Restoring Rangelands in Somalia
Procurement and Delivery of Prosopis Management Equipment
Client
Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Climate Change (MoEACC), Puntland State of Somalia
Implementing Partner
PRID Advisory Limited
Financier
The World Bank (IDA Grant No. IDA-D4970)
Year
2022–2023
The Challenge: An Ecological Threat
The invasive tree species, Prosopis juliflora, was aggressively encroaching upon vital rangelands and drying up critical water sources across Puntland, Somalia. This threat was suffocating pastures and jeopardizing the livelihoods of agro-pastoral communities. The Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Climate Change (MoEACC) needed a rapid, sustainable, and eco-efficient solution to manage the spread, restore ecological balance, and enhance climate resilience under the World Bank-funded Biyoole Project.
Our Solution: Equip, Train, and Sustain
ID Advisory Limited was contracted to design and execute a comprehensive intervention focusing on modernizing Prosopis eradication methods. Our solution involved four key components:
- Specialized Procurement: Sourcing and securing state-of-the-art brush cutters, shredders, chippers, and safety gear compliant with World Bank standards.
- End-to-End Logistics: Managing international shipping, customs clearance, and safe delivery to MoEACC sites.
- Capacity Building: Developing and delivering hands-on training for staff and community members in mechanical control, safety, and operational maintenance.
- Sustainability Framework: Creating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a Prosopis conversion guide to repurpose cleared material into bioenergy briquettes.
Results at a Glance
- Operational Efficiency: Reduced mechanical Prosopis removal time by 45%.
- Capacity Built: Successfully trained 45 Ministry officials and 10 community-based resource committees.
- Area Mapped: Executed spatial mapping across 1,500+ hectares of heavily infested rangeland.
- Job Creation: Generated 120 short-term local jobs during the equipment deployment phase.
- Environmental Impact: Initiated the process of density reduction, contributing to the recovery of biodiversity corridors.
Long-Term Impact
The project established a foundation for sustainable land management in Puntland, aligning with Somalia’s Climate Adaptation Strategy. By integrating Prosopis waste conversion into fuel briquettes, the solution creates an economic value stream from an invasive threat, guaranteeing long-term community ownership and project longevity.