Category: Climate Change

One Million Leaders – Middle East & North Africa Leadership Challenge Phase 2 – Somalia Workshop held in Garowe, Somalia

September 4, 2024 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Climate Change, Democratisation

A four-session training was held in Garowe, Somalia, with over 25 selected champions participating in Phase 2 of the Leadership Challenge of the One Million Leaders Fellowship Program. The sessions were facilitated by OML-MENA Fellow and Rotary Peace Fellow Mr. Sharmarke and featured a special guest speaker, climate activist Mr. Abdikhay M. Hussein. The training introduced participants to the OML initiative, a global network dedicated to empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders. Guided by the vision of creating “One World in Harmony,” the program aims to build a community of leaders capable of driving sustainable change worldwide.

The in-person training was supported by TOC for Education, Inc. (TOCfE), a not-for-profit foundation (US 501c3) established in 1995. TOCfE applies a set of thinking processes and common-sense methodologies designed to logically identify and overcome key limitations that hinder communities from achieving a more sustainable world.

 The training primarily focused on the impact of climate change on Somali pastoralists (nomads). Participants explored how droughts and famine have severely affected pastoralist communities by causing a lack of pasture and water, leading to the death of livestock and widespread displacement. These discussions highlighted the critical need for pastoralists to adapt to climate change in order to build resilience and ensure their resilience in the face of environmental shocks.

Participants engaged in problem analysis using methodologies such as the Problem Tree Analysis and Cloud Method to better understand the challenges faced by pastoralist communities. These tools helped clarify the causes and effects of droughts and enabled participants to identify obstacles and potential solutions for achieving a sustainable future for these communities.

Mr. Abdikhay Hussein, a climate activist, shared his practical experience on the vulnerability of Somali pastoralists to drought shocks in the face of climate crissi. He explained the traditional pastoralist lifestyle, where communities move from place to place with their livestock in search of pasture and water. This nomadic way of life, practiced by 60 percent of Somalia’s population, makes them particularly vulnerable to the increasing frequency and severity of droughts driven by climate change. The economic losses resulting from the death of livestock often lead to displacement as pastoralists seek new opportunities to sustain their families.

In recent years, Somalia has faced increasingly severe droughts, exacerbated by natural resource degradation and climate change. Rural communities, whose livelihoods are closely tied to weather patterns, are particularly affected. Since 2011, Somalia has experienced only one proper rainy season, leading to a prolonged crisis that has left millions facing food insecurity.

In the final part of the training, participants discussed strategies to promote solutions that support transforming the lives of pastoralists, making them more sustainable and resilient to droughts. Using problem-solving tools, particularly the Theory of Constraints (TOC) for Education, participants worked on developing sustainable solutions that combine traditional livestock rearing with modern farming practices. The goal is to build community resilience against climate shocks while preserving the cultural practices of pastoralist communities.

Finally, the training sessions provided participants with a deeper understanding of the OML initiative and the critical challenges faced by Somali pastoralists in the context of climate change. Through interactive discussions and problem-solving exercises, participants shared experience and discussed on actionable strategies to support pastoralist communities in adapting to environmental challenges and building a sustainable future.

Somali Rural Community Water Management Manual

January 1, 2023 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Climate Change, Press Statement

Somalia is currently facing the worst water scarcity in many decades as a result of successive droughts. The amount of freshwater per person has been decreasing over time, going from 2,087 cubic meters in 1962 to 411 cubic meters in 2017 according to a World Bank report 2020. This is well below the ideal level of 1000 cubic meters per person set by the UN. Some 70% of the rural population has limited access to safe drinking water, according to the Save the Children report from February 2021.

The persistent reduction of fresh water and repeated droughts, mainly attributed to the climate crisis, have resulted in fierce competition for water resources that cause fighting in rural communities in Somalia. While many factors related to climate change contribute to water conflicts, a lack of community-based governance structures over water management and access has remained at the heart of every conflict.

With a one-year fellowship from the Bertha Foundation in 2022, Abdikhayr Mohamed Hussein, a senior member of Bareedo Platform and Bertha Challenge Fellow 2022, worked with Somali rural communities, particularly clan elders and Somalia water stakeholders, throughout 2022 and developed a guideline manual for the management of rural water resources and the reduction of conflict over water resources among communities in the rural areas of Somalia.

The manual, which is the first of its kind is meant to help Somalia’s traditional elders and rural community leaders set up their own community-based water management structures to help them manage and share water resources equally and find solutions to water-related conflicts.

