REMITTANCES AND ACCESS TO BASIC SERVICES AMONG INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN MOGADISHU: EVIDENCE FROM HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND ICT ACCESS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.5774Keywords:
Remittances, Internally Displaced Persons, Health Access, Education Access, ICT Access, Somalia, Poverty Alleviation, Diaspora FinanceAbstract
Remittances constitute a principal income source for households in conflict-affected states, yet their contribution to basic service access among internally displaced persons (IDPs) remains empirically underdeveloped. Evidence derived from stable economic contexts does not readily translate to displacement settings characterised by insecure housing, constrained labour markets, and fragile institutional environments. This study examines the association between remittance receipt and three dimensions of basic service access - health services, education services, and information and communication technology (ICT) facilities - among IDP households in Mogadishu, Somalia. A cross-sectional survey collected data from 397 internally displaced households selected through stratified and snowball sampling. Independent-samples t-tests compared outcome index scores between remittance-receiving and non-receiving households, and OLS regression estimated the relationship between remittance intensity and a composite poverty alleviation index. Remittance receipt was positively and significantly associated with health access (mean difference: 6.53 points; p < 0.001), education access (mean difference: 6.58 points; p = 0.003), and ICT ownership (mean difference: 9.08 points; p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant associations were found for basic consumption needs (p = 0.528) or participation in income-generating activities (p = 0.661). Regression analysis confirmed that remittance intensity explained approximately 3.6 percent of variation in the composite welfare index (B = 9.044; p < 0.001), pointing to a stabilising rather than transformative role for remittances. Findings suggest that remittances function primarily as an informal safety net, financing specific service-related expenditures rather than driving productive investment. Policies aimed at reducing remittance transfer costs, expanding digital financial inclusion, and integrating diaspora flows into public service strategies could amplify these effects. Structural interventions addressing housing security and livelihood opportunities are necessary complements.
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