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MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – February 18, 2025 – The Enhancing Resilience in Border Communities: Climate-Adapted Water Management and Feeder Roads (DARIS WACAN) project was officially launched today, marking a significant step towards improving climate resilience, water resource management, and socio-economic development for border communities in Somalia and Kenya. Funded by the European Union (EU), the three-year initiative will be implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Project Goals
The DARIS WACAN initiative aims to benefit 160,000 people by expanding access to sustainable water, strengthening infrastructure, and promoting climate-adaptive livelihoods. The project targets drought-affected border communities that rely on transboundary natural resources and struggle with insufficient water for human and livestock consumption, as well as agriculture.
Regional Collaboration
The initiative is a testament to regional collaboration, bringing together diverse people from different governments and local community groups. H.E. Said Mohamed Mohamud, State Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing, emphasized that the project aligns with development policies, including trade opportunities, enhancing cross-border management and integration, and fostering common security operations.
EU Support
The European Union has a long-standing partnership with the Horn of Africa region. H.E. Karin Johansson, EU Ambassador to Somalia, highlighted that the EUR 11 million project will improve trade and social cohesion, leading to greater stability in borderland communities and the region.
Impact on Communities
Frantz Celestin, IOM Regional Director for East, Horn, and Southern Africa, stated that climate challenges do not recognize borders, and neither should the solutions. The project aims to improve infrastructure, foster regional cooperation, strengthen governance, and address underlying sources of conflict related to water and natural resources. Ambassador Gamal Hassan, Director of IGAD Center for Climate Adaptation and Environmental Protection, added that improving access to clean water and extending coverage of reliable roads will significantly change the lives of border communities, leading to long-term resilience.