Introduction
Somalia has been a structurally food insecure
country since well before the civil war. It is one
of the poorest countries in the world, with an
estimated population of around 6.4 million out of
which more than 70% are living in rural areas.
Somali society still has very strong links to its
pastoral history, with 59% of the population
practicing nomadic and semi-nomadic agro-pastoralism.
An additional 17% of the population practice
sedentary agriculture.
Notwithstanding international efforts to improve the
long-term food security situation, the continuing
civil strive affecting most parts of the country is
having a detrimental effect on the overall
livelihood security situation of large groups of the
population. Overall conducive framework conditions
to address this situation were therefore not in
place as of the year 2002.
The Food Security and Rural Development Sectoral
Committee aims to coordinate the immediate food
security challenges faced by the country as well the
longer term, more sustainable rural development
demands.
