Following Mobile Money in Somaliland Gianluca Iazzolino Rift Valley Institute Research Paper 4

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Following Mobile Money in Somaliland Gianluca Iazzolino Rift Valley Institute Research Paper 4 rift valley institute research paper 4 Following Mobile Money in Somaliland gianluca iazzolino rift valley institute research paper 4 Following Mobile Money in Somaliland gianluca iazzolino Published in 2015 by the Rift Valley Institute (RVI) 26 St Luke’s Mews, London W11 1Df, United Kingdom. PO Box 52771, GPO 00100 Nairobi, Kenya. the rift VALLEY institute (RVI) The Rift Valley Institute (www.riftvalley.net) works in Eastern and Central Africa to bring local knowledge to bear on social, political and economic development. the rift VALLEY foruM The RVI Rift Valley Forum is a venue for critical discussion of political, economic and social issues in the Horn of Africa, Eastern and Central Africa, Sudan and South Sudan. the author Gianluca Iazzolino is a PhD candidate at the Centre of African Studies (CAS) at the University of Edinburgh and a fellow of the Institute of Money, Technology and Financial Inclusion (IMTFI) at the University of California Irvine. His research focuses on Kenya, Uganda and Somaliland, focusing on ICT, financial inclusion and migration. RVI executive Director: John Ryle RVI horn of africa & east africa regional Director: Mark Bradbury RVI inforMation & prograMMe aDMinistrator: Tymon Kiepe rvi senior associate: Adan Abokor eDitor: Catherine Bond Design: Lindsay Nash Maps: Jillian Luff, MAPgrafix isBn 978-1-907431-37-1 cover: Money vendors sit behind stacked piles of Somaliland shillings in downtown Hargeysa, buying cash in exchange for foreign currency and ‘Zaad money’. rights Copyright © The Rift Valley Institute 2015 Cover image © Kate Stanworth 2015 Text and maps published under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 Available for free download at www.riftvalley.net Printed copies available from Amazon and other online retailers, and selected bookstores. B YEMEN a n Asebb b Caluula Ras Casayr e e l M a d nd A eb Qandala f Bargaal SeSerrddo ObokObok DJIBOUTI o Bosaaso ra TadjourahTaT djourah Tadjou f Laasqorey lf of l Ras Gu Djibouti u ains AyAysysaitait Artat G Maydh ount Xaafuun Saylac lis M Badhan Alili Sabieh Xiis Go Iskushuban Xaafuun DikhilD h Lughaya Ceerigaabo Berbera d Buula Xaawa Biye K’obe Qardho BandarbayleBandarbayle Baki Somaliland n Boorame Sheekh Ceel Afweyn Gabiley Mandheera Gar’adag a Burco Taleex Tog Wajaale DiDirree Dawa Xuddun l Jijiga HarshinHar inn Hargeysa Oodweyne Caynabo N a r t a m HararHarar Laascaanood A h Kabribehay Widhwidh H Garoowen a Buuhoodle AwAwareare u Eyl DhagaxbuurDhagaxbuur d u GashaamoGashaamo Fiq Burtinle P DanotDanot BokhBokh Jariiban SheygoshS n Galaadii GarboGarbo e Garacad Wardheer Gaalkacayo QabrideharQabridehar d a A Caabudwaaq u Imi g d ETHIOPIAETHIOPIA Cadaado o O R GodeyGodey a Dhuusamarreeb n K’K’elaelafofo Hobyo g G W an e a e le b Ferfer i G e si HargeleHargele ro Beledweyne Ceel Buur Xarardheere Ceel Barde W e b i S h a b e SOMALIA e Dolo AdowAdow Xuddur l e Buulobarde MandheeraMandheeMandheeraaandndhdheeraheeeraera Buula Xaawa Waajid INDIAN Luuq Jalalaqsi Ceel dheer Garbahaarrey Baydhabo Wanlaweyn Jawhar Cadallee Ceel Waaq Buurxakaba OOCEANC EAN Balcad Baardheere Afgooye 0 km 200 Diinsor Mogadishuu Qoryooley (Muqdisho)) InInterternationalnational W Marka e boundaryboundary b i Bu’aale J u DisputedDisputed boundaryboundary b b a Baraawe National capital Capital Jilib Afmadow Chief town Jamaame Other town or village Road Kismaayo Selected river Lake MAP BoundariesBoun are approximate gr Buur Gaabo © Rift Valley Institute 2015 ax KENKENYAYA Ras Kamboni Boundaries and names shown do not imply 2015 www.riftvalleyriftvalley.net.net endorsement by the RVI or any other body Map 1. Somalia Contents Summary 5 1. Introduction 8 2. Outlining Somaliland’s financial landscape 13 3. An overview of Somaliland’s telecom sector 19 4. Overcoming scepticism 25 5. Challenges and convergences 35 6. Conclusions 38 Glossary of acronyms, words and phrases 40 Bibliography 41 MAPS Map 1. Somalia 3 Map 2. Somaliland 43 4 Summary Somaliland’s first mobile money platform was launched in 2009. Called Zaad—meaning ‘to grow’ or ‘to prosper’ in Arabic—it was started by the popular mobile phone company, Telesom. Zaad’s mobile money transfer service has since become a feature of a financial landscape