Inspirational Somali Woman from Cali Encouraging the Diaspora to Return and Build

[EainA2]

This is exactly what we need. A lot of the diaspora are now skilled, probably working dead end jobs and living unfulfilled lives, when their skills could be far more beneficial and impactful to our home country. The government should organise some kind of campaign or incentive to bring them back.


And to the Somali diaspora, how can you call yourself a proud Somali but not want to improve your land?


I myself have been searching for a business to start in Somalia. I've been thinking about brick/tiles making.

 

[Idilinaa]

Made a post related to this in the agricultural land by country thread. Diaspora for many years have returned and driven growth especially in the agricultural sector.

There is tons of opportunities still available

Today Somali has the advantage of more domestic revenues sources and diaspora investment

Somali diaspora investment in both Agriculture and Livestock. Acts as dual investors.

. This is a chart from 2017.

Somali Diaspora Investment Fuels Growth: A Snapshot

issuu.com

Shown an example of this in a different thread how in Hargeisa they have opened up local agricultural fresh produce markets where they sell locally sourced produce . And it's a venture capital firm that invested in expanding this.

I looked at the tiktok account for example the same girl in that video shows they set up agricultural markets in Hargeisa to bring in fresh local produce.

I also looked up the company name. Apparently it is locally sourced produce aimed at boosting local agriculture

It is funded by a venture capitalist firm called Bilow Capital.

But yeah if you look through her Tiktok account she shows a diversity of businesses, it's not just hotel. It's like one video out of the many.

Agro-business conglomerates.

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Somaliagribusinessgroup – connecting farmers to buyers.

Filsan Somalia

Filsan Somalia. Отметки "Нравится": 1 119 · Обсуждают: 32. Supporting Local Farming. Affordable seeds and complementary technologies.

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Because of this Somalia has managed to revive entire agricultural sectors from the ground up:

Thanks to these types of businesses and investments it has revived Banana export market

Somalia is back on the international banana market

A few decades ago, Somalia was a major exporter of bananas. Then years of civil war interrupted the expeditions. The resumption of exports just came a few days ago with the shipment of bananas to Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the resumption of banana...

fructidor.com

It has also become the 8th largest sesame producer in the world back i 2020

Somalia remains eighth-largest sesame producer in the world

MOGADISHU (HOL) - Somalia is known globally as the largest exporter of live animals most of them heading to the Middle East markets but little is known about the country’s production of sesame seeds.

hiiraan.com

Along with dried limes and lemons

Somali lemons and sesame find new export markets in Turkey

(ERGO) - Somali farmers and exporters have started selling local agricultural produce to a new market in Turkey, with the

radioergo.org

Somalia today also has a very strong seed sector

Somalia’s Surprisingly Strong Seed Sector - Seed Systems Group

The country of Somalia, in Africa’s northeastern region known as the Horn of Africa, has faced numerous challenges over the past several decades, including a

seedsystemsgroup.org

The influence of the diaspora extends beyond remittances; they are seen as integral to Somalia's social and economic fabric. An engine of growth.

Expatriate investors account for up to large majority of the starting capital for small and medium enterprises. The informal economy thrives on their contributions.

They have established Diaspora investment councils, forums and organizations like GSD that aim to strengthen the diaspora's connections.

 

[Idilinaa]

This part here about the seed sector is very important. Because it show's you how Somalia is self-reliant and making agricultural innovations and rapid technological adoptions.

That Cali girl that you showed benefited immensely from seed distribution networks and local agricultural markets. Thats how she can quickly set up farmland and production in places like Lascaanod.

Somalia today also has a very strong seed sector

Somalia’s Surprisingly Strong Seed Sector - Seed Systems Group

The country of Somalia, in Africa’s northeastern region known as the Horn of Africa, has faced numerous challenges over the past several decades, including a

seedsystemsgroup.org

Just to elaborate more on whats mentioned here. In Somalia, agricultural growth is entirely private-sector driven , with local seed companies, farmers’ cooperatives, and diaspora-funded ventures leading the charge.

For example: In Somalia, 12+ private seed companies like Filsan and HornAgro are supplying hybrid maize and improved pasture crop seeds. In contrast, many African countries still depend on government parastatals or foreign NGOs for inputs.

Another difference i've found from my research is that indigenous knowledge guides farming, not donor playbooks.

Elsewhere in Africa, large-scale agricultural planning often follows donor-led blueprints or World Bank-style policies that may not align with local realities.

