Urban Climate Resilience in Somalia

Somalia continues to face a recurring cycle of extreme weather events, including droughts and floods. Between 2021 and 2023, the country endured its worst drought on record, displacing over 1.3 million people. This was followed in 2023 by severe flooding that affected 2.48 million people and displaced a further 1.2 million.

At the same time, Somalia is undergoing rapid urbanization—its urban population is growing at 4.3% annually and is projected to triple by 2050. This expansion, largely driven by climate-induced displacement, has sharply increased demand for urban infrastructure and services—much of which is currently delivered by private and non-state actors.

Without integrating climate resilience into urban planning, this growth risks deepening existing vulnerabilities. Compounding the challenge are ongoing conflict and political instability, which continue to drive displacement and undermine institutional capacity.

We’re pleased to share details of RedR’s upcoming initiative: Urban Climate Resilience Masterclass for Somalia, a vital project supporting climate adaptation and institutional capacity building in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable contexts. Without integrating climate resilience into urban planning, this growth risks deepening existing vulnerabilities. Compounding the challenge are ongoing conflict and political instability, which continue to drive displacement and undermine institutional capacity.

 

Throughout 2025–2026, RedR will work in partnership with the Global Center for Adaptation (GCA), the World Bank and the Government of Somalia (including five Federal Member States and the Benadir Regional Administration) to:

• Adapt GCA’s Urban Climate Resilience Masterclass (UCRMC) for Somalia’s fragile and conflict-affected state (FCS) context; and
• Deliver tailored capacity building for local and national Somali public officials and other stakeholders involved in the Somalia Urban Resilience Project II (SURP-II).

 

The project’s overall aim is to strengthen public service delivery at the local level, improve access to climate-resilient urban infrastructure and services, and enhance readiness to respond to future crises and emergencies.