long-term sustainability. The FVC portfolio stands as a flagship example of resilience programming within FAO’s Regional Office for Africa, offering a tested framework that bridges humanitarian, development, and peace efforts—showing how strategic local investments can drive transformative change across Africa’s drylands.
