FTL Somalia

Somalia Launches EmergenSys Project Jointly with FAO

The Federal Government of Somalia, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has launched the Leveraging Digital Systems for Emergency Preparedness and Response to Food Crises in Somalia (EmergenSys project).

This initiative, which was launched on Wednesday, seeks to enhance resilience to climate and non-climate-related threats by leveraging digital tools to improve food security and crisis response. Below are the key details:

Objective

The project’s objective is to strengthen emergency preparedness and food crisis response through digital systems, targeting community, sub-national, national, and regional levels in fragile states like Somalia .

Digital Tools Implemented

  • Farmer e-registries: To streamline support and resource allocation.
  • E-voucher systems: For efficient distribution of agricultural inputs.
  • Early warning mechanisms: To provide real-time data for proactive decision-making.
  • Seed certification and traceability systems: Ensuring quality and transparency in agricultural inputs .

Funding and Collaboration

– Funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and led by FAO’s Regional Office for Africa.
– Part of a broader initiative involving Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan .

Statements from Key Stakeholders

– Prof. Mohamoud Mohamed Mohamoud (Director General, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation): Emphasized digitalization’s role in modernizing agriculture, empowering farmers, and improving food security .
– Etienne Peterschmitt (FAO Representative in Somalia): Highlighted digital tools as “game changers” for proactive crisis management .

Alignment with National Goals

– Complements the ongoing Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response to Food Crisis (SEPAREF) project and supports Somalia’s efforts to integrate technology into its agricultural sector .

Context of Food Insecurity in Somalia

Somalia faces recurrent droughts, floods, and conflict, with 4.4 million people projected to experience hunger by mid-2025 . The EmergenSys project aligns with other resilience-building initiatives, such as:

– The Ugbaad project (GCF-funded, 7-year climate-resilient agriculture program) .
– WFP’s efforts to scale up anticipatory action and social protection programs .

Call to Action

The project underscores the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to address Somalia’s food crises through innovation. For further details, refer to FAO’s official announcement or the Somalia Country Profile .