In the dry, sunbaked outskirts of Galdogob in Puntland, life has always demanded resilience. The land is harsh, rains are unpredictable, and opportunity often feels distant. Yet within this challenging landscape, quiet transformations are taking place. For families like that of Wardi Mohamed Hussein, what once felt like a daily struggle for survival has slowly become a journey toward dignity, stability, and hope.

Wardi stands outside her modest home, built from tin sheets she carefully assembled over time. It is not large, but it is solid. It shields her children from the burning heat and the sudden rains that once destroyed everything they owned. For her, this home represents far more than shelter. It is proof that change is possible, even in the most fragile settings.

“I never imagined I would own a house,” she says softly. “Before, when it rained, we lost everything. Now, my children sleep safely. I can breathe.”

Her story is one of thousands unfolding across Somalia through the Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project, locally known as Baxnaano, a national program designed to protect the country’s most vulnerable families and help them build a more secure future.

A Program Rooted in Dignity

Launched to address chronic poverty and recurring humanitarian crises, the Baxnaano program represents a shift in how assistance is delivered in Somalia. Rather than offering short term relief alone, it focuses on strengthening resilience and restoring dignity through predictable, reliable cash support.

Under the program, eligible households receive 20 dollars per month, with additional assistance of up to 60 dollars during times of national emergency such as droughts, floods, or locust invasions. For families living on the edge, this support is often the difference between crisis and stability.

For Wardi, the first transfer felt almost unreal. “I had never received help like that before,” she recalls. “I did not know what to expect.” But the impact was immediate. She bought food, clean water, and basic household items. For the first time in years, her family could eat without fear of what tomorrow might bring.

That sense of security opened the door to something deeper. With each month of consistent support, Wardi began to think beyond survival. She saved small amounts whenever she could. Eventually, she invested in building materials and bought two goats, modest steps that would change her family’s future.

Today, her herd has grown to eighteen goats. They provide milk for daily consumption and serve as a safety net during difficult times. If an emergency arises, she knows she has assets she can rely on.

From Survival to Stability

Wardi’s journey reflects a broader transformation happening across Somalia. The Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project currently reaches more than four million people, offering not only cash but also a pathway toward stability and self reliance.

At its core, the program recognizes that poverty is not just about income. It is about vulnerability, lack of opportunity, and the constant fear of falling back into crisis. By delivering predictable support, the program allows families to plan, invest, and make decisions that were once impossible.

For women in particular, the impact has been profound. In many households, women carry the responsibility of feeding children, managing households, and holding families together during times of hardship. Yet they often lack access to income or decision making power.

Before joining the program, Wardi depended entirely on her husband’s irregular earnings from casual labor. Some days, there was nothing. “I could not plan for tomorrow,” she says. “I just hoped we would get through the day.”

Today, she speaks with confidence about her choices. “Now I can decide how to spend, how to save, and how to prepare for the future,” she explains. “Having even a small income gives you dignity.”

That sense of agency is one of the most powerful outcomes of the program. When women gain financial stability, entire households benefit. Children stay in school longer, nutrition improves, and families are better equipped to cope with shocks.

Building Systems That Last

Beyond individual households, the Baxnaano program is helping to lay the foundation for a stronger national social protection system. Implemented by the Federal Government of Somalia with support from the World Bank and the Somalia Multi Partner Fund, the program invests in long term institutional capacity.

This includes building reliable beneficiary registries, strengthening payment systems, and ensuring transparency and accountability. These systems are essential for responding quickly and effectively during crises, and for delivering assistance in a way that is fair and efficient.

According to Fardosa Abdullahi, Project Manager for Baxnaano, the program’s impact goes far beyond financial support. “This is not just a handout,” she explains. “It is about empowering people to make choices, to invest in their families, and to take ownership of their futures. When women like Wardi can save, plan, and decide for themselves, resilience begins to take root.”

The approach recognizes that lasting change cannot come from short term aid alone. It must be built through systems that support people over time, especially in a country facing ongoing climate shocks, displacement, and economic uncertainty.

A Future Shaped by Possibility

For Wardi, the future now feels within reach. She dreams of adding another room to her home so her children can have more space. She hopes to buy a sewing machine and start a small business, generating additional income for her family. These may seem like simple ambitions, but in a context shaped by years of hardship, they represent profound progress.

Her story is not unique. Across Somalia, thousands of families are beginning to move from survival to stability, from dependency to self reliance. Each story reflects the quiet power of investing in people, especially women, and trusting them to shape their own paths forward.

As Somalia continues to navigate the challenges of conflict, climate change, and economic uncertainty, the Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project stands as a testament to what is possible when compassion meets strategy. It shows that with the right support, families can rebuild, communities can strengthen, and hope can take root even in the most difficult conditions.

Wardi looks toward the future with a calm confidence she never thought she would feel. “I used to wait for help,” she says. “Now, I know I can build something myself.”

Her story is a reminder that resilience is not just about surviving hardship. It is about creating the opportunity to thrive, and about turning hope into lasting action.