Somalia, UN launch 95 million USD project to tackle climate change challenges
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) officially launched a seven-year project with Somalia that aims to enhance climate adaptation
- MOGADISHU — The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
officially launched a seven-year project with Somalia that aims to enhance
climate adaptation and resilience for vulnerable communities in the country.
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- The $95 million "Climate Resilient Agriculture in
Somalia" project, dubbed "Ugbaad" which means hope in Somali,
will tackle climate change challenges and strengthen agrifood systems through
large-scale investment, the FAO said in a statement on Monday.
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- Speaking at the launch event in Mogadishu, the capital of
Somalia, Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama emphasised the government's
commitment to tackling climate change.
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- "Through the Ugbaad project, we are integrating
climate action into our National Transformation Plan, creating opportunities to
restore landscapes, secure resilient livelihoods, and build a sustainable
future for all," Jama said.
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- The project, which was approved in October 2024,
represents a significant step in tackling the pressing challenges posed by
climate change, restoring productive landscapes, and empowering vulnerable
local communities, according to the FAO, Xinhua news agency reported.
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- The initiative, which is projected to benefit over 2.1
million people, including 1.15 million direct recipients, is poised to
transform Somalia's agricultural sector through locally-led approaches and
strategic investments in climate-resilient agriculture, the FAO said.
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- "In addition, 41 800 hectares of productive
landscapes will be restored to build sustainable livelihoods in the target
areas most vulnerable to recurrent drought and floods," said the UN
agency.
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- The FAO noted that in Somalia, the agricultural sector is
the main economic activity for an estimated 65 per cent of the population,
contributing about 75 per cent of the gross domestic product.
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- Somalia is among the countries most vulnerable to climate
change in the world. Serious weather shocks are hitting more often, harming
livelihoods and economic growth. The 2020-2023 drought and later flooding
highlighted the plight of millions of Somalis who rely on seasonal rains to
grow crops or raise cattle.
