Federal Government, Regional States Agree Joint Plan to Tackle Drought, Boost Energy and Water Access

GOOBJOOG NEWS | DHUSAMAREB: The federal government of Somalia and its regional states have agreed on a unified national approach to addressing drought, expanding access to electricity and improving water services, officials said after a two-day coordination conference.

The Federal and Federal Member States Coordination Conference on Energy and Water Resources, held in the central city of Dhusamareb, brought together ministers and technical officials from the federal government and the regional administrations of Galmudug, South West, Hirshabelle, Puntland and Jubbaland.

The talks resulted in agreement on closer policy coordination, joint planning and more equitable implementation of energy and water projects across the country, aimed at reducing duplication and improving service delivery.

The conference endorsed several ongoing national programmes, including the Somalia Electricity Recovery Project (ILAYS), the Jowhar Water Development Project, the Barwaaqo+ initiative focused on community-based water reservoirs, and the Abaartire programme, which seeks long-term solutions to recurrent drought.

Federal and regional ministers said the agreed framework would help accelerate access to reliable electricity, expand clean water supplies and strengthen Somalia’s ability to respond to climate shocks, particularly droughts that have repeatedly displaced communities and strained public services.

Speaking at the closing session, Federal Minister of Energy and Water Resources Abdullahi Bidhaan Warsame said the government was committed to implementing projects nationwide without political bias, adding that affordable electricity and safe water were central to economic recovery and social stability.

Somalia has faced consecutive droughts in recent years, compounding insecurity and humanitarian needs, and officials said improved coordination between federal and regional authorities was critical to delivering sustainable solutions.