How Restored Irrigation Canals Are Reclaiming livelihoods in Dhajalaq village of Afgooye district

Halima inherited two acres of land from her father, a lifeline for her family of eight (3 males and 5 females) in Dhajalaq village. Like many in Somalia, her survival depended on the whims of rain and the mercy of a nearby river. But years of neglect had left irrigation canals crumbling, their waters choked by silt and debris. Each day became a battle to coax life from parched soil. “Without water, our crops withered,” she recalls. “We feared losing everything.”

Hope arrived in the form of action. HIJRA in partnership with CONCERN WW, launched a cash-for-work initiative to revive the crumbling irrigation infrastructure in the village. The plan was simple yet transformative: employ community members to rehabilitate canals, providing immediate income while securing long-term water access.

Halima was selected through a transparent process led by village elders, joining neighbors in digging, desilting, and reinforcing the vital waterways. For weeks, shovels clinked and sweat mingled with determination as the canal breathed back to life. The result? A steady flow of water returned to farms, cutting through the drought’s despair.

The impact was swift. Halima’s tomatoes and lettuce, once stunted and sparse, now thrive under reliable irrigation. Her harvests have doubled, and the vibrant greens and reds of her fields mirror the renewed hope in her children’s eyes. “This canal isn’t just water – it’s a future,” she says, cradling a ripe tomato. “For the first time in years, I know we’ll survive the dry season.”

But Halima’s triumph is more than personal; it’s a blueprint. Across Somalia, most of irrigation systems lie damaged, a ticking clock for millions. Projects like Dhajalaq’s prove that solutions exist when communities lead. By marrying short-term economic relief with long-term infrastructure, the program didn’t just mend canals – it rebuilt dignity.

“This is how we fight back,” asserts a HIJRA field officer on the ground. “Every restored canal is a barrier against displacement, a shield for the next generation.” Indeed, as climate shocks intensify, such efforts are no longer optional. They are a race to outpace disaster, to ensure survival is not a privilege but a promise.

The lesson is clear: The path to climate resilience begins with the collective swing of a pickaxe, the stubborn refusal to let dust claim dreams. Halima’s thriving farm stands as testament: Even in Earth’s harshest corners, life can bloom again.