Livestock and grain market systems in Somalia’s South West State, while vital to food security and household income, are affected by recurrent shocks, including insecurity, climate shocks, pests and livestock disease, desert locusts, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that markets continue to function indicates a substantial degree of resilience. Findings from a mixed-method assessment across eight domains of system resilience indicate that the grain market system is more resilient than the livestock market system in three key domains: business strategy, diversity, and connectivity. Results show that grain businesses recover more quickly and are more likely to take action to achieve recovery than livestock businesses. When confronted by thin markets, practitioners have tended to respond by strengthening existing market actors, with the goal of filling critical gaps in the market. However, our findings provide new types of information to address systemic issues and strengthen market system resilience.

Abdile, M. (2012) ‘Customary dispute resolution in Somalia’, African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review 2(1): 87–110 <https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.2.1.87>.

Austrian Red Cross ACCORD (2009) Clans in Somalia: Report on a lecture by Joakim Gundel, COI workshop, Vienna, 15 May 2009 (revised edition) [pdf] <https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somalia-revised-edition-20091215.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Downing, J., Field, M., Ripley, M. and Sebstad, J. (2018) Market Systems Resilience: A Framework for Measurement [pdf] <https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/Market-Systems-Resilience-Measurement-Framework-Report-Final_public-August-2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

IOM Somalia (2020) COVID-19 and the state of remittance flows to Somalia: A snapshot analysis conducted by ION Somalia on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the Somali diaspora and remittance recipients [pdf] <https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/press_release/file/covid-19_and_the_state_of_remittance_flow_to_somalia_-_iom_somalia_august_2020.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Maxwell, D., Majid, N., Adan, G., Abdirahman, K. and Kim, J.J. (2016) ‘Facing famine: Somali experiences in the famine of 2011’, Food Policy 65: 63–73 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.11.001>.

Poole, N. (2017) Smallholder Agriculture and Market Participation [online], Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome and Practical Action Publishing, Rugby <http://www.fao.org/3/i7841e/i7841e.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Seville, D., Buxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? [pdf], Report for the Ford Foundation <https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/16029IIED.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) (2018) Somalia Resilience Program positive deviance in Somalia: why are some households more resilient than others? [online] <https://wvusstatic.com/2018/SomReP_Positive_Deviance_Study_Report.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2022].

Stremlau, N. and Osman, R. (2015) ‘Courts, clans and companies: mobile money and dispute resolution in Somaliland’, Stability: International Journal of Security & Development 4(1): Art43 <http://doi.org/10.5334/sta.gh>.

Vroegindewey, R. (2019) Guidance for Assessing Resilience in Market Systems [pdf], US Agency for International Development <https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resources/guidance_for_assessing_resilience_in_market_systems_final_sept_2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2018) Somalia Country Economic Memorandum Volume 1: Rebuilding Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture [online], FAO, Rome <https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8841EN/> [accessed 27 October 2021].

Abdile, M. (2012) ‘Customary dispute resolution in Somalia’, African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review 2(1): 87–110 <https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.2.1.87>.

Austrian Red Cross ACCORD (2009) Clans in Somalia: Report on a lecture by Joakim Gundel, COI workshop, Vienna, 15 May 2009 (revised edition) [pdf] <https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somalia-revised-edition-20091215.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Downing, J., Field, M., Ripley, M. and Sebstad, J. (2018) Market Systems Resilience: A Framework for Measurement [pdf] <https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/Market-Systems-Resilience-Measurement-Framework-Report-Final_public-August-2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

IOM Somalia (2020) COVID-19 and the state of remittance flows to Somalia: A snapshot analysis conducted by ION Somalia on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the Somali diaspora and remittance recipients [pdf] <https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/press_release/file/covid-19_and_the_state_of_remittance_flow_to_somalia_-_iom_somalia_august_2020.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Maxwell, D., Majid, N., Adan, G., Abdirahman, K. and Kim, J.J. (2016) ‘Facing famine: Somali experiences in the famine of 2011’, Food Policy 65: 63–73 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.11.001>.

