Ethiopia, 29 October 2025 – The popular Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP-5) is contributing significantly to the Somali Regional Government’s efforts to enhance food security, improve social welfare, and strengthen rural productivity.
The program has taken firm root, particularly in Erer and Gota-Biki districts of the Sitti Zone, where it is implementing 15 development projects worth over 29 million Ethiopian Birr, according to the regional state television.
The projects focus on irrigation canals, hand-dug wells, ponds, and tree nursery sites, which are expected to increase the productivity of farmers and pastoralists while creating both permanent and temporary jobs.
More than 32,000 people, including 3,663 households that have been offered job opportunities, are expected to benefit from the initiative — helping them transition away from dependence on aid programs.
The Deputy Minister of the Regional Bureau of Agriculture, Abdirahman Nur Mohamed, who visited the PSNP-5 project sites, said these initiatives will significantly transform community livelihoods by boosting employment, productivity, and local cooperation.
Regional officials view the PSNP-5 program as a model for integrating social safety and job-creation policies to achieve sustainable development — contributing to poverty reduction, job creation, and ensuring long-term food security for communities across the Somali Regional State.