Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
In Somalia, climate change poses major challenges to the education sector, including recurring droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, and displacement. These disruptions impede children's learning, damage school infrastructure, increase absenteeism, and put added pressure on families and communities. Addressing these issues requires strong cross-sector collaboration, as the education sector alone cannot effectively manage climate risks. Abdallah Kulmiye of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MoECHE) emphasized that coordinated action among ministries for education, environment, disaster management, water, health, and local authorities is critical to building a resilient, climate-smart education system.
Schools in Somalia play a broader role as community institutions supporting climate resilience. Climate-resilient schools can provide safe water and sanitation, support emergency preparedness and response, and maintain learning during disruptions. They may also incorporate climate change education into curricula and train teachers to advance climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable practices among students and the wider community, according to Abdallah Kulmiye.
From an environmental perspective, effective climate adaptation requires coordinated action across sectors. Abdirizak Mursal of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) noted that MoECC supplies climate science, vulnerability assessments, adaptation expertise, and policy guidance. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education ensures this knowledge reaches schools, teachers, and communities. This collaboration aims to build climate awareness and resilience among children and young people by making education central to climate change adaptation.
This partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening Somalia's capacity to adapt to climate challenges by embedding climate adaptation into education and ensuring schools, learners, and communities are better prepared for climate impacts, according to Abdirizak Mursal.