hitherto dominated by Somali remittance companies. Today, Zaad has a profound impact on the way people in Somaliland save and transfer money, so much so that industry organizations such as the Groupe Spéciale Mobile Association (GSMA)—a global association of mobile telephone operators— view it both as an example of best practice in financial inclusion, and of the transformative potential of mobile money. This paper uses qualitative studies to examine the way Zaad is reshaping livelihoods and looks at the implications of its popu- larity for the relationship between state and non-state actors and its effect on Somaliland’s institutional framework. These studies challenge the dominant, technocratic view of mobile money by examining its neglected political and economic dimensions, shed- ding light on issues of legitimacy and trust and the relationship between the state and citizens. Far from being financial, the story of mobile money is instead a story of converging and conflicting narratives of statehood. Although Somaliland broke away from the rest of Somalia in 1991, it lacks formal international recognition as an independent nation state. As a result, no international commercial bank has offices there. But the history of its many remittance companies goes back to the 1970s, when hundreds of thousands of Somalis began sending money back home from jobs abroad, mostly in the Arabian Gulf. Zaad entered a market dominated by these well-established Money Transfer Operators (MTOs). It has since managed to outperform MTOs inside Somaliland, even in key economic sectors such as livestock and trade. Its success is widely attributed to Telesom’s business model and outreach strategy, as Summary 5 well as to Zaad’s flexibility, popularity with retailers, and the fact that its money transfers are free of charge. Zaad has grown because it uses US Dollars, meeting popular demand for hard currency in Somaliland. This helps people transfer and store US Dollars in Somaliland, giving them a mecha- nism to cope with a domestic economy whose volatility the state of Somaliland seems unable to address. In May 2015, following pressure from the government and Somaliland’s Central Bank, Telesom unveiled a new Zaad service in Somaliland shillings (ShSl). Its initial operations were limited. In rural areas, Zaad faces other constraints, with distribution and local perceptions of the service affected by several factors. Less reliable network coverage and network outages discourage people in rural areas from using it when other options like hard cash are at hand. Furthermore, Telesom’s customer policy requires ownership of an official identity card (ID) to use the service. Women in rural areas often lack official documentation, and even women who can use a male relative’s ID to open an account do not always do so, risking losing control of their money. Zaad is primarily viewed as an interface with the urban economy, being more popular with farmers travelling to town on market days to sell livestock or vegetables than with other rural inhabitants. In Somaliland there is a division between those people and organisations who use foreign currency and those who use local currency: the first is between the large-scale businessmen and international relief and development workers who operate in US Dollars and civil servants who are paid in Somaliland shillings by the state; the second is between urban inhabitants who use US Dollars and rural inhabitants who use Somaliland shillings. Businesspeople, employees of NGOs and other international organizations, and those with a sizeable flow of US Dollars from overseas, are more able to diversify their financial practices. Stuck within the shilling economy, most civil servants criticize Tele- som’s influence on currency use as excessive and have called for stricter government oversight of the company’s assets. Zaad is shielded from the Central Bank’s scrutiny because there are no local banking laws to regulate it. This is a reflection of the weakness of Somaliland’s state institutions. Civil servants 6 Following Mobile Money in Somaliland portray the popular use of the US Dollar as something that under- mines the sovereignty of the state. While nationalistic in tone, such anti-Zaad rhetoric is a projection of vested interests, and is sometimes connected to a historic loyalty to the rival heavy- weight of the Somali money transfer business, Dahabshiil, which originated in Somaliland and started