Refugees and local communities in Ethiopia's Somali region support each other as funding cuts reduce aid levels

On a dusty afternoon in Kebribeyah, Somali region in northern Ethiopia, a blue water truck edges down the road, stacked with water barrels and bundles of warm clothing. The logo is hand‑painted, the fuel paid for by small donations. There is no grant number to report, no international banner to hang—just neighbors helping neighbors. This is Hiil‑Shacab, a community organization led by refugees and host community youth, sharing their limited resources amid dwindling humaniatrian assistance.

"We started Hiil‑Shacab because no one else was there for the most vulnerable—refugees and locals alike. We decided to help those in need," said Hiil‑Shacab's Chairman, Abdulahi Mohamed Omer.

Humanitarian funding is constrained, and in Kebribeyah that shortfall is tangible: fewer distributions, reduced outreach, and longer queues of people waiting to be assisted. In those gaps, community organizations are holding the line. Hiil‑Shacab was established in 2019, founded by refugee and host‑community graduates determined to relieve social burdens on the most vulnerable including the elderly, out-of-school children and poor families observing fasting periods during Ramadan. For the last three years, the organization has been mainly funded by diaspora communities, member contributions and local appeals. With the funding received, the organization has delivered clean water, month-long food packages, educational materials, as well as sanitation and awareness campaigns on migration, health, and safety.

"Community organizations invest 100% of resources here. If they get even modest support and training, their work will bear fruit," said Mohamed Hussien Nur, Refugee Central Committee Chairman, Kebribeyah Refugees.

These actions make a tangible difference in people’s lives. A mother can now observie her fasting obligations without selling her only cooking pot; a young man returns to class because his new bag and uniform remove the social stigma of poverty; an elderly man sleeps warmer than the night before. They are also community systems at work—built on trust, proximity, and participation.

"There are other community organizations like Hiil‑Shacab, and some run by refugee women. Their activities and impact are felt. They have worked for years, assisting vulnerable refugees and local poor families. If they get resources, they all use in supporting the community," said Nur.

Both leaders pointed to the need for predictable funding and adequate training in project management, financial systems, and skills that elevate local delivery. These priorities align with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's Grant Agreement pathway for community organizations and the Refugee‑Led Innovation Fund, which offers up to USD 45,000 over 24 months, along with organizational strengthening and peer support.

"Local groups are far more effective as they are closest to the people in most need, and can rally up support quicker. Support and training would let them do even more, for everyone," said Nur.

"Our vision is for refugees and host communities to live peacefully together, supporting each other, with their needs met and support to become more self reliant," added Omer.

In a significant milestone, Hiil-Shacab recently secured its first formal partnership with UNHCR to support a community-led maternal health and social cohesion campaign in Kebribeyah. UNHCR’s localization approach recognizes and seeks to directly fund and build capacity for local actors, including community organizations supporting forcibly displaced people and their hosts.

“Advancing UNHCR's localization strategy within the Somali region calls for considerable investment in organizations run by refugees and local communities. These groups are essential as frontline responders. By giving refugees more say in decision-making and implementation, we can improve accountability, enhance protection, and promote long-term stability, especially given the current financial constraints”, Abdullahi Sheik Barrie with UNHCR in Jijiga.

In the second half of 2026, Hiil-Shacab will organize health awareness sessions, door-to-door outreach, and joint clean-up activities, aiming to improve and strengthen relations between refugees and host communities. This achievement marks a new chapter for Hiil-Shacab—proof that local leadership, when trusted and resourced, can deliver impactful, inclusive solutions.