Mogadishu – Somalia

In a strategic move that reflects the growing national focus on enhancing disaster prevention, the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), sponsored by CARE International – Somalia, organized a national consultation workshop that took place on August 3 and 4, 2025, at the Jowhara Hotel in Mogadishu. The workshop was held within the framework of the Anticipatory Action & Climate Resilience Along Transhumance Corridor (AART) project.

The workshop was held under the theme: “Strengthening Anticipatory Action Governance”

This clearly signals an effort to shift the disaster management approach from responding after a crisis has occurred to early preparedness and preventive intervention.

Towards a Comprehensive National Framework for Drought

The workshop aims to develop a comprehensive national framework for drought anticipatory actions. This framework will enable government institutions and local communities to monitor climate risks early and activate well-designed plans to mitigate their social, economic, and environmental impacts, within a sustainable institutional and participatory approach.

In his opening speech, Mr. Khadar Sheikh Mohamed, Director of Disaster Risk Management Department at SoDMA, speaking on behalf of the agency’s leadership, stated:

“This workshop represents a significant step on our path towards a safer future. Your contributions today not only serve current needs but also pave the way for future generations. We urge you to participate actively and share your valuable knowledge and expertise.”

For his part, Mr. Mohamed Tahir, CARE Somalia, AART Coordinator, called on the participants to take on their responsibilities, saying:

“You represent the key actors in humanitarian work, and your input today is essential to ensure that the final framework reflects the reality of local needs and challenges.”

Participants

Representatives from the following participated in the workshop:

 * Anticipatory Action Technical Working Group (AA TWG)

 * Federal and State Disaster Management institutions

 * AART project partners

 * UN agencies and international organizations

 * Academic and research institutions

 * Civil society organizations

 * Development partners working in humanitarian and climate fields

 The Five Pillars of the Workshop:

Participants discussed five main pillars that form the basis of the anticipated national framework:

• Early Warning, Triggers, and Thresholds
• Early Actions: Planning and Pre-implementation
• Governance and Coordination at different levels
• Flexible and Sustainable Financing for anticipatory action
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for future performance improvement

Experts from Galayr Consultancy facilitated the sessions with high professionalism, ensuring active participation from all parties.

Tangible Outcomes and Next Steps

The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations that will form the basis of the national framework’s draft. This framework will serve as an approved and comprehensive reference that reflects state priorities, integrates local knowledge and institutional experience, and drives a response based on early warning instead of delayed intervention.

At the end of the second day, Mr. Khadar Sheikh Mohamed Nur expressed his sincere thanks to the participants, praising their valuable contributions, and emphasized:

“The experts will do their duty to turn these outcomes into an integrated national framework. We will continue this joint journey, and a special thanks to CARE Somalia for their continuous support and constructive cooperation.”

Background:

This workshop is part of SoDMA’s efforts to build a comprehensive national system for climate readiness, amidst the increasing waves of drought that affect millions of Somalis annually. The AART project contributes to empowering local and international actors to transition from emergency response to early and anticipatory action as a more effective and sustainable path.