operating internationally in the late 1990s. Importantly, Zaad has not replaced other MTOs, which continue to serve as a financial interface—in US Dollars—between Somaliland and the rest of the world. Within the territory, shil- lings continue to be the main means of monetary transaction with the state. This is being challenged by Zaad, which facilitates the internal circulation of dollars. Its apparent success in ‘banking the unbanked’, however, has yet to be properly verified. Despite its undeniable impact, many argue that true global financial inclusion will happen only when international banks open up in Somaliland. Summary 7 1. Introduction 1 Zaad is also a word This report charts the distribution of mobile money across the traditionally used by financial landscape of Somaliland. It focuses on the country’s first Somali pastoralists for a 1 group of items essential and, so far, only mobile money platform, Zaad, a service devel- for travel. oped by Telesom, the leading mobile phone company or Mobile Network Operator (MNO) in Somaliland. The report examines the way the Zaad service is reshaping business practices, as well as the implications of its popularity on the relationship between state and non-state actors, and the effect this might have on Somalil- and’s institutions.
Recommended publications
  • Understanding Household Responses to Food Insecurity and Famine Conditions in Rural Somaliland
    Understanding Household Responses to Food Insecurity and Famine Conditions in Rural Somaliland By Ismail Ibrahim Ahmed A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of London Wye College University of London December 1994 ProQuest Number: 11010333 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11010333 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 / ' " V ' .• •‘W^> / a - ; "n ^T.k:, raj V£\ aK ^ 's a ABSTRACT This thesis examines the responses adopted by rural households in Somaliland to changes in their resource endowments and market exchange during the 1988- 1992 food crisis. It tests whether there is a predictable sequence of responses adopted by rural households when faced with food insecurity and famine conditions and examines the implications of this for famine early warning and famine response. The research is based on fieldwork conducted in rural Somaliland in 1992. A sample of 100 households interviewed just before the outbreak of the war in 1987 were re-sampled, allowing comparisons to be made before and after the crisis.
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing Paper
    NEW ISSUES IN REFUGEE RESEARCH Working Paper No. 65 Pastoral society and transnational refugees: population movements in Somaliland and eastern Ethiopia 1988 - 2000 Guido Ambroso UNHCR Brussels E-mail : [email protected] August 2002 Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit Evaluation and Policy Analysis Unit United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees CP 2500, 1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.unhcr.org These working papers provide a means for UNHCR staff, consultants, interns and associates to publish the preliminary results of their research on refugee-related issues. The papers do not represent the official views of UNHCR. They are also available online under ‘publications’ at <www.unhcr.org>. ISSN 1020-7473 Introduction The classical definition of refugee contained in the 1951 Refugee Convention was ill- suited to the majority of African refugees, who started fleeing in large numbers in the 1960s and 1970s. These refugees were by and large not the victims of state persecution, but of civil wars and the collapse of law and order. Hence the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention expanded the definition of “refugee” to include these reasons for flight. Furthermore, the refugee-dissidents of the 1950s fled mainly as individuals or in small family groups and underwent individual refugee status determination: in-depth interviews to determine their eligibility to refugee status according to the criteria set out in the Convention. The mass refugee movements that took place in Africa made this approach impractical. As a result, refugee status was granted on a prima facie basis, that is with only a very summary interview or often simply with registration - in its most basic form just the name of the head of family and the family size.1 In the Somali context the implementation of this approach has proved problematic.
