The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF) approved a $9.63 million grant on 2 December 2025 to strengthen climate resilience, food security, and livelihoods of rural communities in Somalia’s Hirshabelle and Puntland regions.
The funding, under the Activating Climate-Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods in Somalia project, will support investments in improved water access, climate-smart agriculture, and enhanced community-level disaster preparedness. Farmers and pastoralists will benefit from rehabilitated irrigation systems, restored rangelands, climate data, and early warning systems. Communities will also receive training on using resilient seeds, improving soil health, and reducing post-harvest losses.
In addition to the ADF contribution, the World Food Programme will provide $2.2 million in in-kind support, bringing the total project value to $11.83 million. The ADF, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank, sourced its contribution from its Climate Action Window.
Pascal Sanginga, the Bank’s Agriculture Sector Manager for East Africa, emphasized that the project goes beyond immediate relief, aiming to equip communities to rebuild their livelihoods and face future challenges with confidence amid Somalia’s ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by persistent drought and below-average rainfall.
The initiative is expected to directly benefit 180,000 people and indirectly support another 300,000, including women, youth, and pastoral households. It aims to enhance local economies through higher crop yields, stronger market access, and improved livestock nutrition. The project will also provide financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, reduce vulnerability, promote long-term resilience, ease pressure on natural resources, and contribute to peace and stability in the region.