The manual, which is available in Somali and English, is now available to the public and can be downloaded from the below link.

How rural communities in Galmudug and Puntland are going to overcome water-based conflicts

April 16, 2022 Abdikhayr M. Hussein Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Climate Change, Democratisation, Peacebuilding

Somalia is experiencing its worst drought crisis in a decade as result of failure of three consecutive rainy seasons since October 2020. There were also disastrous droughts between 2000 and 2011; resulting in famine, food insecurity, water scarcity and loss of livelihoods. Somali rural population who make up 60% of the country’s people are heavily affected by depleting water resources, as a result of rising demand and increasing drought frequency. This has resulted in fierce competition and conflict over water resources, something remained widespread among the rural communities in Puntland and Galmudug states in Somalia.

More than 91 water-related conflicts were recorded in Puntland and Galmudug states in Somalia for the year of 2021 alone, some of these conflicts have been deadly and destructive. Two clan conflicts that broke out in 2021 in Sool region of Puntland left death of more than 70 lives, and more than that number also died in successive clan conflicts that has been taking place in Balanbale and Ethiopian-border areas in Galmudug state in Somalia. These conflicts have had severe effects including loss of lives, massive displacements, inequitable access of water resources, expensive prices and vulnerable groups to fetch water from far and from unsafe open sources. Women and girls who mostly have responsibility of collecting water, face risk of physical or sexual assault at water points, and there have been even several women died in these incidents in Galmudug.

According to the communities, the local grievances and community tensions are mainly triggered by whenever one clan-group seeks to take the control of communal water sources without consent of other clan-groups.  For example, a violent inter-clan conflict broke out in Dhabar Dalool, a remote village in the arid plains of northern Puntland’s Sool region in April 16, 2021 after one clan-group in the area claimed control of a shallow well sparking refusal and anger from other group, and finally dragged them into deadly confrontation that left death of more than 30 lives.

Another mentionable cause is disruption or violation of queues at shallows wells, surface water and water distribution points. There have been 31 cases of disputes over water distribution in Xingod in Galmudug state in Somalia where vulnerable rural families disputed over distribution of water trucking donated by charity organizations. In such situations, unequal distribution and access to water is common and also further escalation into conflict is highly possible.

The water conflicts and lack of sustainable water management contributed to water scarcity, degradation and loss of freshwater as well as increased vulnerability to the climate affects in the face of worst drought conditions. For example, 4 shallow wells and water sources located in Gumasoor rural area in Galmudug where rural communities have been getting water for centuries, destroyed and dried up as result of the conflicts and lack of maintenance.

Role of third parties in water conflicts

The water conflicts destroy inter-clan cohesions and divide a community already fractured by a number of internal conflicts, sometimes transforming into broader conflict when exploited by political groups, and this is even highlighted as a key driver of ongoing conflict and state fragility in Somalia according to the Global Risk In Sights. For instance, the self-declared region of Somaliland and autonomous Puntland State in Somalia who have been fighting over control of Sool region, are accused to have had role in two deadly inter-clan conflicts that broke out in that region in 2021.

Furthermore, the traditional elders of Bitaale rural village under South Galkacyo district in Galmudug as well as other external sources both indicated that Al-Shabab, a terrorist organization that controls much of southern and central Somalia has been taking advantage of climate impacts, fueling clan conflicts in Mudug and Galgaduud regions of Galmudug State and other regions in Somalia. Global Risk in Sights highlights that Al-Shabab exploits inter-clan tensions to fuel their jihadist insurgency in a manner which ominously foreshadows the future climate wars of the twenty-first century. 

How rural communities are going to overcome water conflicts

The rural communities of Jariiban in Puntland and Bitaale in Galmudug states of Somalia discussed water conflicts openly in series consultation sessions conducted for the rural traditional elders, women and minority groups in April 2022. They have come up some appealing solutions that can be even replicated in other rural communities in Somalia. For instance, they come up set of procedures or guidelines to use for establishment of their own water management and governance structures through fair and inclusive process with participation of all groups such as elders, women and minority groups to reduce the risk of conflict and ensure equitable access to water in the face of climate crisis.

The water governance structures and terms of references identified by the rural communities in Puntland and Galmudug states may vary, but the main work of the suggested rural water management committee is to manage and be responsible for shared water sources and communal water-related activities in benefit of all. They will manage all key water sources in the rural areas such as boreholes, shallow wells, streams or surface water, water tubes or water trucking meant for the communal uses. They will also facilitate fair distribution of water donated for vulnerable rural people in the time of droughts, and also mediation of water-related conflicts.

