Climate variability, food security, and adaptation strategies in Somaliland a review

Abstract

Somaliland faces significant food security challenges due to climate change, exacerbated by political instability and poverty. This review focused on the effects of climate variability on food security and identified the adaptation strategies adopted by the local community in Somaliland. This review utilized secondary data from peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and reports from national, and international institutions, collected through Google and Google Scholar search engines, based on their relevance to the topic. This review indicated that climate variability, manifested as droughts and floods, has adversely impacted food availability and access by disrupting agricultural production, inflating food prices, and destabilizing income sources. Consequently, more than one-third of the Somaliland population suffers from food insecurity and malnutrition, which have worsened since 2010. Households have implemented various adaptation strategies, such as mobility, livelihood diversification, and petty trading. However, constraints, such as limited resources, inadequate policies, and weak institutional support, hinder effective adaptation. This review offers valuable information for stakeholders and recommends improvements in governance, infrastructure, technology, and education, as well as the promotion of livelihood diversification strategies to enhance resilience and adaptation capacity. Future research should assess the impact of climate change, evaluate adaptation options, and explore local knowledge and culture to support food security and resilience.