Resource mobilization and the financial sustainability of higher education institutions in post-conflict contexts: Evidence from Somalia

Post-conflict higher education institutions (HEIs) operate under fragile governance systems, volatile funding environments, and weak public financing. This study examines how resource acquisition, resource allocation, resource utilization, and community engagement influence the financial sustainability of HEIs in Somalia. Drawing on Resource Mobilization Theory and Principal-Agent Theory, survey data were collected from 248 higher education stakeholders and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4. The findings show that all four dimensions have positive and statistically significant effects on financial sustainability. Resource utilization has the strongest effect (β = 0.185, t = 2.946, p = 0.003), followed by community engagement (β = 0.176, t = 2.789, p = 0.005), resource acquisition (β = 0.175, t = 2.709, p = 0.007), and resource allocation (β = 0.153, t = 2.395, p = 0.017). The model explains 28.7% of the variance in financial sustainability. The results indicate that financial sustainability in post-conflict HEIs depends not only on securing resources but also on transparent governance, strategic allocation, effective utilization, and institutionalized stakeholder partnerships. The study contributes empirical evidence from Somalia and offers practical implications for strengthening financially resilient HEIs in fragile higher education systems.