As this is an immediate relief to the water conflicts as well as fair management and use of water sources, both communities addressed that water scarcity will remain and needs to be effectively addressed under the national and local climate strategies in Somalia to overcome water scarcity as droughts are becoming more frequent and more prolonged, linked to the global climate crisis. Furthermore, the rural communities in Galmudug particularly highlighted the importance of addressing climate-related violence, and preventing Al-Shabaab and other armed groups from taking advantage of climate impacts.

__________

Abdikhayr Mohamed Hussein
Bertha Fellow 2022

Pastoralists in Jariiban are heavily indebted by water scarcity in the face of worst drought conditions in Somalia

April 10, 2022 Abdikhayr M. Hussein Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Climate Change, Peacebuilding

Somalia is facing the worst drought following the failure of three consecutive rainy seasons since October 2020. The worsening drought conditions devastated the vulnerable population’s access to water both in terms of quantity and quality particularly the rural people who make up 60% of the country’s 15.8 million (2020) people.

Somalia is a water scarce country with approximately 411 m3 of renewable fresh water per capita as of 2017 (World Bank, 2020). This is a staggering decline over time from 2 087 m3 in 1962 (ibid) which is far below the UN recommended threshold of 1 000 m3 per capita per year. The continuous decline of freshwater availability and repeated droughts as result of the climate change has resulted in fierce competition over water resources and increased water prices, which pastoral people meet through increased debt accumulation and/or livestock sales.

Pastoralists who typically breed cattle, camels, goats, and sheep depend on water trucking or water from boreholes and Berkads (Reservoirs) which are sold for higher prices. Less 20% of them receive from rivers, streams, and shallow wells for pastoralists for free but they mostly dry up in the time of drought. Pastoralists have to sell their livestock to buy water, but in this devastating drought, they run out of saleable livestock due to lack of water and pasture that impacted negatively to the animal conditions with livestock deaths increasing in many areas and an increasing proportion of the surviving ones being in very weak conditions. The pastoralists in Jariiban district under Mudug region of Puntland, one of the hardest hit regions share water scarcity and associated debts as their biggest problem in the face of the devastating drought.

 “In this area (Jariiban) is a water scarce, and water is bought from water truckers for human and animal consumption as there are no free water (streams or surface water) as other regions. The livestock condition are poor and not fit for sale, and no one can afford to pay water in this condition” says Mohamed Said, a traditional elder in Jariiban district of Mudug region in Puntland, Somalia.

Pastoralists in Jariiban receive water through water trucking from the strategic boreholes that exhausted by dropdown of water levels and constant breakdown of boreholes due to long hours of pumping, fuel shortage and limited spare parts. Somali Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) indicates that water trucking is on the rise with some boreholes pumping for more than 12 hours in a day and serving more than 15 trucks per day.

“In the rural, lack of water exists, lack of money exists. Lack of saleable livestock exists, lack of food exists. All exist. Livestock receive water with water trucking, and the water trucking is not enough for livestock. The nearest place, we are charged with $250. The remote areas, it is more than that; $300 and more…. And no one can afford it” says Madina Nor, a pastoralist woman in Jariiban district of Mudug region in Puntland, Somalia.

Most of the boreholes use fuel-powered generators to pump out water, and the recent fuel prices that jumped to $1.1 per liter makes the situation even worse, sending a 200-liter barrel of water to more than $7 in some areas being the highest prices ever recorded in the area. The increasing water and food prices will send poor pastoralists into deep crisis and unpayable debts while they are still owed debts incurred in previous years.

 “We have to pay back the heavy water debts incurred during the drought in the time of prosperity (rain season). I still pay back the water debts incurred previous droughts let alone of those incurred now and recent droughts” says Haji Farah, a pastoralist in Jariiban district of Mudug region in Puntland, Somalia.

“The vulnerability of the people using the borehole who cannot pay the fuel ..and the worsening situation of the drought and impact on livestock and the people, so we are calling for the concerned entities.. either of the government, the district of Jariiban, the regional administration, the state government and other generous individuals who give, to assist these people with whatever they can. We are asking Allah for blessed rain and take these people out of this situation” says Said Karshe, a member of Jariiban local council of Mudug region in Puntland, Somalia.

Water scarcity and drought conditions will get worse if this rainfall that expected to start in April fails, given that likelihood of below average rainfall in March – May 2022 as forecasted by IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC) on March 24, 2022.

