Promoting inclusive water management in Somalia’s river basins

Context

Somalia faces severe challenges in managing its water resources due to the impacts of climate change, frequent droughts, and insufficient infrastructure. These issues have led to widespread food insecurity and limited access to clean water, particularly in the regions of Hirshabelle, Jubaland, and Southwest States. Women and young people are disproportionately affected, as they often bear the responsibility for water collection and household resource management. Addressing these challenges is critical to improving livelihoods and ensuring access to essential resources for affected communities.

Objective

The Federal Government of Somalia and Member State Governments are implementing climate-resilient water resource management in the Juba and Shabelle river basins in Somalia.

Approach

The project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-funded by the Delegation of the EU to Somalia. It focuses on improving water resource management in Somalia through targeted measures, including:

• Expanding the application of policies and strategies to address water management challenges in the Juba and Shabelle river basins.
• Consolidating a coordination plan to improve collaboration across institutions.
• Developing the foundation for transboundary water resource management.
• Implementing flood mitigation measures to reduce risks for communities in vulnerable areas.
• Conducting a baseline survey to integrate gender-transformative approaches into water management practices.
• Establishing a Water Innovation Centre to promote innovative solutions for effective water resource management.

Last update: February 2025