MOGADISHU — Somalia is set to benefit from nearly $19 million in financing under the Africa Disaster Risk Financing (ADRiFi) programme, aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters.
The initiative is being implemented through cooperation between the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and Somalia’s Ministry of Finance.
The programme will focus on improving Somalia’s capacity to anticipate, prepare for and manage the growing risks associated with climate change. These include recurrent droughts, floods and other climate-related emergencies that continue to affect vulnerable communities across the country.
Somalia’s pastoralist and farming communities are expected to be among the key beneficiaries of the programme. Repeated droughts have placed pressure on livestock, water supplies and livelihoods, while floods have damaged farmland, infrastructure and settlements in several parts of the country.
Under the initiative, authorities are expected to strengthen disaster preparedness, early-warning systems, risk assessment and emergency response mechanisms. The programme is also intended to support efforts to reduce the economic and humanitarian impact of disasters before they escalate into major crises.
The African Development Bank has described the financing as part of broader efforts to strengthen Somalia’s resilience to climate shocks and improve the country’s ability to protect vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure.
The cooperation between AfDB, SoDMA and the Ministry of Finance is expected to provide a framework for improving coordination between government institutions involved in disaster management and climate-risk financing.
The programme could also help Somalia move from a largely emergency-response approach toward greater investment in prevention and preparedness, allowing authorities and communities to act earlier when droughts, floods or other climate threats are detected.
Further details are expected regarding the disbursement schedule, priority regions, specific projects and the number of people expected to benefit directly from the programme.
The launch of ADRiFi represents a significant opportunity for Somalia to strengthen its disaster-management systems and build greater resilience among communities repeatedly exposed to climate-related shocks.
With droughts and floods continuing to pose major risks to livelihoods, the programme is expected to play an important role in helping Somalia prepare for future climate emergencies and protect some of its most vulnerable populations.
