SIWALM carries out training and capacity building programs that improve capacities of university students, professionals, sub-professionals, community and smallholder farmers in water and land resources management with a focus on water management for food production, rural and urban development, and climate change adaptation. These training include specialized technical and non-technical workshops as well as short-term and long-term courses. The workshops and courses are basically demand driven to tackle identified problems in the water and agriculture sectors of Somalia.
The short-term courses are three to five days modular training organized for targeted groups in agricultural water management, these kinds of courses include: water policy, agricultural water use, drainage, flood management, advanced irrigated agriculture, project management , research methods, and other topics.
The long-term courses are more specialized professional training for high level manpower in integrated water management. They include: Post Graduate Diploma (12 months) in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Small-Scale Irrigation Planning and Management, and Master of Science (24 months) in Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) and Irrigation Engineering.
SIWALM’s research for development programs include applied and participatory action research with local community participation and they focus on priority areas of immediate concern in Somalia's water and agricultural sectors. The Institute conducts its research for development activities from farm-scale to watershed in the following six research programs:
- Flood-based Farming Systems (Spate Irrigation)
- Small-Scale Irrigation Development using High Efficiency Irrigation Systems
- Climate-Smart Irrigation and Sustainable Intensification
- Irrigation, Drainage and Salinity Management
- Integrated Watershed Management: soil and water resources management and conservation of Shabelle and Juba Rivers
- Sustainable Stormwater Management Development in Urban and Rural Area
- Sustainable Development of Rainwater Harvesting System in Urban and Rural Areas
- Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation through Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Green Infrastructure and Smart-Irrigation Systems
SIWALM implements initiatives that showcase adaptable best practices for improved agricultural water management to ensure for increased crop water productivity, water efficiency, water harvesting, conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, micro-irrigation technology (sprinkler, micro and drip), water accounting and solar energy for irrigation development and watershed management in Somalia. The objectives of piloting and demonstration activities are to:
- Conduct on-farm trials and demonstrations to verify research results as well as promote technology adoption
- Identify technical deficiencies and the impact of adopted technologies through participatory surveys, observations, reports and visits
- Demonstrate watershed management technologies for adoption
- Develop rainwater harvesting technologies for profitable and sustainable agriculture
- Evaluate erosion control practices for watershed protection
- Identify priorities and constraints faced by professionals, student, teachers, extension works and farmers and formulate corrective actions
- Monitor and evaluate the impacts of irrigation and watershed development projects
SIWALM’S information and knowledge management program is to improve natural resources (water, land and soil) data access, management and analysis. The specific objectives of this activity are to:
- Collect, manage and disseminate data, information and knowledge for irrigation and watershed planning, management and research as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation including climate variability, floods and droughts
- Develop and maintain Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) based watershed information systems of Shabelle and Juba rivers for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) implementation in Somalia
- Integrate GIS applications, global earth observation data and hydrological models for sustainable watershed management, climate change impact and vulnerability assessment in Somalia
SIWALM provides extension and advisory services in agricultural water management in a participatory and multi-disciplinary approach. The advisory services cover both technical and non-technical areas related to irrigation, drainage, land management and reclamation, flood management and integrated watershed management. The service takes the form of project development, sector reviews, needs assessment, human resources development, institutional arrangements, technology testing, among others. The main objective of the extension service is capacity building of individual farmers and water user associations (WUAs) with the following main extension functions:
- Technology Transfer: adoption of new (externally developed, already available and tested) technology or management practice
- Problem Solving: assisting farmers and WUAs to find solutions to technological or management problems which are inhibiting their desired production
- Education: informal education which seeks to assist farmers and WUAs to better understand their situations, and so be able to make choices and take actions to improve their situations
- Human Development: facilitate and stimulate farmers and WUAs to take the initiative in problem definition and seeking solutions to individual and societal concerns
SIWALM's irrigation development and water management consultancy services include planning, engineering design, monitoring and evaluation as well as human and institutional capacity building for both new and existing irrigation systems. Its services cover wide range of activities that includes:
- Topographic Survey, Soil Survey, Land Evaluation, Irrigation Suitability and Data Collections
- Feasibility Studies of Irrigation Projects including Cost/Benefit Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment and Climate Change Impacts
- Development of Irrigation Master Plan and Integrated Watershed Management Plan
- Engineering Design activities include both conceptual and detail design of Intakes, Storage(ponds) and Canals
- Project Management and Construction Supervision
- Technical Capacity Development including Strengthening Governance
- Operation and Maintenance of Irrigation Schemes
- Application of GIS, RS and Simulation Models to support Irrigation Development and Integrated Watershed Planning and Management.
SIWALM is a non-profit research and capacity building institute with headquarter in Ottawa, Canada and operation Centre in Mogadishu, Somalia. The institute is committed to help Somalia develop its water and land resources for sustainable irrigation, rural and urban development.
SIWALM’s activities contribute to supporting the national effort to meet the Sustainable Development Goals especially efficient use of water, eliminating hunger, sustaining natural resources and responding to climate change.
