Africa Climate Change Fund Partners with World Vision to Strengthen Climate Resilience for Women and Youth in Puntland, Somalia

ABIDJAN, Cote d’Ivoire, 5 august 2025 – The Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), hosted by the African Development Bank, has approved a grant of $518,248 to World Vision for the project “Increased Resilience of Vulnerable Households, Especially Women and Youth, in Puntland, Somalia, in the Face of Climate Shocks.” This funding is complemented by $57,582 in co-financing from World Vision and its partners.

Implemented by World Vision International Somalia, the project targets the most vulnerable communities in Puntland, who are severely affected by poverty, recurrent droughts, and persistent gender inequalities. The initiative prioritizes women, youth, people with disabilities, and female-headed households, aiming to address their specific needs through inclusive and locally driven solutions.

Somalia is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, with frequent droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events compounding chronic poverty and displacement. Nearly 70% of the population lives below poverty line, and women and youth are disproportionately affected by limited economic opportunities, persistent gender gaps, and barriers to accessing essential services. In Puntland, these challenges are exacerbated by rapid urbanization, pressure on natural resources, and recurring humanitarian crises. The project aims to address these interconnected challenges through an inclusive, gender-transformative approach, targeting those most at risk and building community resilience against current and future climate shocks.

“Women and youth in Puntland are on the frontlines of climate vulnerability. With the support of ACCF, this project will not only build their resilience but also foster lasting change by tackling the root causes of gender inequality, improving livelihoods, and driving sustainable, community-led development,” said Suganya Kimbrough, Program Development and Quality Assurance Director, World Vision Somalia.

Aligned with Somalia’s National Development Plan (NDP-9), the project leverages innovative, gender-transformative approaches to climate adaptation and resilience. Activities focus on promoting access to clean energy, supporting climate-smart agriculture, establishing village savings and loans associations, and restoring degraded lands. By closely coordinating with local authorities, and empowering young people as change agents, the project supports long-term community ownership, institutional capacity, and sustainability beyond its implementation period.

“At ACCF, we are committed to catalyzing gender-transformative, locally led climate action in Africa’s most vulnerable regions. Supporting this World Vision project in Puntland exemplifies our dedication to empowering women, youth, and entire communities to build sustainable futures through innovation, inclusion, and resilience,” said Rita Effah, Coordinator, Africa Climate Change Fund.

This project was selected under the ACCF’s Third Call for Proposals, which prioritized gender-transformative, climate-resilient, and low-carbon development initiatives across Africa. Since 2014, the ACCF has approved 33 projects across 45 African countries, nine of which have been completed and 2 cancelled. The current fund size is $40.64 million, supporting climate resilience, gender equality, and low-carbon development on the continent.

Contacts:          

Fanta Kone, ACCF Communication Officer

email: f.kone@afdb.org