We have just returned from Baidoa, and the air is thick with anticipation. It is not just the pre-rain humidity; it is the palpable sense of change. In a municipal hall, we sat with community elders, women’s group leaders, and young engineers, all hunched over maps. They were not being shown a plan; they were drawing it themselves. This is the Sinaan Programme in its truest form – not a blueprint imposed from the outside, but a vision being built from the ground up.

 

For too long, the story of Somali cities has been written by climate shocks. Floods dictate where people can live. Droughts dictate where they can go. The result is a painful cycle of displacement and vulnerability that stifles the incredible entrepreneurial spirit we see everywhere in Mogadishu, Bossaso, and Baidoa.

 

But we are starting to see a new narrative being woven; one of resilience, equity, and green growth.

 

What Does ‘Sinaan’ Really Mean?

When we chose the name ‘Sinaan’, meaning equity in Somali, we were intentional. It is not just a catchy title but our core principle. We are striving for a balance between the built environment and the natural one, between top-down planning and community-driven design, and between immediate needs and long-term systemic change.

 

Our logo, a growing leaf, symbolizes this perfectly. Each vein represents a different strand of our work – gender inclusion, climate adaptation, governance, economic opportunity – all growing together, dependent on one another, to form a single, stronger whole.

 

The Pipeline: A Glimpse at Our First Projects

The last few months have been a whirlwind of collaboration. We have moved from high-level agreements to a tangible pipeline of 11 projects, each one co-created with our partner cities: Baidoa, Bossaso, Burao, Dhusamareb, Wajaale, and in major cities Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Garowe.

 

Let us share a few that truly capture our approach:

• In Baidoa, we are not just building flood walls. We are helping the community create a ‘Blue-Green Corridor.’ By using nature-based solutions like bio-swales and check-dams, we are turning a dangerous flood zone into a community asset; a park, a playground, a reclaimed natural space that protects them and provides a place to breathe.
• In Bossaso, the sea is both a lifeline and a threat. Our project there focuses on mangrove restoration, a powerful nature-based solution that protects the coastline from erosion, captures carbon, and creates a nursery for fish. But it goes further; we are integrating eco-tourism and recycling initiatives to ensure the restored coastline creates new, sustainable livelihoods for women and youth.
• In Dhusamareb, the economy lives and breathes through livestock. A new, climate-resilient market, designed by mapping the actual routes of traders, will feature solar-powered lighting and proper sanitation. This is not just a building; it is a strategic investment that strengthens the critical economic link between rural pastoralists and the urban centre.

 

The ‘How’ is as Important as the ‘What’

You might notice a common thread here. It is not just what we build, but how we build it.

 

We operate on a Triple Nexus model, deliberately weaving together Climate Resilience, Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI), and Conflict Sensitivity. In practice, this means that before a single stone is laid, we anchor:

• Climate & GESI integration: Including the voices of women, youth, and displaced families and empowering women in climate adaptation.
• Climate & Conflict Sensitivity: ease social tensions over resources and prevent conflict thrinough cooperative resource management.
• GESI & Climate Sensitivity: using green, nature-based solutions to solve the climate challenge and address inequalities, as well as protect vulnerable groups.
• Social Cohesion: Ensuring fairness and equity in development

 

This is to ensure that our work builds not just infrastructure, but also social cohesion and lasting peace.

 

The Road Ahead

The foundations are laid, and the partnerships are strong. Now, we start the real work and in the coming months, you will see ‘quick-win’ projects breaking ground, bringing immediate improvements in waste management and renewable energy. You will also see us actively engaging private investors to help scale these pilot projects into transformative city-wide systems.

 

This journey is just beginning, and it is one we are taking together with the people living in Somali cities. We are optimistic, not because the challenges are not great, but because the collective will to overcome them is even greater.

 

Follow our journey here, and on our social media channels, as we move from blueprint to building site, and together, build a greener, more inclusive future for Somali cities.

 

We would love to hear from you – What does a resilient city mean to you? Share your thoughts with us.

 

The Sinaan Programme is a UK-funded initiative implemented by DT Global, working in partnership with Somali cities and communities.

 

By: Dr. Fatuma Hirsi Mohamed

Communication & Knowledge Management Lead, Sinaan Programme