    [Show full text]
  • SOMALIA - WASH, Health and Shelter Interventions - Sool and Sanaag Regions As of 1 October 2009 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
    SOMALIA - WASH, Health and Shelter Interventions - Sool and Sanaag Regions as of 1 October 2009 UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ! Bossaso Ceelaayo P Higlo ! Humanitarian interventions Laasa Johor Laas- k Higlo qoray! U/xeed k surad ! " ! k ! "! Higlaale "! Qorax k ! kk Waqdariya " k jiif k ! k Xarshaw ! ! Health " ! k" ! ! Xidid"! f k Xabaasha- k" Gulf of Aden ! k! waale " k ! ! Meermeer ! WASH f"! ! " Badhan k ! Celaayo "kk! ! " "k !" ! k k "k ! ! k"! k"k ! ! BOSSASO ! 64,100 e Shelter ! Madar ! LAASQORAY ! ! moge! ! ! ! !! ! " ! Completed or Ongoing ! ! ! ! k!! ! ! ! Saba ! Hadaaftimo ! !! ! ! " ! k! Macmac wanagsan ! Daray ! ! ! ! " " ! k Moon ! Midigale ! " Sabawanag ! k ! k !! Daamo ! " k " " " " ! k ! ! k k k Ooman k k " k " ! Planned ! Dhifeeco ! k ! ! k ! Badhand "f k k ! ! k Ceerigaabo! ! P!! " "k " ! k k ! !! ! Qadhadho32,000 Cawsane ! k ! Dhige ! k "f ! ! Uduncule" k Rad k ! ! k " Total population in need k ! ! k xx ! Carmale ! ! (including IDPs) ! ! ! " ! ! ! k" Fargob ! k k ! SANAAG ! k" ! ! CEERIGAABO Haylaan ! ! ! ! ! Biyo ! ! " Dawaco ! ! ! " k " !! k! k ! ! ! ! guduud " Qaloocato " ! k "k ! "kArdaa! k ! ! k !! ! Dhabar Ceelmagacle 22,000 Dhaban ! Buraan ! k " k ! dalool " ! Danweyn k k" Ceel-buh ! ! ! Goof ! k " P ! ! kk Shimbiraale "! " " k" Regional capital ! ! !! ! k k ! ! CEEL ! k k kk ! " " ! " " f Dareemolamood k ! ! ! k f ! k! ! k ! ! " " ! ! ! ! k "" Bali ! k ! Bira AFWEYN ! kk Gooraan ! Settlement ! God Table busle ! !! Tuur Qoof ! ! ! Gallubade " ! Kalad Waraabaha " !! Waaciye Docolka
    [Show full text]
  • Somaliland – Interest-Free but Not Yet Shari’Ah-Compliant Economy/ R.Bekkin // New Horizon
    Bekkin R. Somaliland – Interest-free but not yet Shari’ah-compliant economy/ R.Bekkin // New Horizon. – 2007 (1428). – No. 166. – October-December (Shawwal-Dhu al-Hijjah). – P. 46-49. Somaliland - Interest free but not yet Shari’ah-compliant economy R. Bekkin Having survived a civil war and living in international isolation, Somaliland, a de facto independent state in the territory of Somalia, is gradually developing its financial sector. The banking services are interest-free in this entirely Muslim republic. But does it mean they are Shari’ah-compliant? Renat Bekkin, PhD in Law, senior researcher at the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reports. In 1991, the unified country of Somalia de facto ceased to exist. The civil war, which had broken out three years earlier, had led to the break up of the state into three separate areas: Somaliland, Puntland and Somalia. At the time one could hardly call the former British colony and then province of Somalia – Somaliland – a country. It was virtually a bare territory with its infrastructure completely destroyed by the war. The world community did not rush to recognise the new state and hardly anyone would have predicted that the country would survive. But 16 years on, Somaliland continues to exist as a state despite international political isolation and weak central government. The main source of welfare for Somaliland's citizens is not international aid, but money sent by their relatives from abroad. Because of the underdevelopment of the financial sector, money transfer operators have practically taken on the role of banks.
