In the heart of Burco’s IDP camp, community-led hydroponic* greenhouses and home gardens are cultivating more than vital crops. The sustainable farming initiative is fighting food insecurity, creating job prospects, and helping a country become climate change resilient.
Families who once relied on food aid are now producing spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, and more, feeding themselves and their neighbours.
“This was once just an empty field. “Now we grow, we eat, and we share. We’re not waiting, we’re working.”
Abdi, a proud greenhouse caretaker
But the sustainable farming transformation doesn’t stop at the greenhouse.
In home gardens across the camp, 15 families now harvest their own vegetables, reducing food insecurity and improving household nutrition.
“I used to wait for distributions. Now, I harvest with my own hands and help others too.”
a gardener
When communities are given the tools, they don’t just survive, they grow and thrive.
Key terms:
*What is ‘hydroponics’? Hydroponics is a way of growing plants/crops by using nutrient-enriched water, instead of soil. It is more climate-friendly, for example it uses less water than traditional farming methods.
The Green Project: harvesting hope in Somaliland through sustainable farming
In Somaliland, where over 70% of the population depends on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods, the reality of climate change, land degradation, and erratic rainfall presents an ever-growing threat.
The once-reliable farming and pastoral systems that sustained generations have become increasingly unstable, leaving families struggling to produce food and generate income.
Meanwhile, youth unemployment continues to soar, with thousands of young people lacking access to job opportunities, skills training or financial support to start a business.
These growing crises created an urgent need for innovative, sustainable solutions, not just to address food insecurity, but to empower young people to become leaders in climate resilience.
That’s where the Green Project comes in!
Through the Project, families in displacement camps and vulnerable communities are finding new hope through self-reliance, innovation, and climate-smart agriculture.
From greenhouse farming to home gardens and youth-led environmental initiatives, this project is transforming lives while protecting our planet.
“Before the Green Project, I never thought farming could be a career. Now, I see it as a business that can provide for my family and contribute to my country’s food security.”
Khalid, a 25-year-old entrepreneur who now runs a hydroponic vegetable business.
What began as a bold experiment in climate-smart agriculture has blossomed into a vibrant movement, driven by the energy of young people, the resilience of smallholder farmers, and the vision of a greener, more sustainable Somaliland.
The Project has also been rolled out in Somalia, where many of the same challenges are being faced, and where hydroponic farming is making a vital difference to those displaced by conflict and continious climate disasters.
“In every seed we plant, lies the promise of resilience, the power of innovation, and the hope of a greener future, led by the hands of Somaliland’s youth.”
SOS Children’s Villages Somaliland
