By NECJOGHA – Somalia Reporter
Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia, a nation on the frontlines of climate change, is taking significant strides towards proactive disaster risk management with the development of its first-ever national Anticipatory Action (AA) Roadmap. This crucial initiative comes as the country grapples with a brutal cycle of droughts and floods that have devastated livelihoods and deepened food insecurity.
According to a post on the X platform from the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), the collaborative effort is focused on “visioning to action.” The post stated, “Somalia is drafting its first national Anticipatory Action Roadmap! Stakeholders in Mogadishu are currently meeting to align strategies to anticipate hazards, protect lives, and integrate AA into disaster risk management.”
This effort is particularly urgent given Somalia’s recent history of climate-driven crises. Between 2020 and 2022, the country endured five consecutive failed rainy seasons, resulting in severe droughts that impacted over 80% of rural households and caused catastrophic livestock losses. Just as communities began to recover, catastrophic floods struck in 2023, displacing more than 700,000 people and destroying vital infrastructure.
In a powerful demonstration of this new approach, the World Food Programme (WFP) launched its first anticipatory action program in Africa in Somalia. The program delivered pre-emptive cash transfers and flood warnings to over 200,000 people ahead of the 2023 floods, backed by a $4.1 million investment.
This proactive measure helped families prepare and evacuate, showcasing how anticipatory action can mitigate the worst impacts of climate-driven disasters.
During the National Consultative Forum, organized by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Ajayi Ayobamidele played a key role, presenting on Pillar 2 of the roadmap: “A Harmonized Approach to Designing Anticipatory Action (AA).” His presentation detailed essential components for a robust framework, including a comprehensive Stakeholder Mapping process to understand the roles and capacities of various actors and the development of a Multi-Hazard Crisis Timeline to map out cyclical risks.
A detailed Risk & Vulnerability Assessment will identify the most vulnerable populations, including women, adolescents, and survivors of gender-based violence, ensuring targeted interventions. The roadmap also envisions a Standard AA Catalogue, which will review and synthesize anticipatory action options across different sectors such as food security, nutrition, and health. To ensure sustainability, Community Validation and Ownership will be prioritized through continuous refinement with local communities.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Somalia is actively involved, already implementing anticipatory action measures to address drought and achieve better outcomes in sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention. This Consultative Forum provides a vital opportunity for UNFPA to integrate its specific mandates and expertise into the broader national roadmap.
This collaborative effort marks a significant step forward for Somalia in building resilience and reducing the devastating impacts of disasters by acting ahead of crises. The development of this national Anticipatory Action Roadmap signifies a strong commitment to protecting the lives and livelihoods of Somali citizens through proactive and well-coordinated measures.
