Somalia Projects

RAAS field officers inspect a completed shallow well in Gedo region, Somalia. Source: RAAS

Rainwater Association of Somalia (RAAS) advocates for the integration of rainwater harvesting and management (RHM) into national policies and strategies, and implements community-based projects. Currently, RAAS is working in the Gedo, Bay, and Bakol regions of Somalia. These regions suffer from inadequate water access due to limited surface water sources and saline groundwater. RAAS is working to support communities  there to improve their access to water and their livelihoods.

Our Current Projects

Community-based RHM Project in Gedo, Bay, and Bakol (2010–2011)

Based in the water-scarce Gedo, Bay, and Bakol regions of Somalia, this project focuses on construction and rehabilitation of  rainwater harvesting structures such as earth dams/water pans, shallow wells, and boreholes as well as many complementary technologies including latrines; horticultural production; tree seedling nurseries; improved mud stoves (IMS); promotion of beehives and poultry keeping; support for the fishing community to improve nutrition and household income; livestock restocking and improved fodder production; and introduction of a community-based entrepreneurship scheme for solid waste management. The project also involves a component known as the ‘Blue School’ project which targets 25 schools in five districts and aims to install roof-water storage tanks and improved sanitation, as well as encouraging children to adopt a tree and become ambassadors for environmental change with the ‘Tree for a Child’ scheme.