Ruweyda is among the thousand IDPs living on the outskirts of Mogadishu’s camps. She fled from Kuntuwaarey, Middle Shabelle, four years ago due to drought.
As the breadwinner for a family of nine, she is one of 150 beneficiaries of Save Somali Women and Children’s (SSWC) unconditional multi-purpose cash transfer program.
Taking advantage of the cash assistance and her desire to improve her life alongside her orphaned children, she invested a portion of the money in a petty business in her home where she sells basic items that are in demand in the camp.
“I felt happy when I received cash assistance through EVC. First, I cleared three months’ arrears at the Quran school. Then I went shopping for the children. With the remaining amount, I bought basic food items such as rice, spaghetti, and vegetables with the aim of starting a business in the camp,” says Ruweyda.
Ruweyda used to travel to downtown early every morning to look for temporary, unpredictable casual work like washing clothes, cleaning, and other poorly paid house chores, to earn a living for her children.
She used to return to her house in the evening only to meet her children in a desperate situation where she could clearly read from their faces the restlessness, hunger, and struggle they had undergone throughout the day.
“This petty home-based business relieved me of many financial burdens. I used to travel in the morning to downtown to find unpredictable casual work such as washing clothes, cleaning, and return in the afternoon with meagre amount of Ssh 15,000 ($0.60).
On some occasions, I return with nothing, despite the children suffering the whole day. Now I feel happy staying with my children while earning my daily bread from this business,” added Ruweyda.
Despite her difficult financial situation, Ruweyda is committed to educating her children: “My eldest son has now reached the age to attend school, but I am struggling to pay his school uniform and fees”.
Ruweyda expressed hope for her business to grow.
She reiterated the importance of the cash transfer, as it provides flexibility to the beneficiaries.
Additional cash assistance will enable Ruweyda and other beneficiaries to flourish their home-based businesses and engage in alternative income generating activities.
Some drought affected families that reside in the IDP camps in Mogadishu received unconditional cash assistant from SSWC. This was funded by Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) through OXFAM as part of Somalia’s Joint Response Project (SOMJR).
The beneficiaries received a direct transfer of cash to their cell phones through EVC mobile money transfer. Families enjoy the flexibility of the cash as they buy what they need most.
In addition to the unconditional cash transfers, the SOMJR project implemented by SSWC also imparts IDPs with income generating skills (tailoring), provision of solar lanterns, hygiene promotion and psychosocial support services for SGBV survivors.
The project runs until December 2023.
For the fourth consecutive year, Somalia is facing severe drought with over half the population at risk of famine. Aid agencies warn of unwanted consequences if urgent response is not received.