MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mr. Mohamud Moallim Abdulle, participated today in a high-level workshop on financial opportunities available to address climate-related risks and disasters. The workshop, held at the Decale Hotel in Mogadishu from September 15 to 16, 2025, was organized by the Ministry of Finance and the Global Shield initiative.

The workshop was also attended by cabinet members, members of parliament, and other officials. The Chairman was accompanied by senior officials from the agency, including Mr. Hassan Issa, Managing Director of the National Emergency Operations Center; Mr. Mohamed Mukhtar, Information Management Specialist; and Dr. Mustafa Adle, Policy and Planning Advisor.

During the first day of the workshop, a deep discussion took place on the challenges arising from climate change and how to obtain effective financial funding and support to address the increasing impacts of this phenomenon.

In his speech at the workshop, the Commissioner of SoDMA, Mr. Mohamud Moallim Abdulle, emphasized the importance of securing sustainable financial opportunities for Somalia to prepare for and mitigate the growing risks of climate-related natural disasters. He stated: “The Global Shield initiative is a crucial step for Somalia to build our resilience to climate-induced disasters. We must leverage these opportunities to establish a robust financial framework that allows us to act before a crisis occurs, rather than merely reacting to it.”

The Global Shield initiative, launched at COP27, is a global collaboration between V20 (the most vulnerable countries) and G7 (developed countries). This collaboration aims to enhance the ability of vulnerable countries to access financial support before a disaster strikes. Somalia, being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate impacts, can greatly benefit from this initiative.

A comprehensive report titled “Somalia’s Local Process Inventory and Gap Analysis Report” was also presented, which highlights the gaps in data, capabilities, and challenges related to addressing climate change risks in the country, with the goal of leveraging the opportunities provided by the Global Shield initiative.