8 July 2026
Turning Climate Risk into Climate Action: A Milestone for Somalia
As climate-related shocks continue to affect communities across Somalia, national institutions are strengthening efforts to better anticipate and address climate displacement risks. On 7-8 July 2026, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) and the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), as co-chairs of the national process, together with the Somali National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS), convened the First National Workshop on Climate Mobility in Mogadishu. Bringing together government institutions, academia, development and humanitarian partners, and technical experts, the workshop advanced a shared national vision for climate resilience and anticipatory action.
Supported by IOM Somalia, the IOM Climate Mobility Innovation Lab (CMIL) Africa, ICPAC, and CIMA Research Foundation, the workshop marked the launch of Somalia's Risk Index for Climate Displacement (RICD), a tool designed to identify areas most at risk of climate-induced displacement and strengthen evidence-based planning and decision-making.
A key focus of the workshop was the co-creation of the Somalia-specific RICD methodology. Led by MoECC, SoDMA, and SNBS, participants reviewed indicators and datasets identified through a national data-mapping exercise, assessing how existing information systems can contribute to measuring hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity. The process helped identify priority indicators for immediate integration into the methodology while highlighting critical data gaps and opportunities for stronger institutional collaboration and data sharing.
Discussions also focused on the Climate Catalytic Fund (CCF), an innovative financing mechanism designed to translate climate risk information into action. Participants explored how climate finance can be directed towards communities facing the highest risks of climate displacement, linking evidence, investment, and locally led resilience-building efforts. Together, the RICD and CCF represent a forward-looking approach to reducing displacement risks before crises occur.
The workshop underscored a growing shift in Somalia's climate mobility agenda: moving from responding to displacement after it happens to anticipating risks and investing in solutions beforehand. The strong leadership demonstrated by MoECC, SoDMA, and SNBS reflects a national commitment to ensuring that climate risk information informs policy, planning, and investment decisions at all levels.
The event also received broad visibility through social media coverage by participating institutions and partners, helping raise awareness of Somalia's efforts to advance data-driven solutions for climate mobility and resilience. This public engagement reinforced the importance of collaborative action and national ownership in addressing climate-related displacement challenges.
As climate risks continue to intensify across the Horn of Africa, the RICD and Climate Catalytic Fund offer a practical pathway for turning climate risk information into action, helping communities adapt, strengthen resilience, and reduce the risk of climate-induced displacement before humanitarian crises emerge.
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