The city of Garowe in Puntland, Somalia has experienced a large population growth in recent years of internally displaced persons (IDPs). In total, internally displaced persons already make up a third of Garowe's urban population. The main reason for this is the relatively stable political situation in the region, which leads to an improved supply situation compared to the crisis-ridden other parts of the country. Nevertheless, the supply situation of IDPs, who mainly live in informal settlements and refugee camps in the east of the city, must be considered critical. Access to water and sanitation is often lacking, and food supply as well as income and employment opportunities are limited.
In addition to war and terror in the country, one of the main causes of the flight and migration movements are the consequences of climate change. In recent years, prolonged periods of drought alternating with heavy rainfall and resulting floods as well as plagues of locusts have made livestock farming and agriculture, the livelihoods of almost two-thirds of Somalia's population, massively more difficult. The resulting rural exodus is leading to rapid urbanization in Somalia, which is causing tensions and supply conflicts in the conurbations.
The project "Promoting the Economic Participation of Extremely Poor IDPs and Residents of Host Communities in Puntland, Somalia" aims to promote the integration of IDPs in Puntland and Garowe in close cooperation with local authorities. Due to the close linkage between the impacts of climate change, displacement and urbanization, the local government of Garowe is planning to take action in the city with the help of a municipal climate protection plan. In the long term, the goal of the integration of IDPs can only be achieved through systemic and cross-sectoral planning.
Under the umbrella of a municipal climate protection plan, the needed adaptive measures can be planned and implemented in addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through green energy projects. These measures may include disaster management in the event of natural events such as droughts or floods or local food supply through urban agriculture and urban gardening, the expansion of sanitary facilities and the strengthening of the water balance or urban settlement planning and land management.
The goal of this Working Group is jointly developing an integrated climate protection concept for the city of Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. Through the development of the integrated climate protection concept, the Working Group will support the implementation of existing national strategies and Somalia's NDCs, which lack effectiveness and capacity due to political instability and lack of human and financial re-sources.