Mogadishu, Somalia – The Somalia Disaster Management Agency (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.
At the launch event in Mogadishu, SoDMA 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.
For years, Somalia has faced recurring droughts, floods, and other environmental shocks that have left communities vulnerable and strained national resources. The Cat DDO mechanism aims to provide the government with rapid financial access in the event of a disaster, allowing immediate action to protect lives and livelihoods while long-term recovery plans are put in motion.
The project also 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.
For Commissioner Moalim, the launch symbolizes a turning point — from reliance on emergency aid toward a proactive system that anticipates and mitigates risk before catastrophe strikes. It is a vision of resilience rooted in preparedness, self-reliance, and national ownership of Somalia’s recovery journey.