Somali farmers and pastoralists rely on centuries of ecological adaptation, water management, and crop-livestock balancing strategies that are context-specific and field-tested.

These companies are strategically located to serve diverse agro-ecological zones. They respond to actual farmer demand, unlike one-size-fits-all aid models.


Somalia's farmers serve commercial and export markets:

In much of Africa, farmers are locked into subsistence farming due to lack of market access, infrastructure, or poor pricing structures.

Where as in Somalia, despite infrastructure challenges, farmers grow for:

- Local urban markets

- Export demand

- Diaspora funded-trade chains

Even forage crops for pastoralists (like Berseem and grass) are being produced commercially, which is rare across much of the continent. An estimated 25% of Somalia’s farmers are pastoralists whose livestock requires access to quality pasture crops, which are also propagated from seed.

Driven by flexible innovation and rapid technological adoption:

In Somalia , private actors are quick to adopt:

- Solar-powered irrigation

- Drip systems

- Hybrid seed varieties

- Mobile banking for ag-financing

In contrast, in many African countries, farmers wait for government programs or NGO pilots to test new methods.


What makes this even more significant is that Somalis had to build this from the ground up through trial and error. Since the looting and destruction of Somali seed banks occurred during the collapse 91.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/01/30/somali-seed-banks-have-been-looted/c0c4deb7-50aa-4a05-9fb1-26e44231e18d/

Somalia's two seed banks, facilities that stored samples of hundreds of varieties of food crops adapted to the country's soils and climates, were looted within the last three or four months and now stand empty, an international agricultural official said yesterday.

Since then major advancements have been made. Now Somalia has a wide variety of local seeds and advanced ones adapted to their local climates and ecology. Lead by CSET and HornAgro who are being pushed by market momentum to introduce advanced, stress-resistant varieties.

Backed by support for crop research trials, these firms aren’t just retailers , they’re becoming key players in local R&D.

TDLR:

-This shows that Somalia’s agricultural sector is modernizing from within, not through top-down aid dependency.

- Pastoralists and farmers are beginning to access high-yield, stress-resistant seed varieties, increasing food security, resilience, and potential for surplus production , a critical factor for both domestic food supply and rural incomes

- It reflects a broader truth: Somalia’s private sector , even in agriculture , is quietly evolving into a major economic driver.

- This story reframes Somalia not as a place of despair, but as a hub of adaptation, agronomic knowledge, and market-driven recovery.

 

[Espaa_]

I will personally do so once they get rid of clan nepotism and they have a strong government who can protect my business and guarantee security in the region. If not whats the point?

its a system. If the people on top want the best for you, then the workers can also do their best. Even she acknowledged it in the video, ‘no government’.

 

[Idilinaa]

I will personally do so once they get rid of clan nepotism and they have a strong government who can protect my business and guarantee security in the region. If not whats the point?

its a system. If the people on top want the best for you, then the workers can also do their best. Even she acknowledged it in the video, ‘no government’.

Agriculture and most economic activity in Somalia aren’t public sector-driven, so whatever dysfunction you see in the government doesn’t necessarily block Somalis from building or scaling businesses. The state doesn’t "make or break" the market here , the private sector does.


When it comes to nepotism, people often over-simplify it by reducing it to just clan favoritism. But in practice, it’s often closer to family- or proximity-based favoritism, where even people from the same clan get overlooked in favor of a cousin, brother-in-law, or a tight social circle. That’s not unique to Somalia , it happens in different forms in a lot of countries. But in Somalia government largely operates like that because it's outside supported and not locally supported, unlike the private sector.


The private sector operates very differently. It’s more functional and performance-based because competition doesn’t allow dead weight to thrive for long. Businesses don’t survive by hiring people just because they’re related , they need results.


Also, don’t let the lack of a strong centralized government discourage you from investing. Somalia’s private market thrives because it's decentralized and adaptive. Look at what happened with Filsan Seed Company , after their success with hybrid maize etc , 12+ other private seed firms sprang up, inspired by the model. That’s the power of demonstration and momentum. One solid investment or venture can trigger a ripple effect across regions.


The private sector also has its own informal self-regulation mechanisms , peer accountability, market competition, community feedback , that often work more efficiently than top-down enforcement.

So don’t wait around for ideal conditions. Somalia is one of the few places where a single entrepreneur can literally reshape the market. The upside is huge if you're willing to lead and build.

 

[Espaa_]

Agriculture and most economic activity in Somalia aren’t public sector-driven, so whatever dysfunction you see in the government doesn’t necessarily block Somalis from building or scaling businesses. The state doesn’t "make or break" the market here , the private sector does.


