FAO and Qatar Fund work together to protect drought affected rural communities in Somalia
Water catchments, agricultural inputs and livestock support from the Qatar Fund For Development protected rural livelihoods from food insecurity with anticipatory action
Five seasons of poor rains and ongoing severe drought have had a devastating impact on Somalia’s rural, food producing regions, weakening agricultural production and livestock, an essential source of food and income for many. 6.5 million people are at risk of acute food insecurity or worse in 2023, as the drought continues to affect lives and livelihoods across the country.
Thanks to financial support from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Federal Government of Somalia and its partners have been working together to protect vulnerable rural communities from worse outcomes. The Climate-resilient and Shock-informed Anticipatory Action in Somalia project was implemented to bring relief to vulnerable agro-pastoral communities by improving water access, increasing, and diversifying their agricultural production, and protecting livestock from drought related diseases and parasites.
Rural Somalis like Adan Ali from Galmudug have struggled to find enough food and money to meet their daily needs as drought conditions persist throughout the country. "There is a need for water because the village has a lot of livestock. People and animals need water to function. When people get water, they get life and benefit in many other ways. For us here, water is more important than other material wealth," said Adan. With support from QFFD, FAO was able to construct seasonal water catchments and water storage close to his community, enabling him and his five children to have better access to water even during dry months. Solar powered pumps allowed for water to be pumped into tanks for safekeeping and use during the dry season. "Pumping this water into those elevated tanks means we can use this water for a long duration compared to when it is consumed directly from the dam. We can have enough water for both human and animal consumption in the village, improving our lives," said Adan.
The agricultural component of the project has also reached over 1 850 vulnerable farming families in the Bay region of Somalia. Each family received climate-smart agricultural packages that included drought tolerant seed varieties, basic farming tools, hermetic storage bags, and fodder. The equipment will help families get back on their feet as soon as the drought subsides.
The project also contributed to FAO’s campaign to protect almost 11 million animals across Somalia. Implemented through local government partners, the campaign targeted drought-affected households, with the goal to maintain productive assets that are critical for the food security and nutrition of vulnerable families, especially those with young children.
The project’s goal to anticipate the effects of the drought and providing the necessary infrastructure and tools to counteract its impact has been lifesaving for many vulnerable rural communities in Somalia. For people like Adan in Galmudug, the new water catchment and storage infrastructure will benefit him and his community if even only a little rain falls in the coming wet season. “When FAO came to us with this water catchment project, it seems that the real needs of the community have been met,” said Adan. “By taking advantage of it, every able-bodied person can use the water; find work and life, it’s what they needed,” he said.
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Constructing climate-smart water harvesting systems for rural communities