The Role of the EU in Supporting Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Benadir Region and their Integration into Sustainable Development Initiatives

The Role of the EU in Supporting Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Benadir Region and their Integration into Sustainable Development Initiatives

Ali Abdi Yusuf¹, Abdishakur Elmi Warsame², Abdullahi Abdulle Ali³

¹Faculty of Economics and Management Science, Lecturer at Capital University of Somalia

²Faculty of Health Science, Lecturer at Capital University of Somalia

³Development and Relations at Capital University of Somalia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51584/IJRIAS.2025.100800003

Received: 13 July 2025; Revised: 26 July 2025; Accepted: 01 August 2025; Published: 29 August 2025

ABSTRACT

Background: Close to 70 million people in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) urgently need humanitarian aid, constituting over a fifth of the people in need worldwide. This region faces numerous security, political, and socio-economic challenges, worsened by human-made and natural disasters. Somalia continues to be faced with conflict on multiple fronts, including the Government’s military offensive against Al Shabab, and deriving insecurity as well as eenvironmental risks and climate, including desertification, deforestation, droughts, landslides and floods. This study aims to assess the European Union’s role in providing humanitarian aid to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Benadir region and it also explores EU-supported development programs that promote long-term solutions for displaced communities.

Methods: Data were collected from 335 respondents ,104 were hosted communities, and 232 were IDPs. Data were collected thorough structured questionnaire, where stratified sampling was used. Explanatory research design was used where other EU humanitarian reports in the area were evaluated to indicate the role and support program of EU in IDPs of Benadir region. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23. The study survey was carried out in Rajo Camp in Garasbaley and Elder Camp in Daynile district.

Results: The highest proportion of study sample (69%) were Internal Displaced People who recently came in the camps. Additionally, 104 were hosted communities who hosted these IDPs in their empty lands. The research has also indicated highest level of female participation, with 69.3 percent compared to 30.7 percent of males. The educational level of the participants is low, as over half (75.3 percent) of the respondents had no formal education. The mean of all variables ranges from 2.134 to 2.773, suggesting that participants are somewhat satisfied with or concur with various elements of the projects. The items regarding participation in planning or decision-making of EU projects had a very low mean value (M = 1.340) and a small range.

Conclusion and recommendations: It has been determined that EU-funded projects have produced real benefits for internally displaced persons in the Benadir region, particularly regarding improved living circumstances. Nonetheless, the impacts on economic prospects, community engagement, and sustainability remain negligible. Based on the findings, it is essential that EU-funded initiatives enhance the involvement of IDP communities in all phases of the project cycle, including planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation.

Keywords: Humanitarian Assistance to (IDPs, EU support projects, Benadir regional administration, Sustainable Development Initiatives.

INTRODUCTION

IDPs in this area (Benadir) face challenging circumstances since they lack adequate housing, access to healthcare, food shortages, and opportunities to make a living. As a result, many believe it is critical to design long-lasting initiatives that address the primary causes of relocation and provide long-lasting solutions. The fundamental tenet of aiding internally displaced people in Somalia is the concept of sustainable solutions, which might include returning, remaining where they are, or moving to a safer area (McConnell, 2022).  The EU Trust Fund for Africa is extremely supportive of Somalia’s attempts to settle refugee difficulties, particularly in Benadir. The EU has tried to enhance the lives of IDPs and keep their communities stable by utilizing both humanitarian aid and development initiatives. The agency adheres to the HDP nexus, with the goal of coordinating emergency efforts with long-term strong initiatives. The EuropeAid has aided the displaced by enhancing governance, reducing violence, and creating economic prospects in their communities (Adolph 2016).

