Somalia’s climate fragility trap: Practical pathways for policy action

• Somalia faces severe climate-induced shocks, such as recurrent droughts, floods, and land degradation, exacerbated by poor governance, insecurity, and economic instability. These environmental shocks have led to food insecurity, displacement, and intensified conflicts over scarce resources.
• Somalia's weak governance structures, inadequate financial and institutional capacity, and limited infrastructure hinder its ability to manage climate risks and deliver basic services. It is challenging to implement effective climate adaptation strategies and maintain public service delivery.
• The impacts of climate change, particularly on water and land resources, have worsened existing tensions between communities, leading to increased conflict. Ongoing political instability and militant groups' control of key regions further complicate efforts to manage these resource-based conflicts.

This policy brief recommends decentralised governance, adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, and comprehensive water resource management strategies, including rainwater harvesting and solar desalination. It also emphasises the importance of social protection systems, such as cash transfers. Additionally, the brief recommends establishing resource-sharing agreements and early warning systems to prevent conflicts and securing international climate finance to bolster long-term resilience.