The 2nd Somalia Disaster Resilience Conference has been concluded in Mogadishu with a clear message that building resilience to disasters in Somalia requires tangible action and community engagement.
The two‑day conference which was jointly organized by the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and Mogadishu University drew government officials, researchers, humanitarian organizations and community‑representatives from across the country with the theme of “Building disaster resilience through community- based approaches”, underlining the role of local voices and grassroots strategies in dealing with floods, droughts, climate‑stress and other shocks are inevitable.
Approximately 15 research papers on disaster resilience were presented, with expert panel discussions, keynote speeches from field experts, and remarks from government officials and decision-makers. These research papers focused on risk reduction, community-based early warning systems, and local adaptation innovations in Somalia’s pastoral and riverine regions.
At the closing ceremony, the Somali government has offered several commitments:
- Plans to establish stronger links between national systems and community‑based networks, ensuring that local voices feed into disaster planning and response.
- The education sector pledged to work more closely with the government to ensure that national resilience strategies are informed by up‑to‑date data and local realities.
Somalia has endured a prolonged disaster that has claimed thousands of lives. In response, the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and Mogadishu University have organized this conference to explore strategies for mitigating these ongoing challenges. The initiative aims to bring together experts, policymakers, and community leaders to identify sustainable solutions that can reduce the impact of future crises and improve disaster preparedness in the region. By fostering collaboration and innovation, this conference seeks to address the root causes of the disaster and help rebuild communities affected by years of instability.
