©FAO/William Swanson

Mogadishu - On Monday, the Minister of Finance of the Federal Government of Somalia signed the third addendum of the contract between the Ministry of Finance and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This contract addendum is for another three sub-projects under the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project (SCRP), a five-year project led by the Federal Government and funded by the World Bank. Under SCRP, FAO’s interventions are targeting around 2 million people across Somalia.

FAO has been a crucial implementing partner of the SCRP since July 2020, demonstrating its expertise in food security and resilience building during the devastating Desert Locust invasion. The government’s engagement of FAO prevented 135.9 tonnes of cereal crop losses and secured food for 906,400 people across the northern states. The commercial value of the cereal and milk losses averted through the intervention is estimated at USD 40.7 million. Since then, FAO has taken the lead in various critical SCRP interventions, notably providing agriculture tools, seeds, and training to 161,000 people in the southern states, water trucking for 82,000 animals and disease treatment for 3,011,011 heads of livestock (300,000 people) in the central and northern states. Additionally, the river embankment rehabilitation directly impacted the lives of 293,316 people who rely on riverine irrigation for their crops but were severely at risk for riverine flooding.

The new contract addendum expands FAO's vital role in supporting the government to deliver the SCRP. They will improve water access for one million people and 800,000 heads of livestock in remote areas through innovative water conveyance and collection systems and rehabilitating existing water infrastructure. Furthermore, by providing essential agricultural inputs and training to 3,000 agropastoralists, FAO empowers communities to adapt to climate shocks and increase their long-term food security. Additionally, capacity building for government officials in livestock disease management ensures early detection and prevention of outbreaks, safeguarding animal health and livelihoods.

FAO's interventions go beyond immediate relief. Their focus on capacity building and linking SCRP sub-projects with other initiatives, such as microfinance programs, creates a pathway for communities to "graduate upwards" towards self-reliance. For example, by training farmers in sustainable land management practices and connecting them to local markets, FAO helps them increase crop yields and income, enabling them to invest in their own resilience.

FAO remains committed to supporting the Federal Government of Somalia in delivering SCRP. FAO and the Government of Somalia forge to expand their partnerships on climate-smart agriculture, empowering women in agricultural value chains, and fostering intersectional collaboration to create a more food-secure future for Somalia. While challenges like resource limitations and conflict persist, joint dedication to innovative solutions and long-term partnerships ensures continued progress towards building a more resilient and prosperous Somalia.

Contact

Name:  Masimba Nyamanhindi

Title:    Communication Specialist

Office:  FAO Somalia

Email:   [email protected]

Country Twitter Handle: @faosomalia