Anticipatory Action: Securing clean water before crisis strikes

Somalia | 2024 | SHF

Somalia, Jamaame district. For Amina Ali, a mother of five in Farwaamo village, a rural area in Somalia, daily life was defined by the arduous trip to secure safe water.

The village’s only shallow well was in poor condition, often drying up during the arid seasons. “Fetching water consumed hours of my day,” Amina recalls. “Sometimes, I walked for miles just to bring back a few litres of murky water.”

This challenge was not hers alone. Women across the village bore the heavy burden of water collection, while children, especially girls, were often pulled out of school to assist. The water scarcity also had dire health consequences. Contaminated water led to frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, which disproportionately affected children.

“We were constantly worried about falling sick, and medical expenses were a strain on our already limited resources,” Amina explains.

The situation worsened during the dry season, as families had to rely on distant, unsafe water sources. The long journeys were dangerous for women and girls.

The Somali NGO Social Environmental Agency (SEA), with funding from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF), repaired the shallow wells in Farwaamo and other nearby communities. SEA installed solar-powered pumping systems and constructed water kiosks to ensure consistent and equitable access to clean water.

Unlike the old, fuel-dependent pumps, the solar-powered system is efficient and cost-effective. This has saved the community money and ensured long-term reliability of their water source.

Not having to travel to fetch water has been a boon, Amina says. “I feel as though I’ve got my life back,” and there is more time and energy for other activities. “We’ve started small businesses, attended training sessions, and even organized women’s groups to discuss other challenges we face,” she notes.

With clean water readily available, girls no longer have to miss school to collect water or risk illness from contaminated sources. “Seeing my daughters go to school every day gives me hope for their future,” Amina adds.

This project was funded through the SHF Anticipatory Allocation, launched in March 2024. Based on forecasts from January and February, the humanitarian country team anticipated above-average rainfall and potential flooding during the March to June Gu rain season. In response, SHF launched this funding to enable partners to act before the rainy season began, reducing humanitarian impact in high-risk, remote, and hard-to-reach areas like Jamaame, Luuq, and Afgooye.

"The floods in winter 2023 caused widespread devastation in Somalia, particularly in Jamaame District, where numerous homes and livelihoods were destroyed. Five villages were submerged, leading residents to seek refuge elsewhere,” said Ahmednoor Abdi M, SEA Programme Manager. “Through anticipatory action, the SHF project - in tandem with Government efforts - provided essential assistance, facilitating the resettlement of affected communities before the situation got even worse."

More information on the Somalia Humanitarian Fund

Pooled Fund impact stories

Published March 2025