Introduction to Somalia

Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, towards the east of the continent, and is bordered by the Indian Ocean.1 Its population is about 17 million as of 2021,2 of which 53% is rural.3 It is a semi-arid country with two annual rainfall seasons, where the climate is predominantly influenced by nearby winds, jetstreams, and ocean currents. The northernmost regions of Somalia tend to receive the least rainfall within the country.4 Somalia is susceptible to major climate events, primarily drought and flood. As 80% of Somalia’s workforce is employed in agriculture, these climate events put a large portion of the population’s livelihoods at risk.5 Furthermore, ongoing political instability and civil war compounds the vulnerabilities of the Somalian population and the impacts of the climate crisis.6  

Mapping Climate Events & Climate-Induced Displacement

Somalia is vulnerable to droughts and flooding, which causes internal displacement due to food insecurity.4 From 2016-2017, drought displaced almost 1 million Somalis.7 Furthermore, 7.1 million are in urgent need of food assistance, due to both drought and ongoing conflict.8 Water shortages, in particular, are affecting the agricultural sector, due to over a fifth of Somalia’s water sources not operating.9 Additionally, flooding in October of 2019 alone also displaced 370 thousand individuals and affected a total of half a million people through destruction of homes and infrastructure.10 In 2021, 271 thousand people were displaced due to adverse climate events.11 Addressing the impacts of these events is made more difficult by political instability and conflict, as well as how it requires government attention and resources, leaving less for the climate crisis.

Mapping the Costs of the Climate Crisis

The GDP of Somalia is $7.6 billion12 and is rising by 4% annually.13 Currently, almost 70% of the country’s population is under the poverty line. This is a result of drought, COVID, and rising food and oil prices.14 The ongoing dry conditions specifically affect the work of 80% of the labor force, who are in agriculture.5 The drought in 2016-2017 generated the need of $710 million in humanitarian relief.7 Additionally, flooding in October of 2019 incited the federal government to generate a response plan, which required $72.5 million USD.10 Non-economic costs include malnutrition and the risk of famine. Adaptation costs over the next 10 years are estimated to be $55.5 billion USD for the country.15

Mapping Resilience and Mitigation Pathways

Somalia has committed to improved land and water management, increased reliance on renewable energy, prevention measures for at-risk populations, and minimizing the use and production of charcoal to combat deforestation to the UNFCCC. Somalia intends to mitigate current challenges caused by drought by enacting government-led water sector coordination, improving water infrastructure and storage systems, and increasing the resilience of local farms, specifically improving soil quality, reducing crop losses, and managing erosion. Forced migration may be alleviated by Somalia’s commitment to improve disaster identification, awareness, and subsequent preparedness for vulnerable communities. One specific industry highlighted in Somalia’s NDC is the charcoal industry, a major source of its energy, and a cause of deforestation and land degradation.16 Somalia intends to improve the efficiency of charcoal production and replace it with more environmentally friendly energy sources, for example, by distributing them directly to households.17 Another option is to utilize Prosopis Juliflora, an invasive weed in farmland, in charcoal production moving forward.16

Necessary Changes

Somalia already has plans to improve energy sources, water infrastructure, and disaster preparedness, and has begun implementing these. In order to proceed with these resilience pathways, the country requires funding, as well as international assistance in addressing terrorism and conflict within Somalia. International assistance should also involve contributing to Somalia’s efforts to switch to cleaner sources of energy. For example, the Somalia Federal Government distributed 300 fuel-efficient cooking stoves to internally displaced persons in 2018.17  Similar initiatives would be beneficial. The country would benefit from humanitarian aid in improving water infrastructure, food security, and farmland to build resilience during droughts. International research into utilizing the invasive weed, Prosopis Juliflora, as an energy source would aid not only Somalia, but many countries combating this species.16