Gender in Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance in Somalia

Climate change and disasters in Somalia disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups due to existing inequalities, limited economic opportunities, and social barriers. This gender analysis, commissioned by the Centre of Excellence on Gender-smart Solutions in support of  the Global Shield and conducted by Oxford Policy Management, examines how gender and social inclusion can be better integrated into Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI). It identifies promising practices, such as mobile money adoption and informal savings groups and provides practical recommendations for strengthening gender-responsive CDRFI systems.

The study reviews Somalia’s hybrid governance landscape, national policies (including the National Transformation Plan, NDC, and National Adaptation Plan), initiatives like the Baxnaano safety net and Gargaara facility, and gaps in gender-inclusive CDRFI. It highlights gender-specific vulnerabilities such as women owning only 19.5% of land, emphasizes the need for inclusive financial instruments (including Shari’ah-compliant Takaful), and identifies opportunities to improve CDRFI design and implementation. The findings inform key Global Shield documents, including the gap analysis and Somalia’s Request for Support.

While the analysis relies on desk research and stakeholder interviews, its scope is constrained by the limited availability of sex-disaggregated and intersectional data. The focused on women, it also considers children, persons with disabilities, and minority clans. Overall, foundational progress exists, but efforts remain uneven, requiring stronger institutional commitment, better data systems, and deeper community engagement to ensure financial protection reaches the most at-risk populations. This analysis presents practical guidance on how to operationalise these priorities, including a checklist for Inclusive CDRFI in Somalia.