Somaliland – Countering drought in East Africa

7 in 10 Somalis have less than $2 a day to survive.

East Africa Drought - Children needs Help

1 million children are malnourished.

1.23 million people have no access to drinking water.

Somaliland is an autonomous region in East Africa that includes the northern part of Somalia bordering Ethiopia. About 65 percent of Somaliland’s 3.5 million inhabitants derive their income almost exclusively from livestock. When the rains fail and hardly anything grows, the animals find no food sources, and the people are threatened existentially.

Natural disasters caused by climate change are the biggest reason why people have to leave their homes. Poverty and unemployment are widespread in Somaliland. For the majority of the population, getting enough food is a daily struggle.

The focus of our work

Our main goal in Somaliland is to strengthen village communities and increase their resilience so that people can counter their local problems and crises through knowledge, planning, preparation, and collaboration. This will be achieved through projects in water and agriculture, health promotion, and economic development.

East Africa Drought - Store in Somaliland

“I couldn’t believe that saving and lending small amounts of money could change our circumstances so much. Later, I realized that this can be our way out of poverty.”

Fadumo Muse (49), who was once forced to become a beggar in the city, now runs a small grocery store.

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Projects in Somaliland

Health / Nutrition

Improving the health of pregnant women, mothers, and their children through healthier, more varied diets
Establishing vegetable gardens and greenhouses so that different types of vegetables are available
Conducting cooking classes together with mothers’ groups
Training family health counselors to educate about healthy eating through home visits
Raising awareness about hygiene in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic (washing hands, keeping your distance)

Water and agriculture

Sustaining natural resources through rainwater storage and rehabilitation of local water infrastructure
Improving soil quality of cropland and pastureland to increase fertility and yields
Crisis risk management (e.g., against drought, locust plagues, etc.)

Drought in east africa – Every drop counts

Drought is having a severe impact on 75 percent of Somaliland’s population. The past two rainy seasons turned out worse than hoped, leading to significant water shortages in rural communities. Tearfund Germany was on site to provide people with sufficient water.

Inclusion

Providing education for children with disabilities (e.g., autism, Down syndrome, developmental delays, etc.) and supporting parents
Training and informing staff, volunteers, social workers, and teachers

Economic development

Empowering of women through so-called self-help groups/savings groups to build small businesses; networking of these groups at the cluster level
Providing literacy courses
Providing further education, awareness campaigns, and training on nutrition and diversification of food and income