When it comes to nepotism, people often over-simplify it by reducing it to just clan favoritism. But in practice, it’s often closer to family- or proximity-based favoritism, where even people from the same clan get overlooked in favor of a cousin, brother-in-law, or a tight social circle. That’s not unique to Somalia , it happens in different forms in a lot of countries. But in Somalia government largely operates like that because it's outside supported and not locally supported, unlike the private sector.


The private sector operates very differently. It’s more functional and performance-based because competition doesn’t allow dead weight to thrive for long. Businesses don’t survive by hiring people just because they’re related , they need results.


Also, don’t let the lack of a strong centralized government discourage you from investing. Somalia’s private market thrives because it's decentralized and adaptive. Look at what happened with Filsan Seed Company , after their success with hybrid maize etc , 12+ other private seed firms sprang up, inspired by the model. That’s the power of demonstration and momentum. One solid investment or venture can trigger a ripple effect across regions.


The private sector also has its own informal self-regulation mechanisms , peer accountability, market competition, community feedback , that often work more efficiently than top-down enforcement.

So don’t wait around for ideal conditions. Somalia is one of the few places where a single entrepreneur can literally reshape the market. The upside is huge if you're willing to lead and build.

I agree with everything you just said. I come from balcad afgoye area and its hella dangerous to put money there since theres always a constant AS threat or it just gets overrun by them. And we have to pay a tax to these people as well its crazy. Security wise you are quite limited in what you can do before running into some pretty bad people who can target you

 

[Idilinaa]

I agree with everything you just said. I come from balcad afgoye area and its hella dangerous to put money there since theres always a constant AS threat or it just gets overrun by them. And we have to pay a tax to these people as well its crazy. Security wise you are quite limited in what you can do before running into some pretty bad people

I see what you mean. You are very correct on that, that's a significant barrier. The AS menace. You could start elsewhere in safer locations in Somalia and relocate or create secondary expansion once suitable conditions arises in ''balcad or afgoye''

But i would start first with contacting local agro businesses in shabelle area and ask how they manage and the risks.

 

[Espaa_]

I see what you mean. You are very correct on that, that's a big barrier. The AS menace. You could start elsewhere in safer locations in Somalia and relocate or create 2ndary expansion once suitable conditions arises.

But i would start first with contacting local agro businesses in shabelle area and ask how they manage and the risks.

My auntie actually has a farm in balcad next to the shabelle river but often she has to flee because of the AS threat hence losing time when she could be increasing profits. In terms of investing my mum put money into a business in Kenya I think in a kikuyu stronghold im not too sure. Security is attractive to potential investors. Even if I was to make a business in xamar, AS will ask for a 30% cut or else

This happened to my mums friend she had to pay tax to AS for her 2 story house in xamar madina. Imagine they found her phone number and CALLED her privately. Its not safe nor am I interested in funding murderers

 

[Idilinaa]

My auntie actually has a farm in balcad next to the shabelle river but often she has to flee because of the AS threat hence losing time when she could be increasing profits. In terms of investing my mum put money into a business in Kenya I think in a kikuyu stronghold im not too sure. Security is attractive to potential investors. Even if I was to make a business in xamar, AS will ask for a 30% cut or else

This happened to my mums friend she had to pay tax to AS for her 2 story house in xamar madina. Imagine they found her phone number and CALLED her privately. Its not safe nor am I interested in funding murderers

When was this? i think it must be safer now because i always see Somalis on social media and youtube just walk and drive right into Afgooye farms directly from Mogadishu without any problems. And it doesn't seem like there has been any major disruptions to production either because agricultural exports have been increasing.

I am assuming they still have to pay AS or FGS Isbaaros to pass through and tax.

This from last year and this year.


You should try to go back and re-establish your moms farmland and build local connections and evaluate the market etc. Build security measures.

 

[Idilinaa]

This part here about the seed sector is very important. Because it show's you how Somalia is self-reliant and making agricultural innovations and rapid technological adoptions.

That Cali girl that you showed benefited immensely from seed distribution networks and local agricultural markets. Thats how she can quickly set up farmland and production in places like Lascaanod.


Just to elaborate more on whats mentioned here. In Somalia, agricultural growth is entirely private-sector driven , with local seed companies, farmers’ cooperatives, and diaspora-funded ventures leading the charge.
View attachment 361212

For example: In Somalia, 12+ private seed companies like Filsan and HornAgro are supplying hybrid maize and improved pasture crop seeds. In contrast, many African countries still depend on government parastatals or foreign NGOs for inputs.
View attachment 361213

Another difference i've found from my research is that indigenous knowledge guides farming, not donor playbooks.

