Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Somali Diaspora in Support of Relief and Development

Chatham House in London published a summary of a discussion titled Cash and Compassion: The Role of the Somali Diaspora in Relief, Development and Peace-building on 7 March 2012. The principal researchers were Laura Hammond, senior lecturer, Development Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, and Ibrahim Dagane Ali, senior technical advisor and agriculture/food security and livelihoods specialist. Click here to read the report.

The authors concluded that the Somali diaspora is a success story. The Somali economy is thriving despite the absence of the state. The diaspora has been heavily involved in humanitarian relief of Somalia. Remittances constitute between $1.3 and $2 billion annually. This includes money transferred to individuals, families, private investment and development. The support is quick, efficient, trusted and effective.