Somalia Introduces Climate Early Warning System

MOGADISHU – Somalia, collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme and the Green Climate Fund, has launched the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System under the global Early Warnings for All framework.

Lionel Laurens, UNDP resident representative in Somalia, stated that the initiative addresses Somalia’s critical need for enhanced disaster preparedness, improved warning distribution, and proactive measures to mitigate the effects of recurring droughts, floods, and climate hazards across the country.

Ambitious Targets for 2030

By 2030, the program aims to reduce disaster-related deaths by 42 percent and extend early warning coverage from 20 percent to complete national coverage, according to UNDP. The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mahamuud Moalim, has urged greater adoption of technology and innovation to strengthen early warning systems that can protect Somali communities from recurring natural disasters [citation:2]. Speaking at a high-level meeting on disaster risk warnings in Nairobi, Moalim emphasized that investing in timely alerts and data-driven preparedness is vital to reducing the devastating impact of floods, droughts, and other climate shocks .

SoDMA to Oversee National Implementation

The Somalia Disaster Management Agency will oversee the nationwide project in conjunction with various ministries and state authorities. UNDP will handle operations as the implementing partner employing the Direct Implementation Modality, utilizing a 12.7-million-dollar GCF grant along with additional partner co-financing.

Mogadishu witnessed a milestone in Somalia’s disaster preparedness as the national forum led by Mahamuud Moalim Abdulle concluded with the adoption of the country’s new Anticipatory Action Strategy [citation:7]. The initiative, shaped through extensive consultations with communities, technical experts, and international partners, aims to strengthen early warning systems and enable faster, more targeted responses to natural and man-made crises .

Direct and Indirect Benefits for Millions

The initiative will directly benefit 1.2 million people through improved access to early warnings, while indirectly safeguarding eight million people through enhanced disaster risk reduction mechanisms, UNDP reported. Specifically targeting vulnerable populations such as women, youth, internally displaced persons, and rural communities, the program will establish a strong governance framework with well-defined institutional roles, legal frameworks for disaster management, and emergency communication systems.

SoDMA has launched the World Bank-supported Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) project, a key step toward strengthening the nation’s ability to respond to natural and climate-induced disasters [citation:8]. At the launch event in Mogadishu, Commissioner Mahamuud Moalim said the initiative comes at a time when international humanitarian assistance is declining, underscoring the need for Somalia to build stronger, self-sustaining systems of resilience .

Parliament Approves Meteorological Agency Law

The House of the People has approved legislation establishing the National Meteorological and Climate Services Agency, marking a significant step toward enhancing the nation’s ability to combat climate change and improve disaster preparedness [citation:3]. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Major General Bashiir Mohamed Jaamac (Goobe), characterized the approval as a strategic accomplishment, noting that the new agency will function as a contemporary national body tasked with weather prediction, climate observation, and supplying scientific data to inform evidence-based development strategies .

Strengthening Somalia-UNDP Partnership

Minister of Finance Bihi Iman Egeh conducted a productive meeting with a senior United Nations delegation comprising Shoko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Director of the Crisis Bureau at UNDP, and Lionel Laurens, the UNDP Resident Representative for Somalia [citation:4]. The conversation focused on current economic developments, with particular attention to the effects of droughts, floods, and climate change on the national economy. Both parties examined optimal strategies for enhancing economic resilience and promoting sustainable development initiatives nationwide .

Shift from Reactive to Proactive Disaster Management

The Multi-Hazard Early Warning System represents a shift in Somalia’s approach to emergencies, moving from reactive aid delivery to proactive planning that anticipates disasters before they strike. By integrating climate data, community insights, and risk analysis, the plan seeks to reduce human suffering and protect livelihoods, especially in regions frequently hit by droughts, floods, and conflict-related shocks.

As Somalia faces the compounding pressures of climate change, food insecurity, and displacement, the Early Warning System provides a critical tool to save lives and build community resilience. The program forms part of a broader national strategy to embed disaster risk management into Somalia’s economic and development agenda. By improving coordination between government institutions and regional states, officials hope to reduce the social and economic toll of recurring crises.

With this initiative now launched, Somalia positions itself as a regional leader in disaster preparedness, demonstrating how forward-looking policies and partnerships can transform the way nations respond to climate crises.