Somalia, officially known as the Federal Republic of Somalia, is located in the Horn of Africa: its coastline stretches for over 3,025, Africa’s longest. Most of Somalia has a semi-arid or arid climate, with mountainous terrain in the north and predominantly flat plateaus in the south (African Development Bank). Temperatures are generally high, and rainfall is highly variable, with two rainy seasons: the long rains from March to May associated with southwest monsoons, and the short rains from October to November linked to northeast monsoons. 

The country faces significant climate risks from natural hazards including droughts, floods, cyclones, and climate-related diseases (World Bank Group).  Increasing rainfall variability and more intense rainfall events further heighten these risks. These challenges threaten key sectors such as agriculture, which employs around 70 percent of the workforce, as well as water security, infrastructure, and coastal settlements (Adelphi – Climate Risk Profile).  

With a large portion of the population highly vulnerable to climate risks, Somalia’s  NDC (2021) emphasizes adaptation measures such as disaster risk reduction, improved water management, and sustainable land-use practices to strengthen resilience and support long-term stability.