Benadir utilizes European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations funds for a variety of sustainability-related projects. For example, they construct strong shelters, install infrastructure in IDP communities, and ensure that IDPs have access to water, sanitation, education, and healthcare (Ferris, 2020). Numerous initiatives have been undertaken to train individuals for jobs, provide small business incentives to entrepreneurs, and implement projects that enable women and adolescents to rely on their own incomes. By doing so, the EU Trust Fund for Africa integrates its humanitarian and development initiatives (Li, 2024). The EU inspires improvements in governance and planning so that IDPs may participate in and benefit from community development projects (Issa-salwe, 2020). EU authorities are assisting Somali leaders in integrating IDPs into municipal and land management, as well as service d elivery. The EU has taken part in the Somalia Durable Solutions Initiative (DSI), which promotes involving IDPs in the process of establishing camps, as well as official identification of the locations. Their purpose is to guarantee that local communities affected by displacement participate in national growth initiatives (Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat, 2019)

Furthermore, the EU has facilitated policy collaboration and discussion among individuals and groups working on replacements and development. It enables assistance groups coordinate their efforts to align with the government’s national development objectives and recovery agendas. By creating coalitions with national organizations, community groups, and other development actors, the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA)—formerly EuropeAid contributes to the integration of better solutions for IDPs into regular societal and economic planning activities, ultimately leading to peace and prosperity (European Commission, 2015). Many displaced families in Benadir have improved their circumstances as a result of EU-supported efforts. Some of the outcomes include numerous new career opportunities, improved living conditions, and increasing social acceptability. Furthermore, the EU’s assistance on institution building in Somalia has resulted in improved handling of displacement concerns. Organizations that commit for such a long period appreciate the importance of communities being empowered and in charge of their own affairs (European & In, 2019)

The EuropeAid has supported many IDPs in the Benadir region by linking various types of aid with long-term development activities. Due to its strategy, IDPs are becoming more active and empowered in sustainable development (Bayne, 2001). As Somalia goes on with its peace process, having the EU there helps displaced individuals to contribute to the country’s development while also promoting peace and a developing economy. This study aims to assess the European Union’s role in providing humanitarian aid to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Benadir region and it also explores EU-supported development programs that promote long-term solutions for displaced communities. These objectives help understand the EU’s impact on displacement recovery efforts in benadir region, Somalia.

THEORETICAL MODELS 

In order to enrich the scholastic backdrop, a number of theories form the premise of this study. First, the Push-Pull Theory constructed by Lee (1966) is applied to clarify the underlying reasons of displacement, encompassing the push reasons i.e. hostilities and destitution, and the bring along reasons i.e. insecurity and economic prospects in destination sites. Second, the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) provides a normative framework of analyzing the field of humanitarian interdependencies and the duties of international agents such as the EU toward the vulnerable people. Lastly, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (Chambers & Conway, 1992) can be used to give an analytical model of understanding the contribution of the EU-supported program towards the long-term sustainability, self-reliance and development of the displaced communities. The combination of the theories increases the scholarly integrity of the research and allows one to perform a deeper, more systematic assessment of the role of the EU in dealing with internal displacement in Benadir.

LITERATURE REVIEW

The European Union (EU) has frequently contributed to provide aid whenever a humanitarian catastrophe arises anywhere in the globe, even in nations like Somalia. The EU offers assistance to internally displaced people in Benadir that includes both short-term support and long-term development goals (Abdi et al., 2018). Struggling states, including Somalia, have relied significantly on the European Union (EU) for humanitarian assistance from abroad. Repeated conflicts, natural catastrophes, and poor leadership in the Benadir region, including Mogadishu, have culminated in widespread displacement of the population. The EU, via its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), delivers assistance in Somalia in collaboration with international organizations and other UN agencies (EU commission, 2021). In 2024 the EU contributed €82.16 million in Somalia, assisting with food provision, nutrition improvement, access to healthcare, secure shelter, and education (Protection & Aid, 2024), neutrality, impartiality, and independence are values that ensure that those in need receive equitable aid. DG ECHO works to support IDPs, ease their suffering, and aid vulnerable populations in the Benadir region.

