The Somali Water and Land Information Management project (SWALIM) has integrated capacity development in all its activities since its inception. The objective is and has been to strengthen the capacity of Somali institutions to make better use of factual information when making decisions on sustainable natural resources management, planning, investment, disaster preparedness / response and resilience building. To achieve this objective, SWALIM works with Somali public institutions, particularly the ministries responsible for water, agriculture, and environment, to build information networks and systems that can support the decision-making process for emergencies, rehabilitation and development purposes.

SWALIM’s capacity development activities address all three dimensions of the capacity development paradigm, i.e. individuals, organizations and the enabling environment. SWALIM seeks to strengthen these three dimensions together in order to put in place a viable capability for sustainable water and land resource management within Somali institutions. Given the conditions in much of Somalia, the project has also employed more direct and less conventional means of encouraging the development of partner capabilities, including salary supports and provision of supplies and equipment.

The capacity development activities and achievements so far include:

• Establishment of robust partnerships with government ministries in both Somaliland and Puntland.
• Creation of “Regional Coordination Committees” in Somaliland and Puntland to oversee SWALIM’s capacity development activities.
• Establishment of capacity development programme that includes six line ministry data centers and a ministry staff support scheme in Somaliland and Puntland.
• Provision of monitoring equipment and supplies to relevant ministries for various water and land resources assessments and studies.
• Development of a training programme covering a wide range of courses in water and land information management.