SIWALM's main role is to promote the transfer, dissemination and implementation of sustainable technologies and practices to address water and agriculture challenges of Somalia, such as irrigation development and management, urban water management, flood and drought management, climate change and food security.
SIWALM’s research for development programs are centered around three strategic programs – Sustainable Water and Land Management, Food Security and Climate Change Adaptation.
SIWALM's capacity development programs include specialized technical and non-technical workshops as well as short-term and long-term courses. We do this by working with partners to develop qualified and committed professionals, extension workers and farmers who play a leading role in the sustainable development of Somalia.
SIWALM vision:
To be a leading world-class training, research and sustainable development center specialized in irrigation, drainage, water management, climate change and food security.
SIWALM’s mission is to contribute the education and training of professionals, extension workers and smallholder farmers in Somalia by building, enhancing, and strengthening their capacity in irrigation development, integrated watershed management and climate change adaptation through research, participatory training, extension and outreach.
SIWALM work is guided by our five core values and incorporates three cross-cutting themes of gender mainstreaming, environmental sustainability and good governance.
- Teamwork: We work to common goals based on open and honest communication
- Innovation and Creativity: We commit to strive for continuous improvements through innovation and promoting a learning organizational culture
- Accountability and Transparency: We keep partners well informed on all decisions and issues and make accessible all programs and projects records to our stakeholders
- Sustainability: We build in sustainability from the start of programs and projects to promote good governance, technical and financial capacity
- Empowerment and Leadership: We will use every opportunity to empower local community both men and women including youth to make their lives better
SIWALM will pursue meaningful and productive partnerships and team work with a wide variety of organizations that represent academia, international development, private sector, government line agencies, NGOs and local community so as to enable synergies that have a direct result on finding innovative solutions to water management and agriculture sector problems in Somalia. Some of our current potential partners include Somali National University, McGill University and International Development Research Center (IDRC).
SIWALM's objectives are to:
- Train undergraduate students, young professionals and policy makers in sustainable water and land management principles and practices, efficient agriculture water management strategies and modern irrigation technologies through workshops, short-term and long-term courses.
- Train smallholder farmers and extension workers in sustainable agriculture practices, micro-irrigation systems and enterprise skills through farmer field schools.
- Carry out basic and applied research for developing strategies for efficient management of on-farm water resources to enhance agricultural productivity, ecosystems sustainability and climate resilience.
- Provide consultancy, extension and advisory services in irrigation development and water management activities.
- Promote Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approach in the river basins of Somalia.
- Promote and implement practical and affordable alternative stormwater management technologies in Somalia in line with Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles.
Somali Institute of Water & Land Management(SIWALM)
Email: info@siwalm.org, Phone: 613-612-9685
- Director & Researcher: Eng. Adam Bishow, Ottawa Canada
- Chief Financial Officer: Najma Musse, Ottawa Canada
- Sustainability Coordinator: Safia Musse, Ottawa Canada
- Project Coordinator & Researcher: Dr. Ali A. Nur, Mogadishu Somalia
If you wish to make a donation to support our work, please contact us at the following email: info@siwalm.org
- Funds
- Books
- Computers and software
- Teaching aid materials
- Hydro meteorological instruments, sensors and software
- Drip irrigation systems
- Sprinkler systems (both fixed and lateral move units)
- Solar energy panels
Become a Volunteer for Sustainable Development - Share your skills and transform lives.
Volunteering is at the heart of SIWALM's effort for Sustainable Development (SD). We know that people helping people is the best way to address the development needs of our time. Be part of the Somali diaspora movement that is making a real difference in living standards of Somali urban and rural population through the SD goals to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
Some ways to volunteer with us are fund raising for our development programs, project development and management, research, writing and editing, outreach and advocacy, community organization, field work and administration.
Eminent scientists, professors and natural resources management (water, land and soil) professionals from abroad and within the country are invited for sharing their field experiences in irrigation development, water resources management (surface water and groundwater), soil and water conservation, spate irrigation, rainwater-harvesting, water supply and sanitation development, agribusiness and micro finance.
We offer a custom-made service, arranging individual, long-term placements across Somali regions. We match the skills of students and professionals to the needs of national, regional and local government, private and NGOs organizations that work towards sustainable development. Placements may cover the area of water resources management, irrigation development, watershed development, environmental monitoring, water supply and sanitation development and agricultural development projects.
SIWALM is at the forefront of Somalia's sustainable development dialogue in championing the course of resource poor farmers and marginalized communities. Our focus is on providing Somalia with knowledge-based development services and building national, regional and global coalitions for development change.
We work with a new generation of expert professionals who want to contribute to sustainable development by offering strategic approaches to long-standing problems of natural resources development and management in Somalia. We seek individuals who can advice new ideas across cultures and all strata of our society. We often advertise for new openings whenever they fall due on our web pages and through our networks in Somalia and Canada.
Coming soon