FAO SWALIM: Somalia Water and Land Information ManagementFAO SWALIM: Somalia Water and Land Information Management

Hydrogeological Survey of Somalia

Despite groundwater being the main source of water for humans, agriculture and livestock, there is neither a hydrogeological map nor a sound policy for groundwater management and exploration in Somalia. SWALIM undertook a quantitative and updated assessment of the groundwater resources of Somaliland and Puntland and the set-up of a system for groundwater level monitoring.

Supporting sustainable water resource management

The development of new groundwater sources in Somalia is fraught with challenges. SWALIM has been working closely with the Somali Government Water Authorities and the United Nations WASH Cluster (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in developing systems for monitoring water sources in Somalia.

Sustainable water use

Water is Life! SWALIM project has developed systems for monitoring surface and groundwater in Somalia to support planning, development and sustainable exploitation of the scarce and valuable water resources in the country.

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Capacity development

SWALIM’s capacity development activities address all three dimensions of the capacity development paradigm, i.e. individuals, organizations and the enabling environment. SWALIM seeks to strengthen these three dimensions together in order to put in place a viable capability for sustainable water and land resource management within Somali institutions.

Land Resources of Somalia

Land resources in Somalia are varied and diverse. Up-to-date Information about these resources ensures informed decisions on their management and utilization, subsequently guaranteeing they will remain for the welfare of future generations.

Remote Sensing

Remote Sensing is a powerful tool wthat can enable detailed land analysis on a large scale and be used for environmental monitoring at regional and/or country level. Information extracted from satellite images are essential for informed land planning, consistent natural resources assessment, disaster early warning and management, and other tasks.

Information for action

Accurate uptodate and highquality information is essential for the sustainable management of water and land resources swalim the somali water and land information management project has made huge strides in increasing the quantity and quality of available baseline data and information on land and water in somalia

Humanitarian Response Plan 2018

Despite the challenging operating environment, local and international humanitarian partners are reaching more than three million people per month, and are committed to build on achievements from 2017 and continue highly targeted famine prevention efforts in 2018. The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), developed by the Somalia Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) in close consultations with Federal and State authorities, extends famine prevention efforts into 2018.

Somalia water sources livemap (SWIMS)

Somalia climate data series and Ground water

Flood Risk and Response Information Management

SWALIM Drought Monitoring Tool

Somalia Floods dashboard

Somalia spatial data portal

Somalia national river flow archive

Charcoal Sites Mapped

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.

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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.

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In focus

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 Online Systems Virtual Launch

Since inception in 2001, SWALIM has collected, processed, analyzed and archived land and water information and datasets across Somalia.

FAO-SWALIM river level gauge readers show Resilience, commitment and hard work in a difficult environment

Hussein Ali, fictional name, works as river level gauge reader for FAO-SWALIM (Somali Water and Land Information Management). In the midst of clan disputes, he walks to the middle of the bridge that divides into two a town along the Shabelle river, one of the two main rivers of Somalia.

FAO-SWALIM adjusts its modus operandi to overcome the physical limitations of the pandemic

19 May 2020, Mogadishu - When COVID-19 suddenly emerged in Somalia, authorities imposed an international travel ban to prevent spread of the deadly infection. For 14 government staff members from Somaliland and Puntland who were going to receive induction training for the Integrated Land and Water Resources Management (ILRWM) project, their plan was doomed; the training would have to be postponed.

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SWALIM Publications

Somalia Rainfall Forecast – Issued 24 November 2021

The last 2 weeks have been characterized by a reduction of rains across Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands. Many stations did not record any rainfall within that period.

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Somalia Drought Update – Issued 18 November 2021

The impacts of Climate Change and variability in Somalia are the major causes of current climatic hazards that have been facing the country over the last 10 years. In 2018 and 2019 the country experienced heavy rains leading to massive flooding and associated negative impacts.

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Somalia Rainfall Forecast – Issued 28 October 2021

The Deyr seasonal rains continued to spread in across Somalia over the last week although the amounts were low. There was notably a significant reduction of rainfall amounts in Puntland and Somaliland over the same period.

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Somalia Drought Update – Issued 18 October 2021

The Deyr 2021 rains kicked off in parts of Somalia with moderate rains being observed in Puntland ( Bari region) and a few pockets in the southern regions. However, more than half of the country is still experiencing serious drought conditions.

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Donors

SWALIM is a multi-donor project managed by FAO and currently funded by EU, The Italian Cooperation, The World Bank, DFID, USAID and SHF