Focus - Frontline Organizations Collaborating For Unified Solutions

🌍 World Water Week 2025 Reflections

World Water Week wrapped up in Stockholm under the theme “𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.” The global discussions resonate deeply with the realities faced in Somalia, where climate shocks, prolonged droughts, and water scarcity continue to define daily life.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁:
💧 You cannot address climate change without addressing water.
🤝 Collaboration only works when communities are at the center — not just policymakers.
⚖️ Safe water access for the most vulnerable must remain a priority.
💡 Innovation and climate-smart WASH solutions are already showing impact and need to be scaled.

For Somalia, these insights are not theoretical. Communities know the cost of walking miles for unsafe water, of crops failing due to erratic rains, and of children missing school because of waterborne diseases.

Through 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, we are seeing the difference that collective action can make — from rehabilitating boreholes to introducing solar-powered water systems and building climate-smart water infrastructure. These local solutions show that resilience is possible when knowledge, resources, and communities come together.

As we reflect on World Water Week, one truth stands out: water must remain central to climate action if we are to secure a just and sustainable future for Somalia.

🚸 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 | 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Somalia continues to face one of the highest child mortality rates globally:
📊 4 in 100 newborns die within the first month of life (NMR).
📊 8 in 100 infants die before their first birthday (IMR).
📊 1 in 8 children do not live to see their 5th birthday (U5MR). (UNICEF, 2024)

Why are Somali children still dying from preventable causes?

• Acute malnutrition (GAM & SAM): 1.7M under-fives projected wasted in 2024, including ~430,000 with severe acute malnutrition.
• Disease outbreaks: Pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria remain leading killers.
• Care-seeking gaps: Just ~23% of children with ARI symptoms are taken for care; only ~16% of diarrhoea cases receive ORS.
• WASH deficits: Limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene exacerbates child illness and death.

💡 Signs of Progress: Somalia’s April 2025 introduction of PCV (pneumococcal vaccine) and RVV (rotavirus vaccine) is a major step against pneumonia and severe diarrhoea—two of the top killers of Somali children.

✅ What Must Change – Priorities for Action

• Scale nutrition services
• Close vaccine gaps: Strengthen outreach to rural, pastoralist, and displaced populations.
• Expand child illness care
• Improve maternal–newborn care: Skilled birth attendance, essential newborn practices.
• Strengthen WASH: Increase safe water access, hygiene promotion, ORS + zinc use.
• Support resilience: Cash transfers, food security interventions, and livelihood support.

🌍 Our Commitment:
FOCUS member organizations place child survival at the heart of their mission. From rural communities to displacement camps, we work to deliver life-saving nutrition, immunization, healthcare, and WASH interventions where they’re needed most.

🟢 Bottom line: Child deaths in Somalia are preventable. With urgent, coordinated action, Somalia can bend the mortality curve and give every child the right to survive—and thrive.

🩺 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Across Somalia, 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 are working every day to ensure families receive the care they deserve. Through a network of community clinics, mobile health units, and outreach teams, they provide vital services such as maternal care, child immunization, nutrition screening, and treatment for preventable diseases.

These programs are not just about medicine — they are about hope, dignity, and saving lives. In remote villages, mothers no longer have to walk for days to find a safe place to give birth. Children receive life-saving vaccinations close to home. Malnutrition is detected early, giving young ones the chance to grow healthy and strong.

Behind each service is a dedicated health worker, often from the very community they serve, bringing local knowledge, compassion, and commitment to every patient they meet.

This is what collective action looks like. This is the impact of FOCUS.

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦: “𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘋𝘎𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘥”

The strength of a community lies in its youth — bold, creative and unafraid to dream big.
Across our regions, young people are stepping up as problem-solvers, innovators, and peacebuilders, taking local initiatives that push us closer to the Sustainable Development Goals.

At FOCUS, we see the impact every day — from youth-led climate solutions , to entrepreneurship that creates jobs , to community projects that uplift the most vulnerable .

When young minds take action, they don’t just work towards the SDGs… they reimagine what’s possible for generations to come.

💡 Today, we celebrate YOU — the young changemakers turning local action into global progress.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱.

At FOCUS, we unite 14 Somali organizations that have spent years on the frontlines — helping families survive drought, building peace where conflict once ruled, strengthening governance, and fighting for climate justice.

These aren’t just projects on paper. They’re real solutions designed by those who live the reality every day — people who understand what works because they’ve walked the same dusty roads, sat in the same community meetings and stood with the people they serve.

This 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁.
This 𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦.

In the dry heartland of Somalia, a young boy we’ll call 𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘥𝘪 guides his goats across brittle land. His feet are toughened by years of walking. His gaze, older than his age.

𝘔𝘢𝘩𝘥𝘪 isn't real — but his story is.

He represents thousands of Somali children growing up in pastoralist families, whose lives are shaped by resilience and climate extremes. Increasing droughts, shrinking pasture, and limited access to basic services make their future uncertain.

At FOCUS , our member organizations are working to change that through the below recommendations:
✅ Supporting mobile water and vet services
✅ Advocating for pastoralist rights
✅ Promoting climate-resilient practices

We believe in the future of pastoralist communities. Not just to survive — but to thrive.

🐪 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

In Somalia, pastoralism supports over 𝟲𝟬% of the population, providing food, income, and a deep cultural identity. Livestock contributes to more than 80% of the country's export earnings—making it one of the most vital sectors in the national economy.

But pastoralist communities face increasing challenges:
🌍 Climate shocks & recurring droughts
🚫 Limited access to basic services (health, education, water)
🌱 Shrinking grazing lands & water scarcity
🚧 Insecurity and market access constraints

💡 FOCUS member organizations feel the lives of pastoralists can be transformed by:
✔️ Supporting climate-resilient livelihoods
✔️ Improving access to water and veterinary services
✔️ Advocating for pastoralist-inclusive policies
✔️ Promoting mobility, resource-sharing, and peacebuilding
✔️ Enhancing early warning systems and drought response

It’s time to invest in the people who feed and sustain the nation.