Monday May 19, 2025
Janine Cocker, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada to Somalia, and Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Representative in Somalia, shake hands after signing a new partnership agreement on May 8, 2025. CREDIT/ FAO
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Canada have partnered on a new climate and gender-focused initiative aimed at boosting food security and empowering women farmers across Somalia.Announced in Mogadishu this week, the program—“Scaling Up Gender-Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods in Somalia”—will work with the Somali government to address the twin challenges of gender inequality and climate vulnerability in rural communities. Officials say the initiative is designed to improve access to resources for women, expand climate-adaptive farming practices, and enhance local food production systems.
Despite being key contributors to Somalia’s agriculture and livestock sectors, women face persistent barriers to land, credit, and markets. According to FAO Somalia’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit, female-headed households report higher levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, making them particularly vulnerable to climate shocks like drought and flooding.“Canada is proud to support this transformative partnership with FAO and the Government of Somalia, which puts women and climate resilience at the center of food security efforts,” said Janine Cocker, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada to Somalia. “Investing in gender equality and climate action isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s one of the most effective ways to strengthen development and resilience.”
The project will also support two flagship FAO-led efforts: the Joint Drought Recovery and Resilience Programme (JDRRP) and the Jowhar Offstream Storage Programme (JOSP), which focus on restoring water access and rehabilitating farmland affected by prolonged drought.
“By simultaneously addressing gender barriers and climate vulnerabilities, we can unlock Somalia’s agricultural potential while building long-term resilience,” said Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO’s Representative in Somalia.
The initiative will focus on four outcomes: boosting women’s participation in agricultural production, increasing climate resilience of food systems, improving access to markets, and strengthening the capacity of local institutions for gender-responsive governance and natural resource management.
FAO says the program adopts an area-based approach—targeting specific regions with tailored, coordinated solutions—to prevent climate-driven displacement and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The partnership aligns with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and FAO’s goal to achieve gender equality in agricultural development. Officials say the Somali model could be replicated across the Horn of Africa to build inclusive and climate-resilient food systems.