By Balal M Osman
Somalia has long survived on the mercy of others. Each drought brings planes loaded with food aid and each flood prompts a new appeal. Yet, amid this generosity, a paradox emerges. The very assistance that saves lives can also erode the capacity for self-reliance. Aid has undeniably saved countless Somali lives over the years. For instance, During the devastating 2017 drought in Somalia, international partners mobilized over a billion dollars to avert famine. Humanitarian organizations maintain schools, hospitals, nutrition centres and water systems, filling gaps left by the absence of or fragile state institutions. Nevertheless, among Somalia’s myriad challenges, aid dependence poses one of the most severe long-term threats, requiring a decisive shift in strategy by Somalia and its international partners.
Psychologist Martin Seligman’s “Learned Helplessness Theory” serves as a powerful and haunting metaphor for situations in Somalia. Seligman’s experiments demonstrated that when individuals are exposed repeatedly to uncontrollable circumstances, they eventually stop trying to change their situation, even when change becomes possible. Applied to Somalia’s situation, this theory helps explain the shocking dependence that decades of external assistance have cultivated. Therefore, when viewed through the lens of “learned helplessness theory”, a worrying pattern appears in Somalia’s situation. Decades of recurring crises combined with continuous external aid have created conditions where dependency is normalized and personal or communal initiatives are muted. This effect is visible across all levels of Somali society. At the federal government level, ministries often cannot operate without donor funding, budgets, policies and most disturbing, reform agendas are donor-influenced.
At regional and local levels, officials measure progress by the number of NGO projects rather than by local initiatives, leading to a reactive rather than proactive governance culture. At the individual level, one striking example is the monthly cash payments (a.k.a. cash-based-interventions) given to internally displaced persons (IDPs). The overwhelming majority of these recipients are former farmers, fishermen/women, livestock herders, and small business owners, people who historically supported themselves and their communities. While these payments alleviate immediate hardship, they inadvertently discourage economic activity. Instead of nurturing crops, fishing or herding livestock, some households become reliant on the predictable monthly transfer. Over time, a culture of dependency emerges, reducing motivation to engage in traditional livelihoods. Therefore, what was meant as temporary relief, risks creating a long-term perception that survival comes from external sources rather than personal or collective communal initiatives.
Somalia’s potential for self-reliance is not theoretical, in the contrary, it is tangible in the country’s abundant natural resources. Among them, the livestock sector, which includes millions of camels, goats, and sheep, has the potential to generate billions more annually if it is properly supported with veterinary care, feed production, and processing infrastructure. Fisheries sector, along a coastline rich with potential, are vastly underutilized, while foreign vessels exploit Somali waters. Investment in local ports, refrigeration and processing could transform Somalia into a regional seafood exporter. Additionally, the Agriculture sector, with fertile lands along the Shabelle and Jubba rivers, remains largely underdeveloped, forcing reliance on imports. Reviving irrigation systems and promoting climate-resilient crops could make Somalia food-secure and create jobs for farming communities currently in the IDP camps.
Breaking the cycle of “learned helplessness” requires a dual approach. Strong and visionary Somali leadership free from corruption and nepotism, alongside committed international partners willing to rethink aid. As a result, leadership at all levels must reclaim initiative, ministries must assert their role in service delivery, local authorities must incentivize economic participation, citizens must be empowered to take responsibility for their livelihoods. Simultaneously, international partners must move beyond short-term relief and rigid program structures and aid should be designed to build local capacity, not replace it, to invest in long-term productivity, not just consumption and most importantly, to support leadership that is free from corruption, nepotism and mismanagement who dares to act decisively for Somalia’s future. A simple action to start with could be, linking the cash transfers to productive activities. IDPs could continue receiving support conditional on engaging in cooperative farming, small-scale fisheries, or livestock management. This approach simultaneously addresses immediate humanitarian needs while fostering self-reliance, ensuring aid strengthens resilience rather than fostering dependency.
In conclusion, I want to highlight that the true measure of generosity by the international partners to Somalia is not in perpetuating dependency but in helping Somalia stand on its own feet, leveraging its natural wealth, its people and its enduring spirit. With visionary Somali leadership, free from corruption and nepotism and committed international partners, Somalia can turn the hand that once fed it into a bridge toward its own sustained growth and sovereignty. Therefore, a strategic shift is required, centred on the following steps to combat “Learned helplessness” and end aid dependency in Somalia:
1. Somalia and international partners must work together to establish a coherent and sustainable Somali-led and Somali-owned security framework, which is a prerequisite for a conducive environment for a productive economy and functional markets.
2. To use Cash-Grants to IDPs and other vulnerable groups with the condition to return to their villages, restarting in traditional livelihoods, such as farming, livestock management, and small-scale fisheries.
3. Invest in Somalia’s Natural Resource Potential (NRP). For instance, for Livestock, provide veterinary services, feed programs and market access to maximize herd productivity and trade potential. For Fisheries, develop local ports, cold storage and processing facilities, enforcing sustainable fishing practices to enable domestic and regional trade. Finally, for Agriculture, rehabilitate irrigation systems along Shabelle and Jubba rivers and introduce climate-resilient crops and agro-industrial processing to enhance food security and job creation.
4. Redesign international Aid partnerships, transition from reactive, short-term humanitarian Aid to strategic institutional-building programs that empower the federal government, local government and communities. Align aid with national development priorities and support leaders willing to implement structural reforms, fostering independence, transparency and accountability.
5. Promote a culture of self-reliance. Combine aid with education, skills development and entrepreneurship programs to restore confidence in individual and collective activity. Encourage communities to see aid as a temporary bridge, not a permanent support, thereby countering the effects of “learned helplessness” at both the individual and institutional levels.
Balal Mohamed Osman
Email: bcusman@gmail.com
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Balal Mohamed, is the Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia. X:@BalalCusman Skype:bcusman1
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References
Seligman, M.E.P. (1975). Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death. W.H. Freeman & Company.
“Learned Helplessness | Description, History, & Applications.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/learned-helplessness
Muhumed, M. M. (2022). Somalia’s Aid Dependency in 1960–1990. Mogadishu University. https://www.mu.edu.so/somalias-aid-dependency-in-1960-1990/
United Nations Somalia. (2018). Aid Flows in Somalia. https://somalia.un.org/en/40800-aid-flows-somalia-%E2%80%93-2018
Hiiraan Online. (2024). “The Government View on Ending Somalia’s Humanitarian Aid Trap.” https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2024/Aug/197432/the_government_view_on_ending_somalia_s_humanitarian_aid_trap.aspx
Sooha.org. (2024). “Study: Somali Diaspora Aid Provides a $2 Billion Lifeline During Crises.” https://sooha.org/en/2024/08/19/study-somali-diaspora-aid-provides-a-2-bln-lifeline-during-crises/
World Bank. (2025). “Somalia’s Economic Prospects Are Positive, But Foreign Aid Cuts Are Downsizing Growth.” https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/06/30/somalia-afe-economic-prospects-are-positive-but-foreign-aid-cuts-are-downsizing-growth