Somali Resilience Programme (SomReP)

Somalia has faced erratic rainfall patterns for the last 3 decades in form of seasonal flooding and extended periods of droughts. These ecological shocks have inter alia led to the reduction in food production, depletion of natural resources and degradation of ecosystems. The number of displaced persons due to natural disasters has increased leading to mushrooming of IDP centres in major towns. Somalia has put in place policies and legislations geared towards resilience building and adaptation. However, the implementation of these policies and laws has been met with a myriad of challenges including weak capacities of government institutions.

Despite ongoing challenges investments in resilience building have led to a tangible increase in the capacity of communities and government entities to more effectively manage ecological shocks. Most recently in 2023 Somalia was able to avert a devastating famine following a drought of historic proportions. Building on the important achievements of SomRep, SDC has initiated the process of elaborating a new resilience building program with the aim to more closely align the resilience work with SDC’s broader projects portfolio. The present bridging phase will allow SDC to ensure that the next resilience program is closely aligned with the new Regional Cooperation Program for the Horn of Africa which will start in 2026.

Expected results:  

• Support the implementation of community adaptation measures and activation of the Crisis Modifiers.
• Establishment of solar powered water infrastructures.
• Creating Farmer Managed Natural Resources associations.
• Facilitate producers’ market linkages for out-grower seed/grain production model.
• Create revolving loan funds through district bank committee model and banks/MEI5 partnerships.
• Support institutions in capacity strengthening.

Results from previous phases:   SDC undertook the end of phase evaluation in 2023 where significant achievements were realised: 
Increased agricultural yields: SomReP targeted house-holds reported a 43.4% improvement in agricultural yields, representing a 15% increase from the 28.3% yield im provement reported in 2020.
Improved engagement in multiple income streams: 100% of SomReP targeted households were engaged in multiple income-generating activities, reflecting a significant increase compared to the target of 20% in 2020.
Increased Multi-Use Water Access: 85.1% of targeted households reported year-round access to multi-use water, representing a 108% increase from the baseline of 40.9% in 2019.
Increased participation in governance: women and other disadvantaged groups participation in decision-making at the district level increased by 83.4%, reflecting a 37.2% increase from the baseline of 46.2%.