Innovation from drylands to drylands: Somalia

When back in 2019 I first landed in Mogadishu, I remember feeling at my hometown, Almería (South-East of Spain). The smell of the sea, the air humidity, the intense sun. Unfortunately, that feeling only lasted a few seconds, as the security conditions did not allow to stay much time at the airport. In fact, the airport seemed almost owned by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS)’s planes and helicopters.

I come from a very dry part of Spain. Also, a few decades ago, it was one of the poorest regions in Europe. Nevertheless, it went through a process of agricultural development that positioned it to be where it stands today: a world leader in terms of fresh food production, competing with Israel in terms of drylands knowledge and technology. They learnt to use and re-use every drop of water, every ray of sun, and to deal with the continuous wind that made our land the only desert in Europe. And the results are amazing: this little sunny corner of Spain produces and exports vegetables to most Europe and beyond. It is called the ‘Plastic Sea’ (‘Mar de Plástico’) due to the extension covered by greenhouses. Check this out: https://youtu.be/v0jI8cYqqfc?si=YEWWd35LK2e1sbkq

That year I went back to Almería during my break in August, and took advantage to visit Cajamar Foundation (from a Smart Agrifood Co-operative Bank, https://www.fundacioncajamar.es/es/comun/) to learn about their agricultural innovations. I wanted to understand if poor and fragile countries could (humbly) learn from their model; also, why not, explore potential for collaboration on climate-smart agriculture projects, where they could offer technical advice/support (i.e., at that moment, the organization I worked for was planning to establish a Skills Development Centre in Garowe, Puntland, mainly for internally displaced people). There were options to pursue.

Moreover, while in Hargeisa (Somaliland, at the North coast of Somalia) I learnt about Seawater Greenhouse (https://www.sgsomaliland.com/): an UK engineering company that were using seawater to irrigate crops in greenhouses through a simple/not very expensive process of desalinization. I contacted them too, and they told me technology was working well and had local institutional support, but they were facing (unfortunately, as usual) problems to find enough funding. 

I also reached out to the College of Applied & Natural Science, University of Hargeisa, Somaliland. They were eager to carry on research and collaboration about different issues, i.e., how food assistance projects impact on the environment, how social issues are underlying to projects failures, or training students on climate change.

Can you see how many opportunities were there? I saw ideas and partnerships for climate adaptation funding proposals everywhere. IF climate finance would be easier to get; if climate funds would find ways to channel their precious funds to these fragile places. Unfortunately, when most of us hear ‘Somalia’, what comes to our minds is conflict, al-Shabbat, pirates, even hunger. There is so much more. Somalis are business people, they have immense needs but also huge natural resources (where it looks like a desert). I don’t think the country can get in the short run the needed political stability and a reliable legal framework to fully develop the private sector in this regard. However, small steps are feasible. There is political will; there are Somali small entrepreneurs and cooperatives that see this type of agriculture as a good livelihood option worth investing. And food security is one of the main goals of local authorities and international actors. There are of course many challenges to overcome, starting by the volatile security situation. In this regard, there is a very interesting on-going discussion about how climate work can contribute to ‘calming’ conflict, and in the long run, why not, to peace.

Climate Funds managers and donors need to find ways that allow investments to flow where they are most needed. Let’s keep pushing and trying.