Mogadishu, June 13, 2025 – Halima, a 42-year-old widow with four daughters, endured immense hardship after losing her husband and livestock due to a devastating drought in rural Nugal. Displaced and uncertain about the future, she arrived in Garowe, Somalia in 2022 and took shelter at an internally displaced person (IDP) camp.
“I was hopeless and terrified for my daughters’ future,” Halima recalled. “We lived in a plastic shelter, struggling every day.” Her life took a positive turn when the government launched the Nagaad Project, which provided land and constructed houses for displaced families. Halima expressed her disbelief and joy, “Owning land and a house was something I never thought possible in my life.” She described, “This house is not just shelter. It is a new beginning for me and my daughters—a symbol of hope and resilience.”
The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) through the Multi-Partner Fund and the World Bank-financed Somalia Urban Resilience Project - Phase II, has supported 371,000 displaced households with improved shelter and sustainable water supplies. The project is aimed at building resilience across six selected cities in Somalia. It has delivered immediate relief to displaced communities while laying the groundwork for long-term sustainable solutions to address the challenges of urban displacement in the country.
Multi-purpose cash assistance, distributed at the municipal level, was provided to support livelihoods, along with employment creation through cash-for-work programs; health and nutrition support, and emergency shelter provision, have been implemented across 389 displacement sites in Mogadishu, Garowe, and Baidoa to address urban displacements driven by climate change.
The Nagaad Project is a government-led project headed by the Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing, in partnership with the municipalities of Garowe, Baidoa, and Mogadishu. The project was executed through government-awarded contracts to IOM and its consortium partners, ensuring an efficient and impactful response to the ongoing drought crisis. This coordinated effort highlights the government’s dedication (Federal, State and local government levels) to addressing urgent humanitarian needs while laying the foundation for sustainable, long-term solutions for affected communities.
The project improved the living conditions of more than 1 million Somalis, significantly enhancing their well-being by delivering immediate relief to displaced communities.
“For the first time, the government has launched a holistic and transformative drought response plan under the Nagaad Project, providing sustainable housing solutions alongside secure land ownership,” said Mahdi Sheikh Abdullahi, Somalia’s Director General, Ministry of Public Works. “This initiative ensures long-term water access through advanced hybrid borehole systems, addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and fostering future resilience.”
The project has significantly enhanced the capacity of local governments in Mogadishu, Garowe and Baidoa Municipalities, to deliver essential public services and implement sustainable long-term urban development and resilience strategies. For example, in Baidoa, the project successfully resettled 1,150 families to the Barwaqo III Northern Extension, while 1,000 families relocated to Garowe’s Hoodale settlement. Title deeds were issued to secure land tenure, protecting these households from risk of future forced evictions, and promoting long-term stability.
“The Nagaad Project exemplifies what can be achieved when governments, communities, and partners unite to tackle displacement challenges,” said Kristina Svensson, World Bank Country Manager for Somalia. “By emphasizing long-term solutions and community empowerment, we have laid a foundation for recovery, resilience, and hope for vulnerable populations in Somalia.”
Somalia remains committed to addressing the challenges of internal displacement through the National Solutions Pathways Action Plan 2024-2029. This plan aims to improve the lives of one million IDPs by integrating humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, development, and climate resilience, in alignment with Somalia's National Transformation Plan and Vision 2060.
The project focused on addressing the challenges of urban forced displacement caused by climate change through a holistic approach. It prioritizes the provision of sustainable housing, reliable access to water, and job creation, while also offering cash assistance to support livelihoods. By integrating these critical components, the project meets the immediate needs of displaced populations and lays a strong foundation for long-term resilience, enabling communities to rebuild and thrive in the face of climate-induced challenges.
Beyond service delivery for drought-affected populations, the Nagaad Project successfully implemented multiple layers of verification for beneficiaries of multi-purpose cash assistance and housing support. The project introduced a system of registration to prevent duplicate registrations and family splitting, ensuring aid reaches the intended recipients and preventing fraudulent distribution. The government utilized a Biometric Registration and Verification (BRaVe) system, which promotes transparency and significantly reduces duplication in aid. In partnership with IOM and World Food Program (WFP), the project undertook thorough beneficiary verification to ensure more efficient and effective aid delivery.
Over 50,000 families received multipurpose cash assistance, helping them support their livelihoods and restore their dignity and independence. Additionally, the project implemented post-distribution monitoring and verification to prevent aid diversion, along with grievance reporting channels shared to all beneficiaries.
The beneficiaries of houses received land title documents, which were registered through the system. Each plot was registered by the municipal land registry using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.