    [Show full text]
  • Electronic Money Association – Written Evidence (FSB0008) Re
    Electronic Money Association – Written evidence (FSB0008) Re: Ongoing inquiry into financial services after Brexit 1. We very much welcome the opportunity to provide input to the EU Services Sub- Committee's (“The Committee”) ongoing inquiry into financial services after Brexit. 2. The EMA is the EU trade body of FinTech and BigTech firms engaging in the provision of alternative payment services and the issuance of electronic money. Our members include leading payments and e-commerce businesses providing online/mobile payments, card-based products, electronic vouchers, virtual currency exchanges, electronic marketplaces, merchant acquiring services and a range of other innovative payment services. A list of current EMA members is provided at the end of this document. 3. We fully concur with the key conclusions and recommendations of The Committee’s predecessor, the EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee, and very much support what is set out in its letter of March 2020 to the Chancellor. A broader discussion of the significant challenges the EMA members and the UK financial markets are facing as a consequence of the withdrawal from the EU has been provided in our earlier input into the House of Commons 2019 Inquiry (see Appendix) to which we herewith refer. The remainder of this document responds more specifically to the additional questions the Committee has now put forward. Questions EMA response 1. Is the UK financial Despite enormous efforts, and due to the services sector well persistently evolving but recurring uncertainties prepared for the end of in terms of both the timeline and the specific the Brexit transition impact of the withdrawal and the cliff edge period? effects of a ‘no-deal’ scenario likely to hit the What are the main areas industry in less than 6 weeks, it has been where arrangements are difficult for EMA members to fully prepare for not yet in place for the what is now approaching.
    [Show full text]
  • Survey of Public Perceptions on Local Elections in Puntland
    A SURVEY OF PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS ON DEMOCRATIZATION AND LOCAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN PUNTLAND JULY 2021 Puntland Development & Research Center www.pdrcsomalia.org Copyright © 2021 Puntland Development & Research Center. All rights reserved. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC) would like to thank the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Democratization for their collaboration during this survey. In addition, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Nugal University, Somali National University (Badhan), and East Africa University for their role in identifying a team of students who ably supported the data collection for this survey. Critical to the success of this survey include the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) who provided technical and financial support to the survey. Finally, I would like to express my utmost gratitude to PDRC research team (Abdinasir Mohamed Yusuf, Muctar Hirsi Mohamed, and Fardows Ahmed Gambol) for their tireless efforts in bringing the survey work to completion. Ali Farah Ali Executive Director Puntland Development Research Center Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Background and Objectives .................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Methodology ..........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Somali Fisheries
