Community-Led Climate Adaptation in Baidoa, Somalia
In Baidoa, Somalia, climate change is not just a problem we hear about. It affects people’s daily lives. Droughts, unpredictable rains, and soil erosion make it hard for communities to get water, grow food, and support their families. For many years, people could only react after disasters happened, with little chance to plan ahead.
The Community Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) changed this. Local committees such as Village Development Committees and Natural Resource Management Committees were not just helped, they led the process. Community members came together to talk about the problems they face, share ideas, and agree on practical actions for their villages.
In one village, water scarcity was the biggest challenge. The community worked together to fix a shallow well, making sure families had water during the dry season. In another village, soil was being washed away, so people organized workdays to build soil barriers and plant drought-resistant trees to protect the land.
Traditional knowledge was also very important. Elders used their understanding of seasons, animals, and the environment to guide early warning systems, while new tools such as simple hazard maps and community messaging helped spread information faster.
This shows that when communities lead their own climate adaptation, they not only respond better to problems, they also build trust, teamwork, and long-term resilience.