In addition to approximately 900,000 internally displaced people as of 2021, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has noted that Mogadishu is still among the most unstable areas in Somalia. Armed conflict, particularly Al-Shabaab’s assaults, and natural shocks such drought and flooding (Euaa, 2023), because most of these displaces). These factors have raised the reliance of impacted people on foreign humanitarian assistance. Academic sources underline even more the EU’s moral and geopolitical motivations in assistance delivery. According to (Moore, 1998), claims that humanitarian action sometimes presents moral conundrums, particularly in areas of war like Somalia. The EU has negotiated these difficulties by combining humanitarian relief with long-term development objectives, therefore advancing not just survival but also dignity and stability(Palmero, 2017). This combined strategy has helped to solve structural reasons of relocation as well as acute requirements.

The European Union (EU) has been quite helpful for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Benadir region of Somalia by pushing long-term solutions that go beyond quick relief. Through partnerships with organizations such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the EU has implemented comprehensive development programs focusing on reintegration, access to essential services, livelihood support, and housing enhancements (Li, 2024). These initiatives align with the Somali Durable Solutions Initiative, which prioritizes long-term rehabilitation and resilience rather than temporary aid.

Another recognized EU-funded project aimed at inclusive urban recovery and community stability for displaced persons in Mogadishu is undertaken jointly by IOM and UN-Habitat. First priorities in the project are land tenure stability, social cohesion, and access to fundamental infrastructure (UN-HABITAT, 2020). Under this program, thousands of IDPs have received legal help, livelihood training, and permanent shelter, therefore reduced their vulnerability and promoted social integration in host areas. The European Union’s long-term plans are founded on global frameworks, including the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Framework on Durable Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). They emphasize the significance of voluntary, secure, and respectful repatriation, local integration, or internal relocation  (Inter-Agency & Committee, 2010). The EU implements steps consistent with its objectives to ensure refugees may reside comfortably in Benadir.

Furthermore, research indicate that development-oriented operations assist the community manage new issues and lower dependency on outside support (Bakewell, 2021). Supported by the EU, job creation, health, education, and infrastructure improvements help Mogadishu flourish for the present as well as for the future. despite these initiatives, challenges including unpredictability, a dearth of government personnel, and resource conflict still exist; hence, the EU, Somalis and others in the global community will have to continue working together (Adolph, 2016). Despite insecurity, government capacity, and resource conflicts still exist, EU-supported job creation, health, education, and infrastructure programs have helped Mogadishu flourish. Working together, Somalis, the EU, and international partners can help to sustain development and reduce relying on assistance.

METHODOLOGY

Explanatory design was used to investigate and explain the role of the EU in supporting durable solutions for internally displaced people in Benadir region and their integration to Sustainable Development Initiatives  (SDI). The explanatory design was adopted since it could help us to determine the effectiveness of an EU support program to IDPs. Study was started from May to July 2025. The study was conducted in two districts of Benadir region Garasbaley and Daynile districts. Daynile District is a district in the southeastern Benadir region of Somalia. It includes the northern outskirts of the national capital, Mogadishu and. Garasbaley is a newly recognized district in the Banadir region of Somalia, and it was officially recognized by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on May 19, 2024. More specifically study was conducted in Rajo camp in Garasbaley and Elder camp in Daynile district. first Rajo camp hosted 150 household with an estimate of 825 individuals, while elder camp hosted 275 households with an estimate of 1843 individuals. Both Garasbaley and Daynile were chosen since most of Internal displaced people were hosted in these districts.

Study population consisted of internal displaced people and hosted community. IDPs were selected because they represent high priority group of EU support, and hosted community were also targeted as far as they hosted IDPs as well as they aware the living conditions of IDPs. Permanent residents and the people visiting these areas at the time of data collection were not part of the study.

Stratified sampling method was used for this study This kind of sampling was adopted since study population have different stratus such as strata for IDP s and strata for hosted community. In each stratum, simple random sampling (picking a chit out of a bowl), was used to select the respondents who were subjected to questionnaires.