    www.securefisheries.org SECURING SOMALI FISHERIES Sarah M. Glaser Paige M. Roberts Robert H. Mazurek Kaija J. Hurlburt Liza Kane-Hartnett Securing Somali Fisheries | i SECURING SOMALI FISHERIES Sarah M. Glaser Paige M. Roberts Robert H. Mazurek Kaija J. Hurlburt Liza Kane-Hartnett Contributors: Ashley Wilson, Timothy Davies, and Robert Arthur (MRAG, London) Graphics: Timothy Schommer and Andrea Jovanovic Please send comments and questions to: Sarah M. Glaser, PhD Research Associate, Secure Fisheries One Earth Future Foundation +1 720 214 4425 [email protected] Please cite this document as: Glaser SM, Roberts PM, Mazurek RH, Hurlburt KJ, and Kane-Hartnett L (2015) Securing Somali Fisheries. Denver, CO: One Earth Future Foundation. DOI: 10.18289/OEF.2015.001 Secure Fisheries is a program of the One Earth Future Foundation Cover Photo: Shakila Sadik Hashim at Alla Aamin fishing company in Berbera, Jean-Pierre Larroque. ii | Securing Somali Fisheries TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES, TABLES, BOXES ............................................................................................. iii FOUNDER’S LETTER .................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................. vi DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (Somali) ............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • S/2016/919 Consejo De Seguridad
    Naciones Unidas S/2016/919 Consejo de Seguridad Distr. general 31 de octubre de 2016 Español Original: inglés Carta de fecha 7 de octubre de 2016 dirigida al Presidente del Consejo de Seguridad por el Presidente del Comité del Consejo de Seguridad dimanante de las resoluciones 751 (1992) y 1907 (2009) relativas a Somalia y Eritrea En nombre del Comité del Consejo de Seguridad dimanante de las resoluciones 751 (1992) y 1907 (2009) relativas a Somalia y Eritrea, y de conformidad con lo dispuesto en el párrafo 32 de la resolución 2244 (2015) del Consejo de Seguridad, tengo el honor de transmitir adjunto el informe sobre Somalia del Grupo de Supervisión para Somalia y Eritrea. A este respecto, el Comité agradecería que la presente carta y el informe adjunto se señalaran a la atención de los miembros del Consejo de Seguridad y se publicaran como documento del Consejo. (Firmado) Rafael Darío Ramírez Carreño Presidente Comité del Consejo de Seguridad dimanante de las resoluciones 751 (1992) y 1907 (2009) relativas a Somalia y Eritrea 16-16743 (S) 021116 021116 *1616743* S/2016/919 Carta de fecha 28 de septiembre de 2016 dirigida al Presidente del Comité del Consejo de Seguridad dimanante de las resoluciones 751 (1992) y 1907 (2009) relativas a Somalia y Eritrea por el Grupo de Supervisión para Somalia y Eritrea De conformidad con el párrafo 32 de la resolución 2244 (2015) del Consejo de Seguridad, tenemos el honor de transmitir adjunto el informe sobre Somalia del Grupo de Supervisión para Somalia y Eritrea. (Firmado) Christophe Trajber Coordinador
    [Show full text]
  • Sanaag Region - Laasqoray District
    Sanaag Region - Laasqoray District 48°0'E 48°30'E 49°0'E Dur-Duri(S13-001) ! Bossaso !% Ceelaayo(U20-001) p ! G U L F O F A D E N Las Mihin(V06-001) ! Laas Moholin(V12-001) ! Laasqoray(W05-001) Laasqoray(!!! p Mash-Caleed(W07-001) ! Qorax Jiif(X15-001) Ulxeed(X11-001) ! ! Farcaanood(Y17-001) Xidid(Y14-001) ! ! Laas Xuluys(Z16-001) ! ! N Xuliya(Z16-002) N ' Mush-Xaleed(Z07-001) !Bad!han(Z07-002) ' 0 ! 0 ° Xabaasha-Waale(Z08-001) ° 1 Duriduri(A17-001) 1 ! ! 1 Sac-Qooqis(A08-002) 1 Geed La Rifay(A08-001) ! Marraje(C22-001) LAASQORAY ! BOSSASO Af Urur(D21-001) ! Raad(G13-001) Laako(G13-002) !! Xubeera(H12-001) ! Mindigle(H10-001) Midigale(H15-001) ! ! Daamo(H17-001) ! Coodenley(J23-001) ! Cawsane(L18-001) ! N N ' ' 0 0 3 3 ° ° 0 0 1 1 Dhabar Dalool(R16-001) Haylaan(R18-001) ! ! CEERIGAABO Hiil Sibeeye(U15-001) Buraan(U17-001) ! Buraan(U16-001) ! ! Qayaad Samo(W23-001) ! Alxamdullileh(X23-001) ! Habar ! Kaladhac(Y20-004) Shiro(Y20-002)! ! ! Bali Cawsane(Y20-001) Busle(Y20-003) Waaciye(Z23-001) N ! N ' ' 0 0 ° Kalad QARDHO ° 0 0 1 Hacda(A22-001) 1 ! Dhahar(G19-001) ! Xeradaa/Muudal(H23-001) ! Ceel La Qoday(H14-001) ! Deb Buni(J24-001) ! 48°0'E 48°30'E TALEEX 49°0'E p (!! Map Reference: 120222_OCHASom_Sanaag_Lasqoray 0 10 20 30 kms LEGEND Creation Date: 22/02/2012 % Streams Projection/Datum: Geographic/WGS 84 ! Regional capital Web Resources: http://www.unocha.org/somalia Map data source(s): International boundary E-mail: [email protected] All Admin.
