“Every day, as I walked the streets of Baidoa, begging for food, I felt a sense of shame. But thanks to the unconditional cash transfers, I regained my dignity. No longer did I have to rely on handouts. Instead, I could provide for my family with pride and autonomy.”
Those are the words of Fardowsa Nuur Ibrahim, a 30-year-old mother of four, living in Somalia. Fardowsa’s life was flourishing in Middle Juba, where she grew sesame, maize, and bananas on her farm, and her family enjoyed the fruits of their labour, selling any extra crops to pay for education and medical needs. But in 2023, the devastating Horn of Africa drought destroyed her crops. “We [had] worked tirelessly, tending to our crops with care, and it pained me to see it all wither away before my eyes,” Fardowsa says.
Her sustainable income was gone, and with no other options to ensure they would have food to eat, Fardowsa sold her farm at a low price and embarked on a 292-kilometre journey to Baidoa to seek assistance from her relatives. For a woman travelling alone with her children, this was a dangerous journey. Upon arrival, her hopes of gaining support from relatives were dashed. Instead, Fardowsa found herself settling on the outskirts of the city, and having to ask strangers for support to feed her family.
Thankfully, this area was where local Somali partner World Concern Development Organization was implementing a Foodgrains Bank-funded program for families experiencing hunger, with support from Emergency Relief and Development Overseas.
Fardowsa’s family was one of 850 households able to access cash transfers to purchase food and basic needs, through
the project implemented by World Concern Development Organization. (Photo: Abdullahi Haybe)
Fardowsa was determined to save a portion of the cash transfers she received, and used this to start a small business, creating traditional coolers from woven jerry cans and fans. These unique and practical items quickly became popular in Fardowsa’s community, since refrigerators and cooler boxes were a luxury beyond reach for many people.
Fardowsa had created a thriving business model to ensure her family’s food security for the future and strengthen her community relationships.
“I took a leap of faith… little did I know that this decision would not only provide me with a source of income, but also become a beacon of hope for my family and community.”
This story was originally published in the 2025 Winter edition of Breaking Bread.
