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Paper short abstract

Internally Displaced Persons in Somalia and Somaliland contend with many challenges to building social capital, yet focused study suggests focusing on dual track place-based assistance, subsidized financial inclusion and progressive policies on land tenure can support bridging social capital.

Paper long abstract

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Somalia and Somaliland rely primarily on bonding social capital with immediate kin and their fellow displaced as well as their neighbors for resilience against a variety of stresses and shocks. Savings groups and other financial self-help groups promoted by NGOs can help build bridging social capital and provide significant benefits beyond financial resources extending to a wide array of mutual support among members. Yet inclusion in many of these is limited due to the entry capital required. Additionally while many have strong bonding capital with neighbors, assumptions and mistrust as well as the transactional nature of IDP relationships with host populations in displacement affected communities (DACs) keeps bridging capital low despite these populations sharing similar urban risks and stressors. Most importantly, a lack of land tenure security and evictions prevent IDPs from placing roots to build the bridging capital and trust in government that can facilitate resilience. Tailored solutions that address both IDPs and host populations in DACs can address these challenges and leverage strong neighborhood relationships to start building social capital while mirroring the growing humanitarian practice of area based programming. Subsidized assistance for entry into savings groups can increase inclusion and facilitate further bridging social capital. Finally, policies by local government that minimized evictions and allow a pathway to land tenure security can stabilize households, facilitate the two bridging capital mechanisms above and provide a foundation for further local investment, trust in local government and a start to building linking social capital.