Like other regions in Somaliland, communities in Burao, Togdheer region, are facing the effects of the multiple challenges posed by climate change, including food insecurity and limited livelihood opportunities. Burao is highly affected by climate change since the community is largely agro-pastoralist and depends heavily on seasonal rains for their livelihood. Humanitarian assistance needs remains significantly elevated in Somaliland, as many households continue to suffer from the impacts of high levels of debt and asset depletion (including livestock) due to the devastating drought. Currently, according to OCHA's Monthly Humanitarian Update (July 2025), more than 650,000 people have been affected by drought in Somaliland, with critical needs reported in the Togdheer region.
Women-headed households are the most vulnerable in the community, disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change on their communities. Among the most affected are women-headed households like Fadumo’s. They faced increasingly limited livelihood options, loss of livestock, and the challenge of struggling to meet their families’ basic food needs.
Acted is implementing with Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and Candlelight a thirty-month project called “Systemic climate-change resilience for food, fodder and water security for vulnerable communities in Burao, Somaliland” started November 2023 as part of the European Union BREACH (Bosting Resilience And Adaptation To Climate Change) Program.
The project aims to support the resilience of the ecosystems by enabling vulnerable communities in Burao district by supporting sustainable land management, climate-smart agro-pastoral practices, and improved access to water. The project aims to reach a total of 435 households – comprising 2,610 individuals – across 3 villages: Qoyta, Kabadheere and Booraamo in Burco District of the Togdheer Region.
Empowering women through provision of financial management trainings
As part of this project, Acted has established 3 self-help groups, one in each of the 3 villages targeted, and each comprising 20 women. These groups are provided with basic numeracy and literacy skills and trained in basic financial management, assisted in developing their own business plans, and are given startup grants to implement these plans.
Fadumo Bulxan* is a 55-year-old pastoralist woman and a beneficiary who previously lived in rural areas of Burao rearing her livestock. Her family has faced significant challenges due to the severe drought of 2017 where she lost all her livestock, leaving her in a highly vulnerable situation. As a result, this situation forced her to flee from the rural areas and settle in Kabadheere village to seek for a better life.
Having met the selection criteria—including willingness to learn, commitment to voluntary participation, the ability to contribute a small monthly saving, and residency in the intervention village—Fadumo was selected as a member of the SHG for women in Kabadheere village. Through the SHG initiative, Fadumo attended 6 months classes where she was taught how to read and write and to do basic calculations. Fadumo also received financial literacy training where she learnt about budgeting and financial planning, financial record keeping and bookkeeping, savings and investment strategies, marketing and sales strategies.
Fadumo and her group have experienced significant growth in their literacy and numeracy skills as well as basic financial skills. Acted’s women’s empowerment intervention and livelihood resilience programs have had a transformative impact on their lives. A pre- and post-test assessment was conducted with 57 participants from Booraamo , Kabadheere, and Qoyta to evaluate knowledge gained through SHG training focused on financial management, record keeping, investment, income generation, and business planning. Each location had 19 participants, all of whom completed both tests. The results showed that 77% of participants improved their understanding and skills by attending classes and receiving trainings. Fadumo also boosted her public speaking skills and gained more confidence when expressing herself. Her leadership potential soon became evident, and she was elected Chairperson of Barwaqo, a coalition representing the 3 villages in the Burao area. Today, Fadumo is a confident speaker and a passionate advocate for her community’s needs.
Fadumo is hoping to start her own business and make use of the knowledge she gained the last six months. Feeling happy about being empowered, Fadumo said, “Thanks to Acted’s SHG initiative, I am now enlightened and can read and write, do my calculations and know how to record debts. I am hoping to be a successful businesswoman if I get startup opportunity”. As part of the project Acted is working on making Fadumo’s dream become true by supporting her to develop her business plan and giving her startup grants to establish her own enterprise.
With the generous support of European Commission through the BREACH program, Acted has empowered 60 women like Fadumo by giving them learning opportunity on basic financial literacy skills. SHG members are now able to manage their businesses more effectively and rely on a network of entrepreneur women who can support each other in the development of their activity. Fadumo and her friends who could not read and write are now equipped with essential business skills and will soon receive small Startup grants to start their own business.
*The names have been changed to protect the identity of the beneficiary.