Gardho, Puntland – October, 2025 — The Media Association of Puntland (MAP), in partnership with Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and under the Danwadaag Program funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has successfully concluded a two-day Multi-Stakeholder Forum in Gardho from 22–23 October 2025.
The forum gathered 20 participants from civil society, media, and local government institutions to strengthen coordination in Disaster Risk Management (DRM), review progress, and develop joint recommendations for resilience building across Puntland.
Participants reviewed Puntland’s disaster management efforts, highlighting both achievements and persistent challenges. While acknowledging improvements in inter-agency communication and local resilience, discussions emphasized the need for stronger coordination, information sharing, and community engagement to enhance preparedness and response.
Participants urged authorities to increase allocations in the State budget for disaster preparedness and response to strengthen institutional capacity and improve community resilience.
Discussions underscored the vital role of the media and civic participation in advancing disaster preparedness, transparency, and accountability. Drawing on lessons from MAP’s three-year engagement in Gardho, participants recommended expanding townhall-style dialogues and media forums to Bosaso and Galkaio—cities facing high disaster risks, coastal exposure, and significant displaced populations.
A joint media mapping session identified priority areas for focused reporting on DRM to enhance public awareness and government accountability. Participants agreed that stronger collaboration between journalists, government agencies, and humanitarian organizations is essential to ensure accurate, timely, and life-saving information reaches vulnerable communities.
Speaking at the forum, MAP Chairperson, Mohamed Dahir, commended participants for their commitment and reflected on the achievements of the Danwadaag Programme:
“Danwadaag has demonstrated the power of inclusive dialogue in strengthening community resilience and accountability. Through forums like this, we continue to build trust between citizens, the media, and public institutions. As this phase concludes, MAP remains committed to expanding these partnerships and ensuring that disaster management remains a state priority.”
Recommendations from the Gardho Forum will feed into the upcoming State-Level DRM Forum in Garowe, ensuring alignment between local and State authorities efforts. MAP reaffirmed its commitment to advocate for stronger funding, coordination, and inclusive media engagement to advance disaster risk management across Puntland.
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