Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Somalia are partnering on an agriculture and livelihoods project in Kismayu and Dhobley Districts of Jubaland State, Somalia.
Food insecurity in Somalia and the project locations is driven by prolonged drought, recurrent flooding, persistent conflict, insecurity, poverty, weak infrastructure, high food prices, climate change, environmental degradation, and livelihood disruption. In Kismayu, riverine farmers depend on low-input agriculture which is vulnerable to annual Juba River flooding. In Dhobley, pastoralist and agro-pastoralist households face erratic rainfall, declining livestock productivity, drought-induced migration, and outdated animal husbandry practices.
Food insecurity strains households by reducing food intake, increasing borrowing and reliance on humanitarian aid, and forcing harmful coping strategies such as selling assets, withdrawing children from school, sending children for casual labour, cutting non-food essentials, begging, migration, or sending children to live with relatives. Women face heavier unpaid labour, limited access to land and resources, safety concerns, and reduced decision-making power, while IDPs, women, and marginalized groups are among the most severely affected.
The project will improve household food security and climate resilience by promoting different agricultural livelihoods in each district. In Kismayu district, 200 farmers will be trained on climate-smart agriculture, provided with climate-resilient seeds, farm tools and mechanization support. Cash-for-work will also be used to rehabilitate 12 kilometers of irrigation canals.
In Dhobley district, the project will train 200 pastoralists in improved livestock management, establish two agro-vet shops, rehabilitate two milk kiosks, strengthen eight cooperatives, build government extension capacity, and establish women-led savings groups.
The project will reach 3,900 people from 650 households.