The Impact of Repeated Civil War on Foreign Aid Distribution
The repeated civil war which has prevented Somalia from advancing has also described Somalia. The collapse of the government in 1991 resulted in violent power disagreements between existing political forces. Over the years, especially, a large number of people were displaced and warlords redirected assistance. Even in the capital, Mogadishu, the military clashes and thus distracts food aid distribution, while famine keeps rocking the region. Seven years ago the election of a new leader sparked hope for the return of peace. However, Somalia remains a split region consisting of two independent nations, Puntland and Somaliland; one is governed by transitional authorities while the other is masterminded by Islamist groups. It is evident that peace and war have had significant effects on the distribution of foreign aid.
The Influence of International Interventions on the Local Economy
According to Ahmad (2012), through the infusion of large amounts of foreign aid into the informal economy of Somalia, international interventions virtually transform as well as dominate the local economy. As soon as the international organizations set foot in Somalia, the largest source of income for the locals becomes the intervention itself. Considering that war has ravaged various cities in the land, the donations in the form of billions of dollars of project money shocks the local market overnight. Guha-Sapir and Ratnayake (2009) assert that the magnitude of the death rates is high and the severity has remained elevated since 2006 thus affecting foreign aid, particularly health interventions. The high-rates are as a result of a series of events such as the division within the transitional government as well as fierce fighting that has culminated to the exist of major NGOs. It is evident that the populations that are in need of aid in Somali are located around specific regions such as the South. The main determinant of the magnitude of need has been the restrictions on humanitarian access in the region. Despite the fact that aid would be more efficient if it is targeted to toward such populations, safe as well as unhindered humanitarian access has often been a challenge.
The Limitations of Foreign Aid on Long-term Development
The foreign aid that is often sent to Somalia is utilized by the recipient government to pay off a narrow constituency instead of supporting growth polices thus limiting long-term development (Strandow, Findley & Young, 2014). Considering that aid is a big sector of Somalia’s economy, some parts of the country’s economy have been stunted. Notably, the main notion is that the access to natural resources, in the case of Somalia it is foreign aid, increases a state's revenue which in turn strengthens the local currency. Consequently, the country's exports become expensive while manufacturing becomes less competitive on the international market, in the long-run the country's long-term development suffers.
Misappropriation and Diversion of Foreign Aid
Additionally, sometimes war periods causes foreign aid to be misappropriated through the various steps on the way from the donors to the intended beneficiaries. For the case of Somalia, the security conditions force donors to outsource development projects to international non-governmental organizations which in turn outsource them to other local nongovernmental organizations. It is evident that the process entails the deduction of the original donations and the projects are never attained fully in the long run. Further, foreign aid that is released to the government is always at the risk of being diverted into private hands, therefore, increasing the individual's value of holding government power (de Ree & Nillesen, 2009). Consequently, the rebels expect to gain significant rents through capturing the center of state power. Notably, some of the other ways in which foreign aid can be diverted include theft, corruption, as well as the disruption of the local economy.
The Relationship Between Foreign Aid and Violent Armed Conflict
According to Nielsen, Findley, Davis, Candland, and Nielson, (2011) aid can affect the likelihood of violent armed conflict essentially by influencing the state's ability to credibly commit to an agreement that decreases war at present and into the future. For the recipients of aid, shortfalls in aid make authorities relatively less able to make enough side-payments or military investments to preserve the peaceful status quo in the coming years. In some of the stable regions in Somalia, foreign aid has helped the country to reduce poverty. However, Somalia is still one of the most underdeveloped countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, even though foreign aid has proved to help in the economic growth, it is also evident that it makes less impact on the social indicators of life including the mortality rate, literacy levels, and life expectancy.
Conclusion
Conclusively, foreign aid is often affected by peace and war in Somalia, thus leading to unintentional consequences in the conflict zones. Ultimately, Somalia proves to be an excellent case study of how large-scale foreign aid is affected by the informal economy and sometimes leading to the failure of the same state that it intended to help. After the collapse of the country in 1991, periods of chaos and brutal civil war, as well as famine, have attracted international attention while promoting various international interventions. Foreign aid is always well-intentioned, but the different circumstances that exist in the recipient nation usually undermine the actual objectives and aims of the aid.
References
1. Ahmad, A. (2012). Agenda for peace or budget for war?. International Journal. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.belfercenter.org\/sites\/default\/files\/legacy\/files\/aisha-ahmad-international-journal-spring-2012.pdf
2. de Ree, J. & Nillesen, E. (2009). Aiding violence or peace? The impact of foreign aid on the risk of civil conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Development Economics, 88(2), 301-313. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jdeveco.2008.03.005
3. Guha-Sapir, D. & Ratnayake, R. (2009). Consequences of Ongoing Civil Conflict in Somalia: Evidence for Public Health Responses. Plos Medicine, 6(8), e1000108. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000108
4. Nielsen, R., Findley, M., Davis, Z., Candland, T., & Nielson, D. (2011). Foreign Aid Shocks as a Cause of Violent Armed Conflict. American Journal of Political Science, 55(2), 219-232. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1540-5907.2010.00492.x
5. Strandow, D., Findley, M., & Young, J. (2014). Foreign Aid and the Intensity of Violent Armed Conflict (1st ed.). Retrieved from http:\/\/www.michael-findley.com\/uploads\/2\/0\/4\/5\/20455799\/foreign_aid_violent_conflict_strandow-findley-young.pdf
