Mogadishu, Somalia – As Somalia grapples with the devastating impacts of climate change, experts and policymakers are turning to water harvesting and management as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to build resilience and secure livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
Recurring droughts, erratic rainfall patterns, and floods have become more intense and frequent in recent years, threatening food production, water availability, and displacing thousands of people. In response, local governments, NGOs, and international partners are increasingly investing in water harvesting systems, including sand dams, rainwater catchment tanks, and rehabilitated boreholes, as critical tools to mitigate the worsening climate crisis.
“Effective water harvesting and management can turn Somalia’s greatest climate vulnerability into a source of strength,” said Abdinasir Elmi, a hydrologist with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. “It ensures that every drop of rain counts, especially in drought-prone areas,” he added.
Water harvesting involves capturing and storing rainwater during the wet seasons for use in dry periods. In rural Somalia, this practice is being adopted through small-scale initiatives such as rooftop collection systems for households and communal earth dams for livestock and irrigation. These systems reduce dependency on erratic river flows and deep groundwater wells, which are becoming increasingly unreliable due to overuse and contamination.
In the southern regions of Bay and Lower Shabelle, where agriculture supports millions, the construction of shallow ponds and storage reservoirs has helped reduce the need for seasonal migration. Farmers can now irrigate their crops even during prolonged dry spells, thereby stabilizing food production and incomes.
Meanwhile, in the arid north, organizations like the FAO and WFP are supporting pastoralist communities to construct sand dams and water pans. These not only supply water but also recharge underground aquifers, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Staggering statistics paint a dire picture of Somalia’s water crisis:
1) Over 60% of Somalia’s population lacks access to clean and safe drinking water, according to UNICEF.
2) An estimated 43,000 people died during the 2022 drought alone, many of them children under five, in what experts describe as one of the deadliest climate-related disasters in recent Somali history.
3) Somalia loses up to 75% of its rainwater through evaporation and runoff due to poor storage infrastructure and land degradation.
Water management also plays a crucial role in reducing flood risks. In cities like Beletweyne and Jowhar, poorly managed riverbanks and silted canals often lead to seasonal flooding. Investments in flood barriers, drainage systems, and early warning mechanisms are helping mitigate the damage caused by excessive rainfall, which has been exacerbated by climate change.
Despite these promising developments, Somalia faces significant challenges. Weak infrastructure, limited funding, and insecurity in some regions hinder the expansion of water harvesting initiatives. There is also a need for stronger governance and coordination across federal and regional authorities to ensure equitable and efficient water use.
To address these gaps, the federal government of Somalia, through the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, recently launched a National Water Strategy (2025–2035), focusing on sustainable water infrastructure, community-based management, and climate-smart technology adoption.
“Water harvesting is not just about collecting water. It’s about empowering communities, stabilizing livelihoods, and adapting to climate change,” said Warda Ahmed, a climate resilience specialist working with the UNDP in Somalia.
If scaled up and backed by strong policy frameworks and community engagement, water harvesting and integrated water resource management could significantly reduce the long-term impacts of climate change in Somalia, turning crisis into opportunity.