Elsewhere in Africa, large-scale agricultural planning often follows donor-led blueprints or World Bank-style policies that may not align with local realities.

Somali farmers and pastoralists rely on centuries of ecological adaptation, water management, and crop-livestock balancing strategies that are context-specific and field-tested.

These companies are strategically located to serve diverse agro-ecological zones. They respond to actual farmer demand, unlike one-size-fits-all aid models.


Somalia's farmers serve commercial and export markets:

In much of Africa, farmers are locked into subsistence farming due to lack of market access, infrastructure, or poor pricing structures.

Where as in Somalia, despite infrastructure challenges, farmers grow for:

- Local urban markets

- Export demand

- Diaspora funded-trade chains

Even forage crops for pastoralists (like Berseem and grass) are being produced commercially, which is rare across much of the continent. An estimated 25% of Somalia’s farmers are pastoralists whose livestock requires access to quality pasture crops, which are also propagated from seed.

Driven by flexible innovation and rapid technological adoption:

In Somalia , private actors are quick to adopt:

- Solar-powered irrigation

- Drip systems

- Hybrid seed varieties

- Mobile banking for ag-financing

In contrast, in many African countries, farmers wait for government programs or NGO pilots to test new methods.


What makes this even more significant is that Somalis had to build this from the ground up through trial and error. Since the looting and destruction of Somali seed banks occurred during the collapse 91.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1993/01/30/somali-seed-banks-have-been-looted/c0c4deb7-50aa-4a05-9fb1-26e44231e18d/

Since then major advancements have been made. Now Somalia has a wide variety of local seeds and advanced ones adapted to their local climates and ecology. Lead by CSET and HornAgro who are being pushed by market momentum to introduce advanced, stress-resistant varieties.

Backed by support for crop research trials, these firms aren’t just retailers , they’re becoming key players in local R&D.

TDLR:

-This shows that Somalia’s agricultural sector is modernizing from within, not through top-down aid dependency.

- Pastoralists and farmers are beginning to access high-yield, stress-resistant seed varieties, increasing food security, resilience, and potential for surplus production , a critical factor for both domestic food supply and rural incomes

- It reflects a broader truth: Somalia’s private sector , even in agriculture , is quietly evolving into a major economic driver.

- This story reframes Somalia not as a place of despair, but as a hub of adaptation, agronomic knowledge, and market-driven recovery.

@Aseer @Midas @Shimbiris @Shayla @NidarNidar @𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒔𐒖𐒕𐒈

 

[The alchemist]

clan nepotism

You might never return. There is no way people are not going to favor their kin over others. That doesn't even happen in the West, although they don't have clans. Meritocracy is an illusion.

Look at Bush, Obama, Clinton, Kennedy, etc. They all shoehorned their families into the political scene once they were in it. People have a tendency to favor their own with a premium if they could. Even more so with business and opportunities. In terms of corruption? That can be mitigated. But a simple favor or bias from your clan? Yeah, that is not going away because we see it among the khaleejis.

 

[Idilinaa]

You might never return. There is no way people are not going to favor their kin over others. That doesn't even happen in the West, although they don't have clans. Meritocracy is an illusion.

Look at Bush, Obama, Clinton, Kennedy, etc. They all shoehorned their families into the political scene once they were in it. People have a tendency to favor their own with a premium if they could. Even more so with business and opportunities. In terms of corruption? That can be mitigated. But a simple favor or bias from your clan? Yeah, that is not going away because we see it among the khaleejis.

I have to say. It's misleading to Isolate “clan-nepotism” as if it’s a feature of Somali society, when in reality Somalia operates as a decentralized, cooperative society where personal networks exist , like everywhere else , but don’t define the full structure or function of the system.

Most of the time, when people refer to “clan nepotism,” they’re really pointing at the dysfunction of the public sector, which has been shaped by external influence, political fragmentation, and donor dependency , not because Somalis inherently favor their clan over merit. In fact, nepotism in these cases often happens within the same sub or family, and not based on broader clan loyalty. It's personalism, not tribalism.

By contrast, the private sector in Somalia functions independently of the state, and performs efficiently because it relies on service delivery and reputation, not favoritism. That’s why companies in telecom, banking, transport, or agriculture operate across regions and clan lines. They simply wouldn’t survive otherwise.