Poole, N. (2017) Smallholder Agriculture and Market Participation [online], Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome and Practical Action Publishing, Rugby <http://www.fao.org/3/i7841e/i7841e.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Seville, D., Buxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? [pdf], Report for the Ford Foundation <https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/16029IIED.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) (2018) Somalia Resilience Program positive deviance in Somalia: why are some households more resilient than others? [online] <https://wvusstatic.com/2018/SomReP_Positive_Deviance_Study_Report.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2022].

Stremlau, N. and Osman, R. (2015) ‘Courts, clans and companies: mobile money and dispute resolution in Somaliland’, Stability: International Journal of Security & Development 4(1): Art43 <http://doi.org/10.5334/sta.gh>.

Vroegindewey, R. (2019) Guidance for Assessing Resilience in Market Systems [pdf], US Agency for International Development <https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resources/guidance_for_assessing_resilience_in_market_systems_final_sept_2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2018) Somalia Country Economic Memorandum Volume 1: Rebuilding Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture [online], FAO, Rome <https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8841EN/> [accessed 27 October 2021].

Abdile, M. (2012) ‘Customary dispute resolution in Somalia’, African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review 2(1): 87–110 <https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.2.1.87>.

Austrian Red Cross ACCORD (2009) Clans in Somalia: Report on a lecture by Joakim Gundel, COI workshop, Vienna, 15 May 2009 (revised edition) [pdf] <https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somalia-revised-edition-20091215.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Downing, J., Field, M., Ripley, M. and Sebstad, J. (2018) Market Systems Resilience: A Framework for Measurement [pdf] <https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/Market-Systems-Resilience-Measurement-Framework-Report-Final_public-August-2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

IOM Somalia (2020) COVID-19 and the state of remittance flows to Somalia: A snapshot analysis conducted by ION Somalia on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the Somali diaspora and remittance recipients [pdf] <https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/press_release/file/covid-19_and_the_state_of_remittance_flow_to_somalia_-_iom_somalia_august_2020.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Maxwell, D., Majid, N., Adan, G., Abdirahman, K. and Kim, J.J. (2016) ‘Facing famine: Somali experiences in the famine of 2011’, Food Policy 65: 63–73 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.11.001>.

Poole, N. (2017) Smallholder Agriculture and Market Participation [online], Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome and Practical Action Publishing, Rugby <http://www.fao.org/3/i7841e/i7841e.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Seville, D., Buxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? [pdf], Report for the Ford Foundation <https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/16029IIED.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) (2018) Somalia Resilience Program positive deviance in Somalia: why are some households more resilient than others? [online] <https://wvusstatic.com/2018/SomReP_Positive_Deviance_Study_Report.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2022].

Stremlau, N. and Osman, R. (2015) ‘Courts, clans and companies: mobile money and dispute resolution in Somaliland’, Stability: International Journal of Security & Development 4(1): Art43 <http://doi.org/10.5334/sta.gh>.

Vroegindewey, R. (2019) Guidance for Assessing Resilience in Market Systems [pdf], US Agency for International Development <https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resources/guidance_for_assessing_resilience_in_market_systems_final_sept_2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2018) Somalia Country Economic Memorandum Volume 1: Rebuilding Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture [online], FAO, Rome <https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8841EN/> [accessed 27 October 2021].

Abdile, M. (2012) ‘Customary dispute resolution in Somalia’, African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review 2(1): 87–110 <https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.2.1.87>.

Austrian Red Cross ACCORD (2009) Clans in Somalia: Report on a lecture by Joakim Gundel, COI workshop, Vienna, 15 May 2009 (revised edition) [pdf] <https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somalia-revised-edition-20091215.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Downing, J., Field, M., Ripley, M. and Sebstad, J. (2018) Market Systems Resilience: A Framework for Measurement [pdf] <https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/Market-Systems-Resilience-Measurement-Framework-Report-Final_public-August-2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

IOM Somalia (2020) COVID-19 and the state of remittance flows to Somalia: A snapshot analysis conducted by ION Somalia on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the Somali diaspora and remittance recipients [pdf] <https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/press_release/file/covid-19_and_the_state_of_remittance_flow_to_somalia_-_iom_somalia_august_2020.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Maxwell, D., Majid, N., Adan, G., Abdirahman, K. and Kim, J.J. (2016) ‘Facing famine: Somali experiences in the famine of 2011’, Food Policy 65: 63–73 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.11.001>.

