Country Humanitarian Forum Held In Dhusamareb, Galmudug State, Somalia – 9th December 2024

The High-Level Country Humanitarian Forum (CHF) meeting, held on 9th December 2024 in Dhusamareb, Galmudug State, Somalia, adopted the following decisions and way forward:

Under the patronage of His Excellency Ali Dahir Iid, Deputy President of Galmudug, and with the participation of government officials, representatives from Federal Member States (FMS), donors, UN Agencies, , international and national NGOs, diplomatic representatives, and civil society organizations, the forum was convened by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Galmudug State. The forum aimed to enhance partnership and coordination among humanitarian actors, strengthen preparedness for La Niña, refine the Humanitarian Needs Response Plan (HNRP), and build resilience in Somalia.

The High-Level Meeting:

Takes Note of the opening statement by H.E. Ali Dahir Iid, , Deputy President of Galmudug, acknowledging the current humanitarian challenges in Somalia, including the exacerbating impacts of La Niña. The Commissioner of SoDMA, Mohamoud Moallim, emphasized the importance of coordinated action to address the humanitarian crisis and the need to strengthen partnerships for effective disaster management. The forum also took note of presentations on the humanitarian situation, the impacts of La Niña, and response efforts, including remarks from the UN Resident Coordinator, George Conway, the DSRSG/HC, and partners from various donor agencies, including EU Representative Javior Rio.

Key Outcomes

1. Humanitarian Crisis and La Niña Preparedness :
   The forum highlighted the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Somalia, emphasizing the serious impacts of the La Niña weather phenomenon on vulnerable communities. The presentations by SoDMA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of Galmudug (MOHADM) provided a comprehensive analysis of the current humanitarian situation and the critical challenges in response efforts. Discussions stressed the importance of engaging local communities in shaping effective and sustainable humanitarian interventions to mitigate the impacts of recurrent climatic shocks.
2. Humanitarian Needs Response Plan (HNRP) for 2025 :
   UNOCHA presented an overview of the humanitarian response efforts over the past year, including the challenges faced and lessons learned from previous humanitarian needs responses. This led to discussions on the formulation of the 2025 Humanitarian Needs Response Plan (HNRP), emphasizing the need for more adaptive, resilient, and inclusive strategies. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to improving the coordination of humanitarian efforts to better serve  the people of Somalia, particularly considering the growing humanitarian demands due to climate change and conflict.
3. Strengthening Resilience and Coordination :
   The forum underscored the critical importance of strengthening resilience among communities and humanitarian actors. Stakeholders agreed that adaptation strategies must go beyond immediate relief, focusing also on building long-term resilience to climate shocks. The need for stronger collaboration between government bodies, international organizations, NGOs, and local communities was reiterated to ensure a more effective and coordinated approach in responding to humanitarian needs.

Commitments
Participants committed to:

• Enhanced Coordination : Strengthening partnerships across governmental, non-governmental, and international stakeholders to ensure a more cohesive and efficient response to humanitarian crises.
• Community Engagement : Focusing on community-driven approaches to disaster management, ensuring that local populations are active participants in resiliencebuilding and response activities.
• Adaptive Planning : Integrating climate change adaptation and resilience-building strategies into the 2025 Humanitarian Needs Response Plan to better address the evolving needs of Somali communities.

Challenges:

1. Impact of La Niña on Vulnerable Communities : The La Niña phenomenon continues to significantly impact the most vulnerable populations in Somalia, exacerbating existing humanitarian challenges. These impacts include extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, which complicate relief efforts and increase the demand for humanitarian aid. Coordinating response efforts in such dynamic conditions remains a major challenge.
2. Logistical and Operational Barriers : Logistical challenges remain a major obstacle, especially in reaching remote or  hard to-access areas affected by La Niña and ongoing conflicts. Inadequate infrastructure and transportation networks hinder the effective delivery of humanitarian aid, leading to delays in providing critical services such as food, water, and medical supplies.
3. Funding Constraints : Despite significant humanitarian needs, funding shortfalls remain a persistent challenge. The gap between the funding required for response efforts and the actual funds mobilized has delayed or limited the scale of interventions, particularly in the most affected regions.