The Federal Government of Somalia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), launched a $12.7 million national early warning initiative in Mogadishu on 2 June 2026 to reduce climate-related disaster fatalities by 42% and expand nationwide warning coverage from 20% to full coverage by 2030.
The Advancing Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) initiative addresses Somalia’s urgent need for strengthened disaster preparedness, as the country faces recurrent droughts, floods, and other climate-induced hazards. The project aims to shift from reactive responses to proactive risk management, a critical move for a nation where early warning coverage currently reaches only one-fifth of the population.
The five-year project will directly benefit 1.2 million people, with an estimated 8 million more indirectly benefiting from enhanced preparedness systems. It will install 1,200 sets of early warning sirens and public address systems across mosques, schools, community centers, and government offices. Additionally, 150 staff will be trained on early warning monitoring, and at least 80 local evacuation protocols will be established for “last mile” operators, including police, firefighters, and health services.
“This initiative represents a critical step forward in strengthening Somalia’s national capacity to anticipate and respond to disasters,” said Dr. Ahmed Abdi Aden, Deputy Commissioner of the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA). “By investing in early warning systems and preparedness, we are shifting from reactive responses to proactive risk management, ultimately saving lives and protecting livelihoods.”
Catherine Koffman, GCF Regional Director for Africa, said the fund is committed to delivering climate finance where risks are highest and capacities are most constrained and that strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems will help communities act on climate risks before they escalate.
Somalia is one of seven countries-alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Chad, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, and Cambodia-participating in the UN Secretary-General’s global push to ensure everyone is protected by effective early warning systems by 2027.
