Swalim News and Events

FAO-SWALIM Work in Puntland

Since 2006 Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) has been operating in Puntland. Informative data has been collected on land, water and climate. The information is organized in themes: Water resources (Climate, floods, water resources and water reports); Land resources (Land degradation, Land suitability, soils and land reports). This information is generated with the support of a strong Information management, GIS and remote sensing units in collaboration with Puntland government partner institutions. SWALIM information management team has organized the data to facilitate quick retrieval through a variety of online and offline platforms. Download publication (pdf, 3.5 MB)

The Puntland water and land resources – Information Management Center

The Information Management Center (IMC) will be a special agency under the Puntland State of Somalia whose main function shall be to collect, process and analyze water and land resources information in coordination with the relevant government institutions, in support of policy development for sustainable and integrated water and land resources management, and to provide water and land related data and information to the end users. Download pdf(2.5 MB)

FAO-SWALIM Recognised for Partnership with Banadir University

FAO SWALIM has been working together with academic institutions in order to foster long-term research relationships on specific projects of interest and to generate knowledge for the betterment of the lives of Somali communities.

 Journal Publications

Validation of the CHIRPS satellite rainfall estimates over eastern Africa
Long and temporally consistent rainfall time series are essential in climate analyses and applications.
Uncovering the challenges of domestic energy access in the context of weather and climate extremes in Somalia
In Somalia, challenges related to energy access is influenced by both weather and climate extremes and associated conflict.
Towards a spatial Data Infrastructure for Somalia using open source standards
SDI is a well-known concept in Africa, many countries are on the way to having a formal SDI strategy Certain countries, such as Somalia, are starting the process of nation building after years of war.

 In focus

Sustained “no regrets” humanitarian efforts urgently needed in response to drought in the Horn of Africa

Catastrophic consequences of the multi-year drought will continue in 2023, leaving communities in urgent need of assistance. Seasonal forecasts suggest a reasonable chance that the upcoming March–May rains will again underperform which, should it occur, would be an unprecedented sixth poor season. Communities will need years to recover from this historically severe drought.

Climate-smart water harvesting and storage systems help rural communities overcome climate shocks

FAO and the European Union partner with government and communities to strengthen water resource management for improved food security in Puntland and Somaliland

EU and FAO handover a new Water and Land Information Management Centre to Government of Somalia in Puntland

This Centre will support the Government in management of land and water resources, and ultimately the people of Somalia as we are all the stewards of these assets for now and for the future

Improving flood response in Somalia through remote sensing

Satellite imagery reports riverbank breakages in real timeSomalia, like many countries, is affected by frequent climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts and tropical storms.

 SWALIM Publications

Somalia Seasonal Rainfall Outlook for Gu 2024

According to the Seasonal Climate Forecast issued by IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), there is a 55% likelihood that above normal rainfall (wetter than normal conditions) will be observed over most parts of Somalia.

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STATUS OF RIVER BREAKAGES ALONG JUBA AND SHABELLE RIVERS - ISSUED MARCH 2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s Somalia Water and Land Information Management (FAO SWALIM) Project, has finalized the analysis and mapping of the river breakages along the Juba and Shabelle rivers using very high resolution satellite imagery.

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Review of Deyr 2023 Rainfall Performance, Jilal Status, Gu Outlook, and Implications on Livelihoods over Somalia

Several key findings have been obtained following a review of the 2023 Deyr (October-November-December) seasonal rainfall. Heavy cumulative rainfall was observed over the south and central parts of the country with a substantial 1,152 mm being recorded in Baidoa in Bay region representing five time

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Somalia Rainfall Forecast – Issued 13 December 2023

Light rainfall of below 50 mm is forecast over some areas in the southern parts of the country in the coming week.

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 Donors

SWALIM is a multi-donor project managed by FAO and currently funded by The European Union, USAID, SDC, FCDO and Government of France