___________________

Abdikhayr Mohamed Hussein
Bertha Fellow 2022

Food crises and effect of Ukraine conflicts on Somalia

January 19, 2022 bareedo Leave a comment Climate Change

Somalia has a regularly faced food crises since the climate change had affected seasonal rain and the lifestyle of the nomadic people; analyzing the root causes of the regular food crises based on hypotheses and assumptions may we come up with the following issues; Long outstanding armed conflicts and lack of functional government institutions including social support systems.

Climate change – the developed countries and industrials production had a negative impact on climate change that has caused droughts and famine where the expected rainfall never comes into the reality.

Here is why Somalia’s food crisis is getting worse and the country is facing a widespread famine because of the Ukraine conflicts, Somalia has been in conflicts, droughts, and poor lifestyle for so many years but this time is getting worse because the country has been survived depending on Aid food while has a poverty rate of 73% according to UNDP statistics;  food donations come from International community efforts and mainly from Ukraine but now as a result of the war on Ukraine no shipments is expected to come from Ukraine as the ports are closed, here is the Question where the people who depend on food aid will access food? The number who depend on food aid will go beyond half of Somalia’s population who lived in the country? 73% of the population who are under the poverty line can’t afford to get food hence the prices rapidly doubled.

Also because Ukraine conflicts Somalia is no more a priority to receive support and donations hence the international support mainly from EU countries has needed to place into the Ukraine issue;

Therefore, as Somalia has been majorly depending on food donations and funding from the international communities through aid organizations including the international and United nation’s organizations its becoming more challenge as another bigger crises come about in the world whereby international community are more focusing and placing resource in Ukraine conflicts and this will lead to widespread famine, hanger and raises internal conflicts and insecurity in the country; so far according to  UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs Somalia (UNCHA) that the required funding to Somalia only 3.2% for its humanitarian response received as the United Nations projects that 4.6 million people in Somalia will no access to enough food in mid of 2022; this indicates that negative impact on Ukraine conflict in Somalia and the aid funding is extremely delayed and may diverted in to the Ukraine as Ukraine requires massive attention from the international community and supports needed in Somalia is going to be forgetting.

However, the humanitarian crises and emergency situation in Ukraine can’t be overlooked and ignored but having one eye to see only one situation and forgetting others is outrageous, all humankind deserves to provide support when it’s needed, the attention is given in to Somalia and the lack of fund and aid to Somalia will lead widespread farming where millions of people will lose their life because of hunger and famine caused diseases, hence the greater of the international community are completely unaware of a horrible situation that Somali people are facing and the Ware of Ukraine doesn’t allow UN to send Aid food to Somalia as it had in previous years and through this way aid food is extremely decreased and the food in the country is extremal expensive where the majority of Somali community can’t afford daily meals.

In conclusion, to suggest assumption on untimely solution of the food scarcity, hunger and food crises in Somalia, we need to understand that more than 60% of Somalia papulations of nomadic pastoralism and engaged in livestock in a nomadic way of life and their survivor is depending on traditional raining seasons, and adapted to a nomadic way of life, limited feed resources and intermittent water supply. The pastoral system is confined to the drier areas of the coastal plains and mountain valleys over most of the country where the principal if not the only feed resource is rangeland grazing and browse although crop residues are also an important component of total feed in some areas.

The words rob raac in Somali translate to rain follower. It is a term commonly used in pastoralist circles that refers to the lifestyle of moving from one place to another with one’s livestock in search of pasture and water. This lifestyle is shared by many pastoralists, who make up 60 percent of Somalia’s population. Failed consecutive rains in the country, though, have prolonged a debilitating dry spell, grinding to a halt a way of life for many nomads who roam the lands, and now the conflict in Ukraine worsening the situations; Without anticipatory preventive approaches, these factors are likely to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and reduce the people’s livelihood options, economics and increase the extreme poverty in the country.

Therefore, the agro-pastoralists idea for forming a small scale sheep and goats farming is to reduce the pastoral community’s vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change and tackle food crises  in Somalia, and by changing the life style of nomadic pastoralism whereby the sheep and goats in Somalia are kept under traditional extensive systems, so to secure food production and reduce the hunger and adapt the climate change, the initiative if performing small scale farming for livestock (Goats and Ships, plus camels), where Somali nomadic people an 60% of the population who depending on livestock to adapt agro-pastoralists approach and be a friend and create opportunity with food crises an world conflict, and equip with knowledge of a better management and access to water resources for securing enough food production.

_______

Sharmarke Yusuf
Peace and Development Activists
Rotary Peace fellow
Email: sharmuu55@gmail.com