    [Show full text]
  • Humanitarian Bulletin
    Humanitarian Bulletin January 2016 | Issued on 26 January 2016 In this issue Drought in Puntland, Somaliland P.1 AWD in Baidoa, Kismayo P.2 HIGHLIGHTS 2016 HRP launched P.3 Drought affects thousands in Access constraints in 2015 P.4 Puntland and Somaliland Partners respond to AWD/cholera in Baidoa and IDP settlements are most affected by AWD Kismayo Photo Credit: OCHA/Rita Maingi Access and bureaucratic impediments persisted in Drought in Puntland, Somaliland 2015. Acute water and pasture shortage affect thousands of people and livestock FIGURES Nearly 380,000 people face acute water and pasture shortage in drought-affected parts of Bari, Nugaal, Sanaag and Sool in Puntland as well as in Awdal, Togdheer and Waqooyi # of people in Galbeed regions of Somaliland. In Puntland, erratic rainfall for two successive seasons humanitarian 7 1m including the Deyr 2015 rains have exacerbated the humanitarian situation. emergency and crisis Dangorayo and Garowe and parts of Badhan, Dhahar, Eyl, Qardho, eastern # of people 3.9m Taleex/Xudun, and districts of Bari, Nugaal and Sanaag and Sool regions are among the in food security most affected. stress An estimated 220,000 people are # of acutely 308,000 affected by drought in Puntland, malnourished according to the Humanitarian children under age 5 Affairs and Disaster Management Source: www.fsnau.org Agency (HADMA) and (July-December 2015 projection) humanitarian partners. Authorities # of internally 1.1m in Puntland issued an appeal on displaced people 21 January 2016 to assist the # of Somali drought-affected people in the refugees in the 1.2m region. An estimated 65 per cent Horn of Africa of Puntland face drought and Yemen conditions, according to an inter- Source: UNHCR agency assesment conducted jointly with local authorities and Humanitarian A p p ea l FAO - Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU).
    [Show full text]
  • A Third Way for Financial Inclusion Via Mobile
    Dahabshiil Financial Services An unrivalled, fast and reliable global money transfer service Remittance Providers A Third Way for Financial Inclusion via Mobile Abdirashid Duale Dahabshiil Group Chief Executive Officer 118 Cavell Street London E1 2JA, United Kingdom [email protected] Introduction • Dahabshiil is an international remittance company – Presence in both send and receive markets – We are almost everywhere – even remote areas. • We are an African business – Majority of our staff are migrants from Africa – We understand the African context better than anyone. – In business 40 years 2 A Third Way: Remittance Providers Bank Led MNO Led •Domestic agent network •Existing relationship with •Strong compliance local customers experience •Compliance challenges •Remittance companies can •Many financial services •Difficulty with bridge many of the limitations •Weak agent network international transfers •Work with banks and MNOs •Little profit in migrant business 3 Scaling Up Challenges • Need to build relationships with How UK government can help: partners (MNOs) to link m- Encourage the business case wallets to our system with MNOs and remittance • This will help us reduce cost to providers poor customers receiving • like M-PESA and DfID Infrastructure remittances How UK government can help: • Harmonisation of compliance Provide technical assistance to rules across countries African countries • Proportionate customer ID rules Help them to implement best like in South Africa. Customers Regulation are majority migrants. practises in remittance regulating 4 Beyond Financial Services • We are a migrant run business – Understand migrant’s needs • Improves link between migrants here with Africa – Prompted migrants to launch own businesses – Take best solutions from here back home • We unify disparate groups – People from different tribes now have business relationship through us – employees from all tribes.
    [Show full text]
  • Somaliland's World-Leading Move Towards a Cashless Culture - the National
    26/02/2019 Somaliland's world-leading move towards a cashless culture - The National Somaliland's world-leading move towards a cashless culture A breakaway region in the Horn of Africa isn’t the obvious setting for a technological revolution Charlie Mitchell October 17, 2018 Abdul Rashid has sold sweet Somali tea on the muddy streets of Hargeisa for decades. As night falls in the capital of breakaway Somaliland and worshipers flood out of the mosque, a handful congregate around his rickety table. While he pours from a flask into paper cups, buyers type a string of numbers into mobile phones, take their tea and go on their way. A cup of Mr Rashid’s tea costs 2,000 Somaliland shillings – equivalent to $0.25 or Dh0.92 – and his customers pay almost exclusively with their mobile phones. “I never see cash,” he tells The National. Mr Rashid is not alone. Across Somaliland – which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but is yet to gain recognition from the international community – people are turning away from cash and embracing mobile money. This makes the region, with its tiny livestock-dependent economy, a candidate for the world’s first cashless society. Abdul Rashid selling tea at his road side tea stall in Hargeisa city in Somaliland. Pawan Singh for The National “It is the most incredible service we have,” says Abdinasir Ahmed Hersi. He is the director general of Somaliland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, but I bump into him buying a mobile phone – using the one he already has – in the clean but soulless Deero mall in downtown Hargeisa.
    [Show full text]