The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the British Embassy in Mogadishu have signed a $43.8 million deal to implement a project to reduce flood risk and mitigate drought in Somalia.
The Restoring the Riverine Eco-Systems for Climate Adaptations (RESTORE) project, signed on Friday, is part of the Jowhar Offstream Storage Programme (JOSP), a $140 million initiative seeking to rehabilitate a large irrigation scheme to reduce flood risk and mitigate drought in two regions in Hirshabelle State, targeting 1.5 million people.
The project funded by Britain will be implemented by FAO, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and World Vision International-Somalia in partnership with the Somali government.
Speaking at the project’s launch, British Embassy Mogadishu Development Director Damon Bristow said, “This new project shows the UK’s ongoing commitment to support those countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
“Working with FAO and other partners, the RESTORE programme will provide Somali communities with the tools and information to better manage precious resources such as water, building resilience to climate shocks. The UK continues to strengthen its partnership with Somalia and its people, improving lives and livelihoods.”
JOSP and RESTORE represent the first such initiatives in Somalia, seeking to sustainably address the underlying drivers of vulnerability, promoting a shift towards sustainable production and self-sufficiency while supporting peace, stability, and social cohesion in areas impacted by conflict.
“The timely and generous support of the UK represents a catalytic investment for the JOSP programme, expected to directly benefit approximately 1.5 million beneficiaries across five districts in Hirshabelle once the core JOSP infrastructure is restored and functional. This will substantially reduce flood risk, mitigate drought, support local production, and boost food security for millions of populations vulnerable to recurring shocks and crises,” said FAO Representative in Somalia Etienne Peterschmitt.
The UK-funded project aims to reduce poverty, ensure household food security, reduce tensions over natural resources and increase the resilience of communities at risk of the impacts of climate change.
Death toll from recent El-Nino-induced floods in Somalia has risen to 120 as water is receding in many areas that were flooded, reducing risks, according to the Somali government.
