Tuesday April 8, 2025

Mogadishu (HOL) – A new independent evaluation has found that the scaled-up efforts of United Nations humanitarian agencies and partners played a vital role in averting famine in Somalia between 2021 and 2024 despite extreme operational challenges.

The Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation (IAHE), commissioned by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), concluded that the collective response saved tens—if not hundreds—of thousands of lives. The evaluation also credited the UN response with expanding humanitarian access to marginalized and hard-to-reach communities during Somalia’s worst drought in 40 years.

The evaluation was funded by IOM, OCHA, UNICEF, UN Women, and WFP, and conducted by the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi), with technical support from Raagsan, a Somali research firm.

However, the evaluation identified serious challenges that hampered the overall effectiveness of the effort. These included overly complex and duplicative coordination mechanisms, unintended negative consequences of aid delivery, and ongoing shortcomings in ensuring accountability to affected populations.

The report issued six key recommendations to enhance the efficiency and impact of future humanitarian operations at both the global and national levels.

Read the full report here.