THE Green Climate Fund (GCF), recognised as the world’s largest multilateral climate fund, has pledged $100 million for a climate action investment programme in Somalia over the next year. The announcement, made during a visit by Mafalda Duarte, GCF executive director, marks a significant step towards bolstering Somalia’s resilience to climate change impacts.
During her visit to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Duarte emphasised the urgent need to address Somalia’s vulnerability to climate change. Despite contributing only 0.03 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions, Somalia ranks as the second most vulnerable country to climate change, according to Duarte.
‘The interlinked impact of climate change and lack of security has had a devastating effect on people, causing some 43,000 excess deaths in 2022 due to drought, displacing more than 6 million people,’ stated Duarte, highlighting the severity of the situation. Recurrent drought and flooding have led to failed crops, loss of livestock, and chronic food insecurity issues in Somalia, exacerbating the challenges faced by its population.
Duarte affirmed the GCF’s commitment to collaborating with the government of Somalia and its partners to address the country’s extreme vulnerability. The GCF aims to implement a strategy of investments and readiness support totalling over $100 million by mid-2025, empowering Somalia to develop priority projects and subsequent investments.
During her visit, Duarte held discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and other senior government officials, signalling a strong partnership between the GCF and Somalia. Additionally, she launched an investment pipeline, including a project to provide affordable and reliable off-grid energy access to unelectrified populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
The climate action investment programme prioritises capital investment and technical support in Somalia, aiming to accelerate disbursements of over $3 million for 2024-2025. This funding, sourced from the GCF and other partners, is crucial for addressing the immediate and long-term climate challenges faced by Somalia and its population.