Sample size was calculated by using Cochran’s formula where n = n=z²pq (1-p)/d². Where: n is the required sample size, z is the Z-score corresponding to the desired confidence level, p is the estimated proportion of the attribute in the population, q is 1−p, and d is the margin of error. Assuming a 95% confidence level, which corresponds to a Z-value of 1.96, and a 5% margin of error (d=0.05). we desired to obtain sample size by using a 50% estimate of the attribute (p= 0.5). Using these values in the formula: n=1.96 * 0.5 * 0.5 / 0.052=385. To adjust the sample size. The corrected sample size formula is n = (n0 * N) / (n0 + N – 1) Where: n = the corrected sample size n0 = the sample size calculated using Cochran’s formula (384 in this case) N = the estimated population size

 n = (384 * 2668) / (384 + 2668 – 1)

n = 1022752 / 3048 n = 335.5

The final sample size is 336

Pretested structured questionnaire were used to collect data from respondents. Structured questionnaires were adopted to collect quantitative data from participants and it is significant when dealing with large sample since unstructured questionnaire takes time to fill. The questionnaire covered three sections (I) Demographic characteristics such as age, sex, education (II) the role of EU in supporting IDPs in Benadir region, and (III) the effectiveness of EU develops programs aimed at supporting IDPs. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23). Prior to analysis, data were checked for completeness and consistency. Missing values were handled through listwise deletion. Data were presented in the tables and interpretation of findings.

RESULTS

Section A: Demographic Questions

The demographic variables encompass data on the composition of the study population, categorized by gender, age, educational attainment, and residential status.

Additionally, the research has a higher level of female participation or representation, with 69.3 percent of females serving as respondents and 30.7 percent as males. The age of the participants was most prevalent in the following ranges: 26-35 years (26.28%), 36-45 years (23.5%), and 18-25 years (18.5%). The lowest percentage was observed among individuals under the age of 18 (14.3 percent), while it was 17 percent among those 46 years of age and elderly. This suggests that the research was primarily focused on adults who are in their prime years.

This indicates the educational level of the participants is low, as over half (75.3 percent) of the respondents had no formal education, primary and secondary education. Only a small number of individuals had completed higher education, with 13.1 percent possessing a diploma or certification and 11.6 percent possessing a university degree. The fact that 69% of the population that was sampled consisted of people who were internally displaced (also known as IDPs) was another factor that was taken into consideration. On the other hand, 31% of the population that was sampled was constituted of the community that was hosting the IDPs. This fact demonstrates the severity of the displacement problem that is prevalent among the population that was being investigated.

Section B: The Role of the European Union in Providing Humanitarian Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) In the Benadir Region.

The descriptive date provides a comprehensive summary of the respondents’ attitudes of the EU-funded initiative aimed at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Benadir region. The mean of all variables ranges from 2.134 to 2.773, suggesting that participants are somewhat satisfied with or concur with various elements of the projects.

The response, which earned the highest average score (M=2.773), was posed in the following manner, and it provides an answer to the fact that a significant number of respondents said that they had experienced a concrete advantage as a result of the EU implementing projects. On the other hand, the statement that received the highest mean (M = 2.134) was the one that inquired about the manner in which, in your opinion, the people who have been displaced inside their own country have benefited from the donations that have been made to humanitarian programs that are supported by the European Union-sponsored organizations. The other possible explanation for this is that the people who would benefit from the initiatives are of the opinion that these projects do not have a significant overall influence or presence.

It has been deduced from the fact that the bulk of the standard deviation values are more than one that there is a great deal of variation in the opinions expressed. In particular, the most significant dissemination was seen in the manner in which respondents were aware of EU initiatives (standard deviation = 1.3794), as well as the outcomes or outcomes that were observed (standard deviation = 1.3780). To summarize, the findings of the analysis have shown that there is an overall positive outlook towards the projects that are funded by the European Union (EU). However, they have also brought to light the fact that the scope of the benefits of the projects could be improved by improving coordination, aligning it with the requirements of local development, and increasing awareness and awareness generation through the projects.

Section C: To Examine the Eu-Supported Development Programs Aimed at Promoting Durable Solutions for (IDPs) In the Benadir Region.

According to the framework of their life, the descriptive statistic provides a representation of how the respondents feel about the advantages and inclusion of the development projects that are sponsored by the EU. It was discovered that the mean value goes somewhere in the range of 1.263 to 2.406, which, in general, indicates that there was agreement of low levels and moderate levels with the claims. This implies that we are able to infer that these statements did not have any or very little beneficial impact to the projects.

