Somalia: Leading in mobile money technology

“This new system is quite fast and reduces the risk of money being sent to the wrong person,” says Maryam*, an internally displaced Voice-ID user from Hingalool in northeastern Somalia.

Before, anyone with her phone could access her money, even though CARE teams had a fingerprinting process and other forms of verification.

“Now,” she says, “we receive a voice message from the mobile operator once cash disbursement is done. To receive cash, I dial 374, press 2, and state the phrase that was recorded during the registration, which is my pin.”

Once the system verifies her voice, the money is deposited.

First the cash, now the rain

CARE distributes most of the money as emergency assistance to help people in need to cope with different shocks, displacement, floods and droughts. Once they’re on their feet again, they work to stabilize the rest of their lives.

“We received $60 a month for three months as emergency cash assistance,” says Hali*, an internally displaced person living in a camp. “Now my children can get something to eat three times a day. Thanks to Allah, we have been able to survive with the money. We hope we will get good rain soon so that we can go back home and keep our livestock again.”

“We managed to buy food items such as sugar, flour, rice, cooking oil, drinkable water, and vegetables. Now we can even afford to visit the clinic nearby for medical care,” adds Ibado*, another program participant.

“I was a street vendor in Las Anod before the conflict destroyed our livelihoods,” says Halima*, another program participant. “I lost some of my loved ones and now live in this camp with my three daughters. After registering, I received $75 per month for three months. This helped my family not only access food and water but also buy a door for our small, makeshift home.”

Reaching the right people, saving staff time and program costs, through technology

The program staff says the Voice-ID technology saves them 10-12 days of work per distribution cycle, which usually takes place every three months. This includes a full week for registration and another week for payment verification. Live data access and cleaning helps eliminate wrong entries and duplications.

“Before the introduction of the Voice-ID system, CARE used a manual system that involved the physical collection of a signature or thumbprint of program participants after every disbursement,” Abdi Nur Elmi, the Emergency Director for CARE in Somalia, says. “This was an expensive process for CARE, and it also inconvenienced beneficiaries.”

Since its inception in 2020, the Voice ID system has reached more than 440,000 people, providing them with timely and safe access to cash assistance.

“With this one [Voice-ID] only the voice is sufficient,” says Fatuma*, a Voice ID user.

“Voice-ID has enhanced accountability and helped reduce fraud by using identity verification as a trigger for the release of the cash. This technology is cost effective since physical verification after disbursement is not needed and it is also user friendly. We continue to explore other systems that we can use to protect the people we serve and for us to be more efficient,” Abdi Nur Elmi says.

In 2023 alone, climactic shocks and conflict displaced a record 2.9 million people in Somalia. 2024 projects to be just as bad, if not worse. Regular cash support can be a lifeline for the affected people to secure the daily essentials they need for survival. This program is just one way the people of Somalia are showing how innovation and resilience will play a critical role in creating a livable future as the effects of climate change grow worse.

*Names changed.