TRENDS IN LIVESTOCK OWNERSHIP AMONG THE NOMADIC POPULATION IN SOMALIA • Nomadic households have the highest poverty rates and often lack sufficient livestock to escape poverty. • Livestock ownership among the poorer nomadic households appears to have been worst affected by the recent drought. • Nomadic households can be supported by policies that promote herd accumulation and improve their access to key inputs. In 2022, the nomadic population, comprising just stockless or nearly stockless, owning less than 1 TLU over 10 percent of the Somali population, faced per capita, and an additional 20 percent own less than the highest levels of monetary, non-monetary, 2 TLU per capita, making them vulnerable.¹ Stockless and extreme poverty, along with the greatest households must rely on cash earnings as they inequality. Over three-quarters of the nomadic cannot produce enough food from their livestock. population lived below the poverty line in 2022, with In contrast, only a quarter of households have over the poverty rate increasing from 2017 to 2022. They 4.5 TLU per capita, the threshold for better-off also lag in literacy, enrollment, and access to services pastoralists (Figure 2). like electricity and drinking water. Livestock ownership has declined by the largest Most nomadic households lack sufficient livestock amount among the poorest nomadic households. to escape poverty. Tropical Livestock Units (TLU) The SIHBS 2022 data collection occurred between May measures livestock ownership accounting for animal and June 2022 after a prolonged drought. This drought size. The poorest 60 percent of nomadic households had an adverse impact on nomadic households, with own a median of 2 TLU per capita or less. This increases 70 percent reporting a negative economic impact from to 3.8 TLU per capita for the richest 20 percent drought in 2021 or 2022 and 44 percent reporting a (Figure 1). About a third of nomadic households are negative economic impact from livestock death. In Figure 1: Median Livestock and TLU Ownership Figure 2: Nomadic Households by TLU per capita 100 16 100% 14 80% 80 12 60% 60 10 Animals TLU 8 40% 40 6 20% 4 20 0% 2 All Non-Poor Poor 0 0 Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest All Poverty Livestock TLU (RHS) TLU p.c (RHS) None 1 or less 1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4.5 4.5 or more ¹ Little, P. et al. 2011. 1 POLICY BRIEF: TRENDS IN LIVESTOCK OWNERSHIP AMONG THE NOMADIC POPULATION IN SOMALIA the context of severe drought, all nomadic quintiles average number of TLUs per capita 12 months before reported a decline in the owned TLUs from 12 months the survey. The reduction in TLU seems to be driven, at before the survey. However, the decline was largest least in part, by higher mortality rates among poorer for households in the poorest quintile, for which the nomadic households for the main livestock types.² median declined by 42 percent of the initially owned The loss of livestock resulted in increased inequality in TLUs. The poorest quintile had the third-largest TLU ownership among nomadic households. 3 Figure 3: Percentage Change in Median TLU from 12 Figure 4: Change in Average TLU per capita Ownership months prior to the survey to date of interview 8 0% -5% -10% 6 -15% -20% -25% TLU -30% 4 -35% -40% -45% 2 Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest Left out Moving from Staying with Combining 0 12 months ago Survey Quintile Type Poorest 2nd 3rd 4th Richest Supporting herd accumulation can have knock-on meeting this threshold.⁷ Therefore, poorer nomadic effects in terms of resilience and productivity. households should be supported in improving their Having sufficient herd size allows greater mobility, ability to accumulate greater herd numbers and which in turn can promote greater resilience. preventing livestock loss in the event of shocks. Land Livestock that move can potentially access a more rights also play an important role in enabling nomadic diverse diet, which in turn improves their health. As households to achieve sufficient mobility.⁸ Once a result, these animals are more resilient to climatic households achieve sufficient herd size, they can focus shocks.⁴ This is supported by higher mortality rates on commercialization. among sheep and goats in drought-affected nomadic households and lower birth rates. Greater herd sizes Improving access to key inputs can help improve can also act as a buffer to shocks, ensuring that livestock productivity and resilience to drought. households can restore their herd size after losses A lack of access to water, fodder, and medicine can due to drought.⁵ Improved health can also positively worsen livestock productivity and cause conflict due impact productivity, as healthier livestock are likely to increased pressure on shared resources.⁹ Improving to produce more output.⁶ Based on previous work, access to these inputs can further help support a household needs at least 4.5 TLU per capita for resilience and prevent the need for distress sales mobility, with only a quarter of nomadic households during droughts when prices are low.¹⁰ ² The mortality rate is calculated as the number of livestock deaths over the past 12 months divided by the initial livestock ownership 12 months ago. ³ This would not capture households who previously owned livestock 12 months ago but did not own any at the time of the survey. ⁴ McPeak, J. and Little, P., 2017; Heritage Institute, 2023. ⁵ McPeak, J. and Little, P., 2017. ⁶ Carter and Barrett, 2006; Little, P. et al. 2011; Abdulahi A. M. 1990 ⁷ Focus groups discussions with nomads suggested that a herder would need at least 20 camels or 50 sheep or goats to have a viable herd size. Using this threshold also produces a larger share (69 percent) of nomadic households who meet this threshold, however, this does not account for the household size. ⁸ Niamir-Fuller, 1999; Homman et al., 2004; Little, P. et al, 2011. ⁹ World Bank, 2023. ¹⁰ Barrett et al., 2006 2