The Somali Region is among the areas most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, land degradation, and water scarcity continue to threaten pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods, food security, ecosystems, and overall human well-being. These climate shocks disproportionately affect women, children, youth, and pastoral communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on natural resources.
Building climate resilience is therefore not a choice, but a necessity for sustainable development in the Somali Region. Strengthening resilience means enhancing the capacity of communities, institutions, and ecosystems to anticipate, withstand, adapt to, and recover from climate-related shocks while safeguarding livelihoods and the environment.
Key resilience-building priorities in the Somali Region include sustainable rangeland management, climate-smart agriculture, water resource development, drought risk reduction, early warning and response systems, ecosystem restoration, and the promotion of alternative and diversified livelihoods. Integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches remains central to effective adaptation strategies.
Strong coordination among government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and local communities is essential to ensure inclusive, locally driven, and sustainable climate actions. Special emphasis is placed on empowering women and youth, strengthening community institutions, and mainstreaming climate adaptation into development planning and service delivery.
Through collective action, innovation, and long-term investment, the Somali Region is committed to building resilient communities and ecosystems that can withstand climate change while advancing sustainable development, peace, and prosperity for present and future generations.