Water security and climate resilience in the Somali Region, Ethiopia: an assessment of the vulnerabilities of refugee and host communities

Water security and climate resilience in the Somali Region, Ethiopia: an assessment of the vulnerabilities of refugee and host communities
Singh, Radhika; Mekuria, Wolde; Dessalegn, Mengistu; Melaku, Dagmawi; Adam-Bradford, Andrew; Ruckstuhl, Sandra

Refugee and hosting communities of the Somali Region of Ethiopia are deeply impacted by water insecurity. Water supply and irrigation systems developed by UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations suffer from weak value chains, high running costs, and overburdened infrastructure/equipment, hence are unable to respond to the needs of growing populations. This has led to insecure livelihoods and over-dependence on humanitarian aid. This report aims to identify priority areas to improve water security, as both water supply and irrigation systems are vulnerable to the effects of droughts, floods, and other weather extremes. It recommends prioritizing anticipatory action, enhancing adaptation to climate change, and increasing resilience to economic stresses to strengthen the resilience of water supply and irrigation systems. Anticipatory actions, including identifying locations for water harvesting, upgrading and protecting key infrastructure, and raising community trust in climate forecasts, can minimize the effects of disasters and protect developmental gains. Adaptation to climate change can be enhanced with the identification of new clean water sources and the development of innovative water utility models. Finally, resilience to economic stresses can be mitigated by strengthening value chains, encouraging innovation systems around solar power, and filling water system gaps with local enterprises.

Policies, strategies, and frameworks already in place can support the development of anticipatory action and climate adaptation measures to address water-related challenges. National- and regional-level initiatives prioritizing integrating refugee and host communities and developing livelihoods and economic opportunities can help build resilience to economic stresses. Finally, water supply and water resource management policies can help inform how the range of interventions, cutting across water, livelihoods, energy, and disaster planning, can be harmonized. New governance approaches are required to match the area’s needs with organizational capacity and resources. A movement towards decentralized, flexible, and adaptive water systems, informed by transition governance, can mitigate current forms of water insecurity, and effectively respond to future needs. This would entail reevaluating institutional mandates so that actors’ roles and responsibilities are aligned with realistic expectations. It also involves grappling with key contradictions inherent to the humanitarian space and agreeing on the role that UNHCR needs to play to encourage localized development programming.

Singh, Radhika; Mekuria, Wolde; Dessalegn, Mengistu; Melaku, Dagmawi; Adam-Bradford, Andrew; Ruckstuhl, Sandra. 2024. Water security and climate resilience in the Somali Region, Ethiopia: an assessment of the vulnerabilities of refugee and host communities. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Fragility, Conflict, and Migration. 36p.