The Sinaan Programme is partnering with Somali cities to transform urban landscapes through green infrastructure, improved governance, and community-led projects.
For cities like Baidoa, perpetually at the mercy of seasonal floods, and Bossaso, where coastal erosion eats away at livelihoods, the cycle of climate shocks and fragile infrastructure has long hindered economic stability. The new, ambitious Sinaan Programme is now working to break that cycle by putting climate resilience and community needs at the heart of urban development.
The Sinaan Programme (formerly Green Urban Growth) is a multi-million-pound, multi-year initiative. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by DT Global, it works with Somali partners to build inclusive, climate-resilient cities through transformative urban planning and green infrastructure.
“We believe that the people who live in a city every day are the ones who should guide its future,” said Sid Patnaik, Sinaan Programme Team Lead. “It is not just about constructing buildings or roads but about helping communities build a future that will last for generations.”
The programme, whose name means ‘equity’ in Somali, has moved from strategic planning to concrete action. In its first pivotal quarter, it solidified partnerships with six primary cities – Baidoa, Bossaso, Burao, Dhusamareb, Wajaale, and Garowe – and co-created 11 detailed Project Information Documents (PIDs) through intensive community consultations. These PIDs form a robust pipeline of investment-ready projects.
Blueprints to Building Sites – Project Spotlights
The pipeline includes innovative projects designed to turn climate vulnerabilities into community assets:
- In Baidoa, the Gerbooda Flood Resilience project will create a Blue-Green Corridor, using nature-based solutions like bioengineering and check-dams to transform a flood-prone area into a safe, accessible green space for residents.
- In Bossaso, a coastal renaissance project will combat erosion through community-led mangrove afforestation, enhancing blue carbon sequestration while integrating eco-tourism and recycling initiatives to create new livelihoods for women, youth, and IDPs.
- In Dhusamareb, a new, climate-resilient livestock market will strengthen critical rural-urban economic links. The design, informed by mapping trader routes, will feature proper drainage, sanitation, and solar-powered lighting.
“This process is the bedrock of Sinaan’s philosophy: sustainable urban development must be driven by those who live and work in the cities every day,” the programme Team Lead added.
Foundation of Strong Governance and Partnership
On of the Sinaan Programme’s core achievement has been establishing a robust governance framework. Programme Steering Committees (PSCs), co-chaired by government counterparts in host ministry and FCDO, provides high-level strategic direction.
Additionally, the programme is institutionalising City-Level Technical Working Groups (TWGs) in each partner city. These TWGs, bringing together mayors, technical staff, and community representatives, are at the centre of local implementation, ensuring ownership and accountability.
“This two-way approach ensures that Sinaan is not just delivering to cities, but working with them,” Liban Jama, the Programme Deputy Team Lead explained. “It builds local capacity and guarantees that the infrastructure we build is owned and maintained by the communities it serves long after the programme ends.”
Weaving Together Climate, Inclusion, and Cohesion
Sinaan operationalises a triple nexus approach, intentionally weaving together climate resilience, gender and social inclusion (GESI), and conflict sensitivity.
Every project is screened through a rigorous framework to ensure it addresses the needs of vulnerable groups, mitigates social tensions, and uses nature-based solutions. This ensures investments build not just infrastructure, but also peace, equity, and social cohesion.
From Planning to Delivery
With the foundation laid, the programme is now shifting gears from planning to delivery. Immediate priorities include launching ‘quick-win’ projects in waste management and renewable energy, mobilising private and climate finance for larger projects, and publicly sharing learning through a new website and quarterly briefs.
By piloting scalable models and strengthening municipal systems, the Sinaan Programme aims to demonstrate how strategic partnership and community-driven design can help Somali cities weather climate shocks and build a more prosperous, inclusive future for all their residents.
The Sinaan Programme (Green Urban Growth) is a multi-million GBP, multi-year initiative funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by DT Global. It works in partnership with Somali authorities in the target cities of Baidoa, Bossaso, Burao, Dhusamareb, Wajaale, and with pilot projects in major cities like Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Garowe, to strengthen urban planning, develop green infrastructure, and mobilise climate finance.
