Somalia, 4 November 2025— Somalia’s National Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and the Ministry of Finance have unveiled a World Bank-supported financial instrument designed to provide rapid access to funds during natural disasters.
The Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO) allows governments to quickly withdraw pre-approved financing once an official emergency is declared, helping authorities respond to crises such as droughts and floods swiftly.
The programme was announced at a briefing in Mogadishu today attended by SoDMA Commissioner Mahamud Moalim Abdulle, senior finance officials and other federal representatives.
Officials said the facility will enable the government to act faster during emergencies, reducing the likelihood of mass displacement, loss of lives and long-term economic disruption.
Somalia has faced repeated drought-flood cycles driven by climate change, alongside a sharp decline in humanitarian funding as donors redirect resources to other global crises.
“The programme is critical for the government as it comes amid declining humanitarian funding, it will help build national resilience and improve the country’s ability to respond and adapt to disasters,” SoDMA Commissioner said.
Officials said the government remains committed to expanding disaster-financing mechanisms and strengthening cooperation with the World Bank and development partners to protect vulnerable communities and support climate resilience.
According to World Bank project documentation published in April 2025, Somalia has secured a $20 million Cat-DDO facility as part of ongoing disaster-risk-management reforms.
While officials highlighted the importance of the programme, details on activation triggers, monitoring mechanisms and disbursement timelines have not yet been disclosed.
