GCA Launched Co-Design Workshop in Nairobi to Advance Urban Climate Resilience in Somalia
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airobi, Kenya, 29 July 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in collaboration with the World Bank, Somali government partners and GCA’s training partner RedR UK, launched a multi-day Co-Design Workshop in Nairobi today to support climate-resilient urban development in Somalia. The workshop marks a key milestone in co-developing the Urban Climate Resilience Masterclass (UCRMC), a flagship training program designed to strengthen institutional capacity for climate adaptation in Somali cities.
Somalia’s urban areas face acute climate risks, floods, wildfires, and climate-driven displacement, compounded by decades of conflict and weak governance. In 2023, 77% of new internal displacements were climate-induced. Critical gaps in data, expertise, and planning hinder effective climate-resilient infrastructure development. To address this, GCA and RedR UK, in collaboration with Somali officials and the World Bank, is co-developing the UCRMC under the Somalia Urban Resilience Project Phase II (SURP-II) to build local capacity by training municipal officials and urban planners to design and implement climate-resilient infrastructure critical for sustainable urban development.
Held under the SURP-II framework, the workshop brings together Somali municipal and state officials, international development partners, and technical experts to collaboratively shape the structure, content, and delivery of the masterclass. The UCRMC will equip Somali urban stakeholders with the tools and knowledge to plan and implement climate-resilient urban infrastructure and services.
Opening remarks were delivered by GCA and the Government of Somalia, underscoring the shared commitment to building local adaptation capacity amid the country’s growing climate risks.
“This workshop is not just about training—it’s about shifting how urban resilience is understood and implemented in fragile settings like Somalia,” said Talia Meeuwissen, Program Officer at GCA. “We’re excited to be co-creating this with Somali partners from the outset.”
Participants include officials from SURP-II cities such as Mogadishu, Baidoa, Garowe, Beledweyne, Dhusamareb, and Kismayo, as well as Directors General from five Federal Member States’ Ministries of Public Works. Experts from UN-Habitat, UNOPS, NRC, IOM, FCDO, World Vision, and Triple Line Consulting are also contributing to the technical design, alongside the World Bank.
The UCRMC will feature:
- A tailored curriculum co-designed with Somali officials
- Case studies from the Horn of Africa and similar fragile urban contexts
- A trainer’s guide, trainee handbook, and a training-of-trainers (ToT) approach
This initiative represents a critical step toward strengthening Somalia’s urban resilience and supporting sustainable development in the face of escalating climate challenges.
