Mid-Term Review of the MDG Initiative for Somalia (2016)

The MDG Initiative for Somalia "Reducing hunger and food insecurity in Puntland Region through improved and sustainable use of rangeland resources" covers six regions in Puntland (Nugaal, Sool, Mudug, Karkaar, Bairi and Sanaag), addressing food security (MDG 1) and climate change and environmental degradation (MDG 7) that affect the productivity and income in the region. It focuses on the environmental conservation and the management of natural resources through rehabilitation of degraded lands, capacity building of government, educational and community institutions, and enhancing participation and ownership of the project by the local pastoralist and rural communities towards sustainable utilization and management of the rangeland endowed natural resources.

Somalia has been affected by over 20 years of war and the absence of functional government institutions. This has resulted in uncontrolled degradation of the natural resources which has depleted the rangelands and as a result of large scale cutting of trees and subsequent land degradation. Large gullies developed along the bare valleys and down streams. Invasive and disastrous plant species replaced the nutritious and palatable plants consumed by livestock. The progressive reduction of vegetation seriously threatened the main livelihood of the local population and mainstream economy of Somali.