MOGADISHU — Somalia’s push toward environmental resilience gained fresh momentum this week as the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Lieutenant General Bashir Mohamed Jama, chaired the inaugural Steering Committee meeting of the Ugbaad Project in Mogadishu.

The high-level gathering brought together representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, state-level environment directors, and officials from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), signaling a strong united front behind one of Somalia’s most ambitious climate and land restoration initiatives.

Over several hours of deliberations, stakeholders reviewed the progress made so far in implementing the Ugbaad Project — a program designed to combat land degradation, restore natural ecosystems, and build climate resilience among rural communities. Participants acknowledged early gains but did not shy away from discussing obstacles ranging from logistical delays to limited technical capacity in remote regions.

Attendees agreed that the pace of implementation must accelerate if the project is to deliver real impact on the ground. According to officials in the room, the resounding message was one of partnership over bureaucracy.

By the end of the session, all parties committed to tightening coordination mechanisms, improving information flow across ministries, and expanding support to field teams.

For Somalia — a nation on the frontline of climate shocks — the success of the Ugbaad Project could set an important precedent for how collaborative governance can translate into environmental recovery. The next phase will test whether today’s commitments can turn into measurable change across the country’s fragile landscapes.