| Garowe, Puntland – February 2026: Puntland’s mounting environmental crisis demanded urgent attention in Garowe this February, as leaders, experts, and community members gathered to confront the accelerating impacts of climate change and environmental degradation head-on. Organized by the Media Association of Puntland (MAP) in partnership with Free Press Unlimited (FPU) under the Danwadaag consortium–implemented programme, the townhall forum created a powerful platform for citizens to voice their concerns and hold decision-makers accountable for safeguarding Puntland’s environment and livelihoods. The forum attracted 200 participants, representing a cross-section of Puntland society: Members of Parliament, former ministers, humanitarian and development actors, women’s and youth groups, academics, media professionals, civil society representatives, VNG staff, and community members. Discussions were dynamic and solution-focused, linking policy to practice and underscoring the vital intersections between pastoral livelihoods, governance, and evidence-based environmental management. |
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| At the forum’s opening, Mohamed Dahir Warsame, Chair of the Media Association of Puntland, welcomed all participants and gave a brief overview of the townhall’s objectives. He noted that the forum was honored to have the Ministry of Environment as the guest of honor, who would provide updates on environmental issues, climate change, and disaster risk management. The Chair encouraged constructive participation in the discussions, emphasizing that the event would also help inform and educate the Puntland public. |
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| “This townhall is a bridge between communities and decision-makers. The media and MAP exist to amplify voices, spark dialogue, and transform public participation into real, lasting change.” – MAP chair, Mohamed Dahir. |
| MP Abdirizak Omar, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Issues, opened the discussion by noting the increasing threats facing Puntland’s environment and the urgent need for stronger legislative oversight. He highlighted the visible impacts of prolonged droughts, water scarcity, and land degradation, emphasizing that these are no longer abstract issues but pressing governance priorities requiring public engagement, monitoring, and accountability. |
| Building on this, Mohamed Amin of VNG International, lead organization in the Danwadaag Initiative, explained how the program strengthens government legitimacy through Disaster Risk Management (DRM). He described the social contract in DRM, where the government provides services and preparedness, and communities actively participate in risk reduction. |
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| The initiative focuses on four groups: communities for inclusive DRM; CSOs for advocacy; public authorities for coordination; and media for information dissemination. He concluded, “A strong social contract ensures that disaster risks are managed collectively, with both government and citizens accountable to each other.” |
| The event’s Chief Guest of Honour, Hon. Mohamed Abdirahman Mohamed, Puntland Minister of Environment and Climate Change, delivered the keynote address at the Garowe Townhall on Environment and Climate Change, highlighting the growing severity of climate and environmental challenges facing Puntland, including recurrent droughts, land degradation, water scarcity, flooding, and climate shocks. He outlined government efforts to address these risks through institutional capacity building, deployment of environmental protection units, public awareness campaigns, and community-based environmental management, while acknowledging existing financial and institutional constraints. |
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| “Climate change is already affecting our people, livelihoods, and natural resources. Responding effectively requires strong enforcement of environmental laws, coordinated action across institutions, and inclusive planning that places communities at the center of climate and environmental solutions,” said Hon. Mohamed Abdirahman Mohamed. The event featured a public participation session that enabled direct engagement between the audience and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. This open forum provided citizens, media representatives, and community leaders with an opportunity to raise concerns and seek clarification on pressing environmental and climate-related issues. Participants posed questions covering a broad range of topics, including drought and flood preparedness, access to remote pastoralist communities, alternatives to charcoal production, gas safety, waste management, plastic pollution, sand encroachment, and the weak enforcement of environmental regulations. In response, the Minister acknowledged the scale and complexity of these challenges, as well as the constraints arising from limited institutional and financial capacity. He outlined ongoing government interventions aimed at addressing immediate risks and strengthening long-term resilience, including water-trucking during drought periods, rehabilitation of wells, recycling initiatives, and community-based waste management programs. |
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Beyond sector-specific concerns, participants highlighted systemic challenges shaping environmental governance and climate action. Budgetary constraints, particularly the prioritization of security over environmental programs, continue to limit the scope and impact of interventions. Gaps in national coordination and the prolonged political impasse between the Federal Government and Puntland State were also noted, weakening disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and the delivery of coordinated climate initiatives. The Minister underscored that climate risks transcend political boundaries and called for urgent, strengthened federal–state collaboration. He stressed that only through proactive legislative oversight, inclusive planning, and sustained investment can Puntland build resilience, safeguard its natural resources, and ensure that environmental and climate initiatives translate into lasting, tangible benefits for communities across the region. |
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