Locally-Led Drought Resilience in Afghanistan and Somalia

Equipping local climate responders to implement adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures in two of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world.

We’re partnering with the Howden Foundation to deliver online training on climate resilience in Afghanistan and Somalia – two of the countries most vulnerable in the world to climate change.

We're adapting our 6-week Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCADRR) programme to each of these two specific contexts to equip local responders in drought-affected rural areas in Afghanistan and Somalia - from local NGOs, community-based organisations, and line departments of local governments in drought-affected rural areas. We’re focusing on supporting local organisations, who play a leading role in furthering climate resilience, as those who know local contexts best.

The project will support a skilled climate workforce, reducing reliance on external assistance, and empowering local actors to handle climate-related challenges – with farming techniques suitable in extreme heat events, or low-water usage irrigation systems, for instance.

Why Afghanistan and Somalia?

Both Afghanistan and Somalia face acute challenges responding to deadly drought exacerbated by climate change.

Afghanistan ranks 12th among countries most vulnerable to climate change and fifth in overall disaster risk in 2023. The southern parts of the country lose about 60-80% of animals whenever a drought occurs. Of 34 provinces, 30 are grappling with severe or extremely poor water quality.

In Somalia, likewise, up to a million people are threatened by starvation due to drought. Only 1.75% of Somalia is arable land, and a majority of Somalians depend on international food donations.

Our existing CCADRR programme welcomes a broad range of participants from many countries, across our three target regions East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Through this project, we can respond with depth as well as breadth, working closely with local organisations and climate responders to support them to find the climate solutions they need to counter drought and flooding in their contexts.

Image Credit: Afghan Red Crescent Society

Why does gender matter in addressing climate change?

When women are involved in climate decision-making, the decisions made are better reflections of the needs of the community. The reflect increased cooperation, and create better outcomes.

We’re developing a new module on “Gender and Climate Change”, to empower participants to advocate for gender-sensitive approaches in climate resilience initiatives.

Participants will gain a new awareness of the gender dynamics in the impacts of climate change in drought – and a new approach to mainstreaming gender considerations into their work.

Read more about gender and climate in Somalia

Learning Needs Assessments

To ensure we cover the right topics and respond to real needs in Somalia and Afghanistan, between May and July we are conducting two Learning Needs Assessments to assess the greatest learning priorities in context.

Who should join us?

Local people and organisations know local contexts best, and are best placed to lead local disaster response. We’re focusing on supporting local organisations, who play a leading role in furthering climate resilience, such as local NGOs, community-based organisations, and line departments of local governments in drought-affected rural areas.

The Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme

This project forms part of RedR’s wider Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCADRR) programme. This project, first launched in 2019, is generously supported by AXA XL.

Providing a core six-week online training programme to climate responders working in East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, as well as supplementary additional modules on key technical competencies, this programme equips local climate responders to adapt and reduce disaster risks in their own context.

The programme is currently ongoing, and spaces are available for our next online cohorts. Find out more here.

Image Credit: Meer Abdullah, Afghanistan Red Crescent

Masthead Image Credit: Pedram YAZDI, ICRC