SWALIM conducted an early warning (diginin) systems training to ministry of Agriculture development in Somaliland

Across climate-vulnerable regions, timely data alone is not enough to prevent crises. The real challenge lies in ensuring that early warning information is clearly understood, trusted, and used to guide decisions. Many professionals receive climate and hazard data but lack the confidence or skills to translate it into action. To address this challenge, a SWALIM Early Warning (Digniin) Systems Training was conducted on 14–15 January 2026 for staff from the Ministry of Agriculture Development in Somaliland. The training focused on building practical knowledge of early warning systems (EWS) and strengthening the use of SWALIM platforms to support informed planning and humanitarian decision-making. Early warning systems are only effective when institutions understand how to interpret and apply them. Gaps in data literacy, limited familiarity with indicators such as NDVI and drought indices, and weak coordination between stakeholders can delay early action and reduce impact.

From Early Warning to Early Action: Empowering National and State Institutions to Strengthen Flood Resilience in Somalia

Across Somalia, recurrent flooding continues to undermine food security, displace families, and erode development gains, particularly in riverine and low-lying areas. While floods are a recurring hazard, their impacts are increasingly predictable. Building resilience therefore depends not only on forecasting floods, but on strengthening national systems that enable early, anticipatory action to protect lives, livelihoods, and essential services before damage occurs. This approach is central to FAO’s Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Somalia, which aligns FAO’s support with national priorities under the Somalia National Transformation Plan (NTP), including disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, food security, and social protection. By investing in nationally owned early warning and decision-support mechanisms, FAO supports a shift from repeated emergency response toward proactive risk management.

SWALIM Issues the Somalia Groundwater Monitoring Bulletin

Groundwater remains Somalia’s most critical and dependable water source, sustaining urban and rural populations, pastoral livelihoods, and productive sectors especially as surface water availability continues to decline during the ongoing drought. SWALIM has finalized the December 2025 Groundwater Status Update which indicates that aquifer conditions across the country are strongly driven by seasonal rainfall and are increasingly stressed by recurrent drought, high temperatures, and rising abstraction. Significant groundwater declines were recorded in parts of Somaliland and Puntland following poor Deyr 2025 rains, while central and southern regions generally maintained more stable conditions.

Enhancing Geospatial and Data Collection Capacity: SWALIM Delivered Drone and UAS Licensing Training to IMC PL, IMC SL, SNBS and SWALIM GIS staff

Drone technology has become an important component of the geospatial sector for managing land and water resources, including flood-affected areas, canal infrastructure rehabilitation, and monitoring of urban expansion. Through UAV operations, data acquisition, and geospatial applications, drones enable the collection of high-resolution data in areas that are difficult or impossible to access through conventional methods. To build national capacity and introduce the latest drone technologies, national staff from IMC Somaliland, IMC Puntland, the Somali National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS), together with FAO SWALIM GIS staff, participated in a two-week professional licensing drone and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) training held in Nairobi and delivered by Fahari Aviation in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD).

SWALIM Builds IMC-Puntland and Line Ministry Staff on Land Degradation Monitoring and Sand Dune Mapping

As part of its ongoing Capacity Development Programme, FAO SWALIM conducted nine-day training on Land Degradation Monitoring and Sand Dune Mapping from 3 - 13 November 2025 in Martisoor Hotel, Garowe, Puntland. The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of government ministries and institutions to monitor soil erosion, vegetation change, and sand-dune expansion using Earth Observation tools. A total of 20 participants attended the training, drawn from the Information Management Centre (IMC), the Puntland Water Development Agency (PWDA), and various line ministries. This initiative supports SWALIM’s core mandates on environmental monitoring, natural resources assessment, and building national institutional capacity for sustainable land and water management across Somalia.

SWALIM Builds Government Capacity on Land Cover Mapping in Mogadishu

As part of its ongoing capacity-building programme, SWALIM–FAO conducted a Land Cover Mapping Training Using the LCCS3 Legend in Mogadishu from 10 to 21 August 2025. The training brought together technical staff from five Federal Government ministries and agencies – Agriculture and Irrigation, Environment and Climate Change, Livestock Forestry and Range, Energy and Water Resources, and the Somali National Bureau of Statistics. Selected graduates from SWALIM’s six-month on-the-job land cover mapping training also supported their peers during the sessions.

Mapping of river breakages for flood preparedness in Somalia

Floods remain one of the most devastating hazards in Somalia, causing widespread destruction of lives and livelihoods, while also displacing thousands of families each year. The country’s two main rivers (Juba and Shabelle rivers) are vital lifelines that support fishing, farming and water resources for millions of Somali people. However, the same rivers pose a serious risk when their banks are damaged. In August 2025, River breakage assessment conducted by FAO SWALIM has highlighted the extent of these challenges. The assessment, which involved satellite imagery analysis, identified critical weak points along both the rivers. In Juba River, 105 open breakages, 14 canal flooding points, 31 river overflow and 2 points closed with sandbags were identified, while along the Shabelle River 126 open breakages, 55 canal flooding points, 188 river overflow and 7 places closed with sandbags were identified.

SODMA and FAO Call for Immediate Preparedness Measures as Somalia Faces Severe Climate Challenges

Mogadishu, Somalia: Immediate preparedness measures are essential to safeguard Somali communities from the anticipated below-normal rainfall forecast for the March-April-May 2025 (Gu) season. This urgent call was made by the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SODMA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and key representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) during the 69th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF 69), held recently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Noting the critical need for increased investment in anticipatory action, SoDMA Commissioner, Mr. Mohamud Moallim, emphasized, "Since the last rainy season (Deyr 2024) has already failed and the upcoming one (Gu' 2025) is predicted to be below normal, now is the right time to anticipate what might potentially be a full-fledged drought-hazard, which might last for several seasons to come”

Land Degradation Monitoring and Mapping Training Using Google Earth Engine

Land degradation is a significant issue affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and livelihoods in Somaliland. The need for effective land management practices to combat soil erosion and other forms of degradation is urgent, especially in the face of climate change and unsustainable land use practices. As such, FAO SWALIM, in partnership with the Information Management Centre (IMC) Somaliland, organized a 9-day intensive training on Land Degradation Monitoring and Mapping using Google Earth Engine (GEE). This training was crucial in building the technical capacity of key personnel from IMC and line ministries, equipping them with the tools and knowledge required to assess and monitor land degradation using advanced geospatial technologies.

Puntland Strengthens Drought Monitoring Skills Using Combined Drought Index

As part of its Capacity Development Programme, SWALIM conducted a training on Drought Monitoring from June 23 to July 4, 2024, in Garoowe, Puntland. SWALIM acknowledges that both theoretical and practical knowledge on drought monitoring, analysis, and forecasting enhance the capabilities of Federal and State line ministries and departments in managing drought-related challenges. By utilizing a well-designed drought early warning system, institutions and individuals can take anticipatory actions to prevent drought from causing potential harm. This training is part of a broader strategy to improve disaster preparedness and resilience against adverse climate effects.