UN agencies cut over 680 jobs in Somalia after funding drops to critical levels
United Nations agencies in Somalia have laid off more than 680 employees since the beginning of 2025, according to officials.
The decision was driven by severe funding shortages that have disrupted several development and humanitarian operations in the country.
Sources familiar with the situation confirmed that the layoffs included 158 international staff and 522 Somali employees. Key agencies affected include UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Smaller entities such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) also faced staff reductions.
Officials explained that the layoffs resulted from a sharp decline in financial support from international donors.
The drop in funding has stalled ongoing development and humanitarian programmes, including those previously backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“The diversion of donor resources to crises in Ukraine, South Sudan, and Syria has further strained the funding available for Somalia,” one source said.
The source added that the budget cuts are limiting the UN’s ability to provide essential services and development programmes to vulnerable communities.
Somalia’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan is significantly underfunded, with only 23.7% of the required resources secured. The UN reported that the number of people receiving emergency food assistance fell from 1.1 million in August to 350,000 in November.
These reductions are occurring at a time when humanitarian needs in Somalia remain high. The UN estimates that at least 4.4 million people are expected to face acute food insecurity through December.
Additionally, 1.85 million children under the age of five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition through mid-2026.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
