Resilience in action as early warning committees protect communities in Somalia
Becoming a disaster risk coordinator was not in Amiso Muse’s life plans. Yet, as climate change-induced flash floods increased in Kubo, her village in northern Somalia, the farmer understood that something needed to be done to break the cycle of destruction her community would face every rainy season.
Kubo’s livelihood depends heavily on selling farming and livestock products in nearby cities, but as it lies on a water passage, it is a flash flooding hotspot.
Houses damaged by the floods in the lowlands of Puntland. In some areas, early warning committees coordinated the transfer of families to higher grounds to protect their lives and livelihoods from future downpours.
A few kilometres north, Mohamoud Omar Bile felt the same. For decades, the chairperson of Ilma Adeer, in the Puntland region, witnessed a similar pattern: during the rainy season the river meandering through the settlement, home to 200 families, bursts its banks, flooding it. The result is displaced families, dead livelihoods, ruined businesses, and a community struggling to recover – until the next time.
“The real struggle would start after the water receded,”
Dahir Mohamed, a resident of Ilma Adeer, said.
“The ground was too saturated to plant right away, and the damage to our homes would take months to repair. Food was scarce and we struggled financially for a long time; it was exceedingly difficult to recover,” he added.
In Puntland and Somaliland, climate-related disasters like floods threaten lives and livelihoods – while the downpours and their impact are out of people’s control, preparation and coordination could help the communities to manage impact.
The community-focused Dan Wadaag project, implemented by CARE Somalia and supported by CARE Netherlands, has been instrumental in helping residents take control of their own resilience, working with local authorities to establish Early Warning Committees (EWC)—grassroots mechanisms designed to strengthen disaster preparedness at the community level. Since 2021, the project trained 200 community members in disaster preparedness, establishing twenty committees across the regions equipping residents with knowledge and tools to mitigate risks before disaster strikes.
Women, often the backbone of daily life, have played a crucial role in this effort. Yet, despite their central presence in households and communities, they have historically been excluded from decision-making spaces. Amiso was one of them. Now, as an EWC member, she is helping to drive change.
One of the committee’s first steps was to educate local communities about flood risks and prevention strategies. Through household visits and community gatherings, they provided residents with practical solutions to protect their homes and livelihoods. By ensuring that life-saving information reaches every household, these committees are not only strengthening disaster response but also shifting the balance of leadership—bringing women like Amiso to the forefront of resilience-building efforts.
“The impact has been transformative. Communities have taken ownership of their safety and resilience through long-term disaster management,” explained Mohamed Hamud, Dan Wadaag’s project manager.
“Residents have a deeper understanding of how their actions influence disaster vulnerability; this has fostered a culture of preparedness and resilience. Some EWCs safeguarded wells by installing protective covers, thus minimizing the risk of clogging and ensured consistent water access for livestock and agricultural use. Others have organized awareness-raising sessions, educating villagers on cooperation, early warning systems, and environmental conservation. Other committees have implemented measures to prevent soil erosion during future floods.”
Solutions, however, could require tough decisions. To prevent losses, some committees worked with communities to relocate from flood-prone lowlands to higher grounds—Ilma Adeer was one of them.
“With the rainy season on the horizon, we reached out to residents in high-risk areas, reminding them to stay alert and prepared for potential relocation. They resisted; they did not want to leave their ancestral homes,” Bile said.
The local EWC understood the emotional weight of the move. It worked closely with each family, and organized meetings and campaigns to show the long-term benefits as floods caused not only immediate damage but also hampered recovery, impacting health and finances.
Following thorough consultations and awareness raising the community rallied behind the initiative. With the EWC’s leadership, villagers identified suitable land and approached local authorities to begin the relocation to higher ground. When the rainy season arrived, in 2023 and 2024, they brought the expected heavy downpour. But the families in Ilma Adeer who had relocated to higher ground watched from a place of safety as the floodwaters raged below. Their homes and belongings were safe.
“We now have a plan to protect our community. The previous floods showed us how unprepared we were, but this time, we are confident in our ability to manage any potential flooding,” Bile said. Some families still reside in the low-lying areas, but most have moved to safety. The EWC continues to hold monthly meetings to identify potential risks and spread awareness.
In Kubo, communities are now safer thanks to the work of Amiso and her early warning committee. Trained in disaster management, they have learned how to develop swift and effective response plans for natural hazards, ensuring timely communication with families and neighbors. Their risk mitigation strategies range from building sandbag barriers to protect homes and crops from floods to establishing WhatsApp groups for rapid information-sharing during emergencies.
Dan Wadaag is at the heart of this resilience effort as the long-term initiative is designed to ensure sustainability by keeping these community-led committees in place. The program also introduced Community Adaptation Action Planning (CAAP)—a structured process that helps residents assess risks, identify vulnerabilities, and develop locally driven solutions. Through in-depth discussions, communities map out both climatic and non-climatic challenges, drawing from their firsthand experiences to create action plans tailored to their needs.
By equipping communities with knowledge and tools, these initiatives are fostering a culture of preparedness, ensuring that communities remain resilient in the face of future disasters.