Why it matters.
Drought and flood are no longer surprises in the Somali Region. They are operating conditions.
Failed rains have repeatedly cost pastoral families their herds and pushed many into displacement. Rangelands are degrading, invasive plants are spreading and water points are under strain.
Along the rivers, floods destroy homes, crops and roads. Early warning rarely reaches the people who need it in time, and when disaster comes, young people are among the first to help, often without training.
What it does.
The Green Horn Initiative will restore the land and water that livelihoods depend on, and CAYO Rapid will train young people to respond when disaster strikes.
Restore rangelands
Rehabilitation of rangeland and water points, with the communities that depend on them.
Early warning
Community early warning, so that families can act before drought or flood hits.
Green jobs
Work for young people in restoration, water and climate-smart livelihoods.
CAYO Rapid
A trained corps of young volunteer responders, ready for drought and floods.
Who it is for.
Pastoral and agro-pastoral households, riverine communities at risk of floods, and young volunteers trained as responders.
Every programme carries our commitments: gender equality, disability inclusion, conflict sensitivity, a climate lens and digital-first delivery.
Programme design under way with partners.
The Green Horn Initiative and CAYO Rapid are being designed with partners. CAYO Rapid will draw its first responders from CAYO Volunteers.
CAYO Volunteers
Active volunteers in Jigjiga, mobilized under the campaign “Let’s Normalize Volunteerism”. They will be the first recruits for CAYO Rapid.
Where the work will go
Our planned footprint places rangeland and drought work with a hub in Kebridehar, and riverine flood response with a hub in Gode.
How we will measure.
We will measure resilience through the seasons, not in annual averages.
Households resilient
Households with drought-resilient livelihoods.
Responders ready
Young volunteers trained and active in CAYO Rapid.
Seasonal tracking
Livelihood results checked in each rainy and dry season, the gu and deyr rains and the hagaa and jilaal dry seasons, so that drought impacts show up.
Independent evaluation
Larger projects evaluated externally, with findings shared with communities and partners.
Where this leads next.
Our programmes are built to connect, so that a young person can move from one to the next without starting over.
Ganacsi Youth Fund
Skills, capital and markets for young entrepreneurs, on terms that fit their faith and their communities.
Read moreCaafimaad Youth
Health information and care that young people trust and can reach.
Read moreNabad Generation
Young people at the table where peace is kept, working alongside the elders who keep it.
Read more
Partner on the Green Horn Initiative.
Design the programme with us, fund rangeland and water restoration, or train and equip CAYO Rapid responders.