The highest mean score, which was recorded as 2.406, was connected to a question about the ways in which the development projects sponsored by the European Union have improved living standards. This indicates that respondents have a moderate attitude regarding the improvement of living standards. In addition to this, the fact that the data are so widely dispersed (standard deviation = 1.3004) indicates that there is a significant amount of variation in the ways in which the population is affected by this phenomenon.

Economic opportunities received smaller scores (M = 1.818, SD = 0.8002) because respondents were less optimistic about the project’s ability to create or enhance economic possibilities. In particular, the view of long-term sustainability shows that the situation is even worse, with the mean of 1.263 (SD = 0.4408), while the items regarding participation in planning or decision-making had a very low mean value (M = 1.340) and a small range. These findings show that the community was not involved in the project cycle and that they were unable to determine if they would be able to reap the advantages in the long term. In result, the study finds evidence of some improvements in living circumstances, but the overall response is that the EU-supported development interventions need to concentrate on improving economic impact, sustainability, and participatory planning.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The findings are relevant to the study’s primary research objectives, which examine the effects of EU-funded programs on IDPs’ living circumstances, community economic prospects, engagement, and sustainability. The economic and restricted involvement in the decision-making process suggests that, despite the relative improvements in living standards, they have not yet been fully achieved. In the literature on the efficacy of humanitarian aid, it is frequently said that in post-conflict and displacement circumstances, sustainable development cannot be achieved without the engagement of the community that is engaged, transparency, and adherence to the demands of the local population (Biekart & Gasper, 2013). Due to the findings of the current research, these values are not adequately represented in the findings.

In addition, other studies that are comparable to this one have indicated that although aids can provide answers in the short term, their failure to involve locals and their inability to prepare for the long term might result in the project either failing to achieve its objectives or having little impacts (Brader, 2018). In therefore, more illustrative, transparent, and long-lasting project designs are needed for the analysis. When it comes to the welfare of the internally displaced people in the Benadir region of Somalia, EU-supported development projects would be far more effective if there was a greater emphasis on economic self-reliance, community engagement, and awareness.

CONCLUSION

It has been determined that EU-funded projects have produced real benefits for internally displaced persons in the Benadir region, particularly regarding improved living circumstances. Nonetheless, the impacts on economic prospects, community engagement, and sustainability remain negligible. The divergent responses indicate a deficiency in the continuity of awareness and results of the programs. In outcome, in order to feed the policy and practice, the community has to be firmly engaged in the design and implementation of the project, efforts to empower the economy need to be advanced, and sustainable development techniques should be highlighted in light of these results. To ensure that these interventions are as successful as possible over the course of a longer period of time, it will be of the utmost importance to match them with the goals of the area in which they are being implemented and to increase transparency.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Community Participation

The EU-funded initiatives ought to make sure that the IDP communities are engaged during the entire steps of the project cycle, namely, planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation. This wide-net policy makes the programs relevant, ownership by the community, and enhances the projects results. Open channels of communication must also be implemented to allow beneficiaries to be up to date with the project objectives, actions, and developments hence trust and involvement.

2. Economic Empowerment

To address the issue of economic vulnerability, livelihood initiatives that are tailored to the local environment should be implemented. They ought to include the following:

1. Vocational training and skill-based training
2. Accessibility of the market
3. Provision of tools and resources

These initiatives give displaced people economic stability and open up long-term revenue-generating prospects.

3. Governance & Local Capacity Building

The key to the sustainable development endeavors is to empower the local institutions and community organizations by training and technical assistance. The development of this capacity will make sure that the effects of projects last beyond the funding.

4. Coordination & Policy Alignment

It is imperative that local governments, EU agencies, and other community stakeholders be organized more effectively. When the initiatives are in line with local goals and national development plans, contextual relevance, duplication prevention, and more effective use of resources are accomplished, which will eventually benefit IDPs communities in the long run.

Acronyms

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