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Reevaluating-and-Realigning-United-States-Foreign-Aid-A-Focus-on-Africa-and-Somaliland.
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The United States government is undergoing a significant reevaluation of its foreign aid policies to adapt to the evolving geopolitical landscape. For the past 40 years, U.S. foreign assistance programs have remained relatively static, failing to address emerging global challenges effectively. With China’s growing influence in Africa through extensive infrastructure investments and economic partnerships, the U.S. must recalibrate its approach to foreign aid. This shift is critical not only to counterbalance Chinese influence but also to strengthen America’s presence in key regions, particularly in Africa. One such region that demands special consideration in this strategic realignment is Somaliland.
Despite declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland remains unrecognized by the international community. However, its strategic location along the Gulf of Aden and its commitment to democracy and stability make it an essential partner for the United States. Unlike many of its neighboring states, Somaliland has maintained peace and democratic governance, presenting a unique opportunity for direct U.S. engagement. By reassessing its foreign aid strategy to support Somaliland, the U.S. can advance its economic, security, and geopolitical interests in the Horn of Africa.
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CDG’S POSITION PAPER: ROLE OF SOMALILAND CSOS AND IMPACT ON DELIVERED SERVICES
After the Ogaden war and the civil war1 civil society provided welfare safety nets and by 1995 they were active in mobilization of support for rehabilitation, governance and security at the height of reconstruction campaign at regional and national level. A lot of international support was mobilized.2 NGOs have been engaged in real development work as government institutions rebuilt or reorganized and therefore making it hard to shift the paradigm of NGO work and separation from government or state roles radically. The perception of local-NGOs in the midst of growing role and entanglement with the state bread mixed feelings over where the CSO space is utilized appropriately or the state has overwhelming control of the CSOs. What is witnessed as deeply rooted contribution is a result of the “Building Partnership for Participatory Development”3