Page 44 - AA 2023 Year Book Website

Somalia

IFAD SUBSTANTIALLY STRENGTHENS ITS INVESTMENTS

IN SOMALIA TO HELP SMALL-SCALE PRODUCERS COPE

WITH CLIMATE SHOCKS AND FOOD INSECURITY

from benefiting from IFAD’s highly con-
cessional loans and grants since 1991,
when the civil war started in Somalia.
“Germany’s clearing of Somalia’s
outstanding debts with IFAD allows the
Fund to resume its important role in sup-
porting rural development and sustain-
able climate-resilient agriculture in So-
malia. We have taken this rather unusual
bilateral step in order to boost Somalia’s
efforts to withstand economic and cli-
matic shocks and in order to strengthen
institutions and ownership in times of
crisis so as to leverage further financing
for climate-resilient agriculture,” said Jo-
chen Flasbarth, State Secretary, Federal
Ministry of Economic Cooperation and
As Somalia continues to experience process of transition from humanitarian Development of Germany.
a historic drought, pushing millions of to development and it helps a lot – it is “The climate crisis has severe conse-
Somalians into acute food insecurity, Al- opening doors, and other organizations quences on agriculture and food pro-
varo Lario, President of the Internation- will follow suit.” duction in the world’s poorest countries.
al Fund for Agricultural Development Lario announced that IFAD is imme- It is urgent that we strengthen the resil-
(IFAD) announced during IFAD’s 46th diately making US$11.6 million avail- ience of rural populations in these coun-
session of the Governing Council that it able and mobilizing resources for a new tries,” said Ambassador Pierre-Emanuel
will substantially strengthen its support US$50 million agricultural development De Bauw, Belgium’s Governor to IFAD.
to Somalia and resume its direct invest- project, providing seeds, irrigation, “Belgium is honoured to be one of the
ments after loan arrears resulted in a farming and veterinary services, small first countries to have contributed to
three-decade long suspension. Somalia microfinance loans, training in climate clear Somalia’s debt to IFAD, enabling
has just now cleared its debt with IFAD smart and adaptation technics to im- the country to benefit from IFAD funding
through member-state support. prove crop and livestock production. to help small-scale farmers adapt to cli-
“Today, the situation of millions of So- “We must help small-scale farmers mate changes and tackle land degrada-
malians is heartbreaking,” said Lario. and pastoralists adapt to climate change tion.“
“Five consecutive seasons of rains have and build their resilience so that they Despite the arrears and the suspen-
failed, devastating their lives and their can cope with future shocks,” said Lario. sion of loans, IFAD has been actively mo-
ability to cope, which has been further “They need funding and training.” bilizing grants from donors to Somalia
eroded by conflict, climate shocks, des- and channeling resources for rural de-
ert locust outbreaks and high food, fuel According to the Integrated Phase velopment projects in the country. Since
and fertilizer prices. We must provide Classification, 5.6 million Somalians are the early 1990’s, IFAD has channeled
humanitarian assistance to save lives currently experiencing high levels of about US$40 million to Somalia. There
now, but it is equally important that we acute food insecurity, including 214,000 are two ongoing projects at the moment.
lay the foundation today to ensure a people considered in a catastrophe situ- A project in Puntland helps pastoral-
brighter future.” ation due to an unprecedented drought, ists and agro-pastoralists rehabilitate
not seen in decades. Projections show
He added: “Solutions exist. It is inhu- that as many as 8.3 million Somalians irrigation systems, improve livestock
mane to keep people living in cycles could face high levels of acute food inse- health, use drip irrigation, restore de-
of crises. We must invest today in long- curity between April and June 2023. The graded rangelands and use solar en-
term solutions. And this means rural de- 2023 Somalia Humanitarian Response ergy. IFAD also provides extraordinary
velopment.“ Plan aims to assist 7.6 million people support to Somalia under its Crisis Relief
Later, during a press conference, Has- across Somalia this year. This includes Initiative to help the country withstand
san Sheikh Mohamud, the President of preventing loss of life of approximately the impacts of the war in Ukraine by
the Federal Republic of Somalia, empha- 6.7 million of the most vulnerable peo- responding to urgent needs for seeds,
sized the importance of IFAD’s renewed ple. fertilizers, goats and sheep, irrigation
commitment: “This re-engagement is an IFAD’s renewed direct investments are and renewable energies, and rehabilita-
opportunity for a new dawn for Somalia now made possible thanks to Belgium, tion of water sources, thus protecting the
to address many food security priorities Germany, Italy and Sweden which sup- livelihoods of about 72 000 people.
in the country,” he said. “The re-engage- ported Somalia in clearing its arrears
ment of IFAD is the beginning of the to IFAD. The arrears prevented Somalia

42 Arab Agriculture 2023