In a significant step toward tackling the pressing challenges of climate change in Puntland, Somalia, the Ministry of Environment, Range, and Climate Change (MOERCC) and the Puntland NGO Network (PUNTNGO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 7, 2024. This landmark agreement establishes a collaborative framework aimed at fostering coordinated action and building resilience through the creation of the Puntland Climate Change Forum.
Context and Background
The MoU comes in the wake of the Puntland Climate Security Conference, held in Garowe from December 20 to 21, 2023. The conference underscored the urgent need for coordinated, multi-sectoral action to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the region. Puntland faces a growing climate crisis, characterized by rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and recurring droughts that severely impact livelihoods, ecosystems, and local communities.
The Puntland Climate Change Forum: A Vision for Collaboration
The Puntland Climate Change Forum will serve as a vital coordination and information-sharing platform, uniting diverse stakeholders from government agencies, UN entities, international development partners, donors, civil society, the private sector, academia, and local communities. This inclusive platform aims to drive collaborative strategies and action plans to adapt to climate change and minimize its consequences.
Key Provisions of the MoU
The MoU outlines specific roles and contributions from PUNTNGO to support the establishment and operations of the Forum:
- Consultancy Support: PUNTNGO will fund a consultant or expert to work alongside MOERCC over a three-month period. The consultant’s tasks include:
- Drafting a concept note and operating procedures for the Forum’s establishment.
- Conducting a comprehensive stakeholder mapping exercise to identify key participants.
A joint technical team from MOERCC and PUNTNGO will oversee the consultant’s terms of reference, deliverables, and hiring process.
- Facilitating Engagement with Civil Society: PUNTNGO will organize consultation meetings and sessions to ensure that civil society voices are integrated into the planning and establishment of the Forum.
- Strengthening Collaboration: The MoU emphasizes PUNTNGO’s role in facilitating a smooth and effective partnership between MOERCC and the civil society sector.
- Ongoing Financial and Technical Support: PUNTNGO commits to providing continuous financial and technical resources to MOERCC to enhance climate resilience efforts in Puntland.
- Supporting Advocacy and Policy Events: PUNTNGO will contribute both financially and in-kind to key climate advocacy and policy events, such as the commemoration of World Environment Day and other initiatives organized by MOERCC.
Toward a Climate-Resilient Puntland
The establishment of the Puntland Climate Change Forum marks a crucial milestone in Puntland’s climate action journey. By uniting stakeholders under a common framework, the Forum will facilitate the sharing of knowledge, resources, and strategies needed to address the complex challenges posed by climate change.
This partnership between MOERCC and PUNTNGO reflects a shared commitment to fostering resilience, protecting ecosystems, and securing a sustainable future for Puntland. As the global climate crisis intensifies, initiatives like this provide a beacon of hope and a model for collaborative climate governance.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress of this transformative initiative and its impact on Puntland’s climate resilience.
