Climate action
Mohamud Hassan Adde knows the signs of an impending drought when he sees them. As a life-long pastoralist, he has lived through many in his lifetime.
Every time, he was forced to watch his precious goats die, one after the other. He had to face the pain of telling his children that he could no longer afford their school fees, and witness how his savings turned into debt.
A few months ago, Mohamud noticed the dusty winds, the rising temperatures, and the unbroken blue of the sky—signs he knows too well. But when the drought came this time, everything was different.
In the past, pastoralist Mohamud Hassan Adde has lost most of his goats to droughts.
Photo: Awale Abdikadir for the IRC
Many Somalis, like Mohamud, have lost their livelihoods to recurring droughts. The country is still recovering from the worst drought in 40 years (2021–2023), which resulted in a critical food crisis across East Africa. More than 7.9 million people, about half of Somalia's population, were impacted.
In addition to the climate crisis, many communities are affected by ongoing conflict and displacement. Humanitarian aid often arrives at the height of the drought, when devastating consequences are already visible and have long been felt: children pulled out of school, malnutrition among family members, and sick or dead livestock. For pastoralists like Mohamud, the aid he received in the past was often too little and too late.
Preparing before extreme weather hits
Together with the German Federal Foreign Office, the IRC is helping communities mitigate the effects of droughts through anticipatory action. Using weather forecasts, at-risk regions can be identified and warned early.
As soon as an extreme weather event is predicted, families receive several rounds of cash assistance to prepare for droughts or floods. Mohamud used this money strategically: “The cash assistance helped us a lot,” he says. “We used it to get water and pay off our debts. We bought clothes and paid for school fees.”
This “follow the forecast” approach gives families clear advantages over traditional aid, which is usually delivered after a crisis. First, it reduces the worst impacts of drought, such as the death of livestock and crops, as farmers and pastoralists can afford additional water and feed in advance.
Second, it saves money as less humanitarian aid is needed during and following the crisis. Third, it prevents families from resorting to harmful coping strategies such as selling their animals or taking children out of school.
For Mohamud, this proactive aid made all the difference. “The droughts used to kill many of my animals. This time around, the money came when our livestock were still alive, and that’s how the animals ended up being saved. It has really helped us and preserved our dignity.”
Mohamud used the cash assistance to take care of his animals and his children.
Photo: Awale Abdikadir for the IRC
Mohamud received a phone notification each time the money was ready for collection and was provided with cash support over six months. The predictability of the payments, delivered on the same day each month, made it easier for him to budget and plan.
Knowing that droughts are often followed by heavy rainfall, he also invested in materials to make his shelter more waterproof. Most importantly, he was able to keep his children in school. He hopes that in the future, they will be less impacted by the climate crisis.
Fadumo Dahir Ali, a 30-year-old mother from the Mudug region, was still recovering from the last drought when she began to notice changes in rainfall patterns yet again.
“We were in poor condition,” says Fadumo. “The children were weak. They didn’t have enough food, medicine, or clothes. I couldn’t afford grass for my goats so they became weak.”
Fadumo struggled to feed her children during previous droughts.
Photo: Awale Abdikadir for the IRC
Through the Anticipatory Action program, Fadumo received five rounds of cash assistance that made a huge difference in her family’s life. She prioritized her children’s health, buying medicine and taking them for check-ups when they fell ill. She then used the remaining cash to stock up on animal feed and daily essentials such as flour, sugar, and pasta.
“We used to receive aid money after our livestock perished and our children were impacted,” Fadumo explains. “Some children almost died, and then we finally received the money. But this time around, they came in time, saving us and our livestock.”
Thanks to early action, Fadumo was able to protect both her children and her livestock. Still, she knows that without access to education and healthcare, her community will remain vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis.
What is the IRC doing to address climate change?
The IRC is working hard in the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Our teams focus on climate adaptation, climate resilience and crisis response. The IRC responds to local crises while strengthening community resilience and capacity to adapt to a changing climate.
Our work includes anticipatory action against climate hazards, supporting community-led natural resource management and water conservation, and training people in sustainable livelihoods—all while putting the needs of women and girls at the center of our work.