Nepotism is a global phenomenon , look at family dynasties in Western politics or legacy hiring in elite institutions. But only in Somalia is it uniquely reduced to “clanism,” while ignoring the actual structural context that produces it.

So instead of reducing Somalia’s complex social and economic systems to a simplistic idea like “clan nepotism,” it’s better we recognize that Somalia’s decentralized, community-based model actually limits the damage that favoritism can do , unlike top-down, centralized systems elsewhere.

 

[Hnomo]

When the civil war ends. With any side winning. Thats when will most come back.

 

[Inquisitive_]

We can't even form a network for Somali professionals in the diaspora.

The one thing that Somali boomers and Gen X crush us in (millennials, Gen Z) is they are organised and invest as a group and there is high trust among them, hence they have achieved a lot while swimming against the tide while reducing capital risk.

It's why Somalia survived against all odds, if it was left to individualistic minded people like us, we wouldn't exist today.

You won't achieve anything significant with that mindset that we have all been programmed with in the diaspora by design.

Case in point you will struggle to get 5 people on this forum together to form anything or even trust each other.

 

[Idilinaa]

We can't even form a network for Somali professionals in the diaspora.

The one thing that Somali boomers and Gen X crush us in (millennials, Gen Z) is they are organised and invest as a group and there is high trust among them, hence they have achieved a lot while swimming against the tide while reducing capital risk.

It's why Somalia survived against all odds, if it was left to individualistic minded people like us, we wouldn't exist today.

You won't achieve anything significant with that mindset that we have all been programmed with in the diaspora by design.

Case in point you will struggle to get 5 people on this forum together to form anything or even trust each other.

You’re completely mistaken , there are ''plenty'' of Somali professional networks in the diaspora, many of which are thriving and often led by Gen Z and millennial professionals.

Just to name a few:

Global Somali Diaspora (GSD) A well-established global platform that regularly holds conferences and networking events across Europe, North America, and Africa.
https://global-somalidiaspora.com

SNABPI – Somali North American Business and Professional Incubator, recently held its national conference in the U.S. bringing together Somali-American professionals from various fields.

‘Not your typical networking event’: Somali professionals showcase talent at inaugural national conference

Somali North American Business and Professionals Inc. began mostly as a loose project in 2017 on Facebook. It quickly grew to become one of the most popular Facebook groups for Somalis. With more than 15,000 members, it has now officially transitioned from mainly having online interactions to...

sahanjournal.com

SPNEA – Somali Professional Network of East Africa (Kenya)


Somali Professionals Network – Australia

SomaliPN on Instagram: "Final Announcement! Brought to you by SomaliPN and Darusalam Society Inc, our NDIS Networking and Business Expo is happening TODAY! Join us for an amazing lineup of speakers and businesses that you won’t want to miss. Book

10 likes, 0 comments - somali_pn on June 21, 2024: "Final Announcement! Brought to you by SomaliPN and Darusalam Society Inc, our NDIS Networking and Business Expo is happening TODAY! Join us for an amazing lineup of speakers and businesses that you won’t want to miss. Book your tickets...

www.instagram.com

Somali Professionals – Canada

Somali Professionals on Instagram: "🚀 Meet the powerhouse speakers for our first panel discussion of the evening! 🎤 Munassar Ali – Engagement Manager, Automation @ IBM Consulting 🎤 Abdi Hersi – Director, Payment Strategy & Partnerships @ Wealthsimpl

35 likes, 0 comments - somaliprofessionals on February 13, 2025: "🚀 Meet the powerhouse speakers for our first panel discussion of the evening! 🎤 Munassar Ali – Engagement Manager, Automation @ IBM Consulting 🎤 Abdi Hersi – Director, Payment Strategy & Partnerships @ Wealthsimple 🎤 Zakaria...

www.instagram.com

In the UK, there are multiple specialized associations:
– British Somali Medical Association @TheBSMA
– British Somali Educators Association @bsomeducators
– Somali Lawyers Association (SLA) @Sla_network
– Association of Somali Engineers – UK LinkedIn

These aren’t just symbolic groups , many of their events are backed by Somali-owned businesses, banks, fintech firms, universities, and diaspora investors. They connect professionals across sectors and age groups and foster serious initiatives in entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, and tech.

So before making broad, defeatist claims like “we can’t even form a network,” maybe take a second to look around. The networks are there. The collaboration is happening. Just because you're not plugged in doesn't mean it doesn’t exist.

Instead of leaning into “we’re too individualistic” narrative, maybe ask yourself what role you could play in strengthening these networks , or better yet, join one.