Poole, N. (2017) Smallholder Agriculture and Market Participation [online], Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome and Practical Action Publishing, Rugby <http://www.fao.org/3/i7841e/i7841e.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Seville, D., Buxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? [pdf], Report for the Ford Foundation <https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/16029IIED.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) (2018) Somalia Resilience Program positive deviance in Somalia: why are some households more resilient than others? [online] <https://wvusstatic.com/2018/SomReP_Positive_Deviance_Study_Report.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2022].

Stremlau, N. and Osman, R. (2015) ‘Courts, clans and companies: mobile money and dispute resolution in Somaliland’, Stability: International Journal of Security & Development 4(1): Art43 <http://doi.org/10.5334/sta.gh>.

Vroegindewey, R. (2019) Guidance for Assessing Resilience in Market Systems [pdf], US Agency for International Development <https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resources/guidance_for_assessing_resilience_in_market_systems_final_sept_2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2018) Somalia Country Economic Memorandum Volume 1: Rebuilding Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture [online], FAO, Rome <https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8841EN/> [accessed 27 October 2021].

Abdile, M. (2012) ‘Customary dispute resolution in Somalia’, African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review 2(1): 87–110 <https://doi.org/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.2.1.87>.

Austrian Red Cross ACCORD (2009) Clans in Somalia: Report on a lecture by Joakim Gundel, COI workshop, Vienna, 15 May 2009 (revised edition) [pdf] <https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somalia-revised-edition-20091215.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Downing, J., Field, M., Ripley, M. and Sebstad, J. (2018) Market Systems Resilience: A Framework for Measurement [pdf] <https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1866/Market-Systems-Resilience-Measurement-Framework-Report-Final_public-August-2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

IOM Somalia (2020) COVID-19 and the state of remittance flows to Somalia: A snapshot analysis conducted by ION Somalia on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on the Somali diaspora and remittance recipients [pdf] <https://www.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl486/files/press_release/file/covid-19_and_the_state_of_remittance_flow_to_somalia_-_iom_somalia_august_2020.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

Maxwell, D., Majid, N., Adan, G., Abdirahman, K. and Kim, J.J. (2016) ‘Facing famine: Somali experiences in the famine of 2011’, Food Policy 65: 63–73 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.11.001>.

Poole, N. (2017) Smallholder Agriculture and Market Participation [online], Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome and Practical Action Publishing, Rugby <http://www.fao.org/3/i7841e/i7841e.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Seville, D., Buxton, A. and Vorley, B. (2011) Under What Conditions Are Value Chains Effective Tools for Pro-poor Development? [pdf], Report for the Ford Foundation <https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/16029IIED.pdf> [accessed 15 September 2021].

Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) (2018) Somalia Resilience Program positive deviance in Somalia: why are some households more resilient than others? [online] <https://wvusstatic.com/2018/SomReP_Positive_Deviance_Study_Report.pdf> [accessed 20 January 2022].

Stremlau, N. and Osman, R. (2015) ‘Courts, clans and companies: mobile money and dispute resolution in Somaliland’, Stability: International Journal of Security & Development 4(1): Art43 <http://doi.org/10.5334/sta.gh>.

Vroegindewey, R. (2019) Guidance for Assessing Resilience in Market Systems [pdf], US Agency for International Development <https://www.marketlinks.org/sites/default/files/resources/guidance_for_assessing_resilience_in_market_systems_final_sept_2019.pdf> [accessed 10 September 2021].

World Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (2018) Somalia Country Economic Memorandum Volume 1: Rebuilding Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture [online], FAO, Rome <https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8841EN/> [accessed 27 October 2021].