Nairobi: "Six months of the year we experience drought, and the other six months we face floods," Bushra Ahmed Abdi, Senior Advisor to the Ambassador at the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Somalia to UN-Habitat and UNEP, stated during a roundtable event titled 'Community-led Action for Adequate Housing, Land and Basic Services in the Face of the Climate Crisis' at WUF13, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Abdi emphasized that this cycle is not exclusive to Somalia but impacts Kenya and other regions as well. She highlighted the importance of integrating climate adaptation and resilience strategies in these areas. Additionally, she stressed the critical role of local initiatives and community organizations in urban development. Many communities are proactively improving living conditions, mapping settlement zones, and organizing basic services. These efforts are often more sustainable as they are grounded in existing social structures and local priorities rather than replacing them.

Abdi pointed out that community mapping, local censuses, and phased ownership approaches are essential for effective urban planning and enhancing housing security for low-income communities, particularly in rapidly expanding urban areas. She also underscored the potential of linking climate adaptation finance with local housing infrastructure initiatives. Currently, financial systems are fragmented, with separate private, housing, and public financing mechanisms. Integrating these systems could enhance the provision of public services.

Abdi advocated for increased investment in local information systems and community-generated data. In many African cities, communities hold the most accurate data on infrastructure deficiencies, vulnerability levels, and living conditions. Strengthening these local knowledge systems can lead to improved planning, resource allocation, and long-term urban resilience. She acknowledged that while these goals may seem ambitious and challenging to implement within government frameworks, progress can be achieved incrementally, through focused efforts by individual organizations and systems.