Hiiraan Online

Sunday June 6, 2025
By Yusuf M Mohamoud

The prolonged civil war that started in Somalia in the early 1990s had a devastating and persistent effect on the country’s economic development and the well-being of its citizens. Because of the dramatic impact of the civil war, many Somali professionals who left the country at the height of the civil war never returned. Some of them are now well-established in North America and Europe. However, their departure from the country created irreparable academic and scientific drawbacks, which, to this day, affect the quality of the country’s universities and the capabilities of its private and public workforce. Against this backdrop, in 2018, a team of determined Somali professionals established the Association of Somali Agricultural Professionals (ASAP). The association had its inauguration ceremony in Columbus, Ohio in 2018. ASAP is a not-for-profit organization registered in the State of Virginia in the United States. It has well-established guidelines, regulations, a board of directors, and members. The association is a capacity-building institution whose main purpose is to enhance the country’s development in selected areas while safeguarding its natural resources. ASAP is not a non-governmental organization (NGO) and has no affiliations with international or Somali NGOs. It is not a political organization and has no relationship with the Somali government. ASAP is a knowledge-sharing institution that exclusively works for the Somali people.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of writing this article is to introduce ASAP to the Somali people. Without the support of Somali diaspora professionals, the country would not recover from the brain drain caused by the prolonged civil war. ASAP leadership strongly believes that the country needs knowledgeable professional organizations that can help reshape its development. Building professional organizations requires serious commitment, and ASAP’s efforts over the years can be a true testimonial for those who want to follow its roadmap. Its main strength is based on the organization’s commitment to the country’s development, and the cumulative experience and skills of its members and leadership. ASAP team members include retired scientists and engineers who volunteer their time to address the country’s needs. Most of them have advanced degrees and experience in agriculture, water resources, and environmental management. We hope to introduce ASAP to the Somali people and to other interested diaspora professionals so that they can be well attuned to the country’s needs and encourage all interested Somali professionals to join ASAP so that together we make an impact on the country's future development. In this introductory article, ASAP will be sharing workable concepts for the country’s development. To learn more about ASAP activities as well as information about the experience and the professional qualifications of the ASAP leadership. Please refer to this website: https://agriculturesomalia.org/.

ASAP MEMBERSHIP: The organization is committed to training Somali young professionals on topics related to water resources, agriculture, and environmental management. ASAP has the potential to be a leader and contributor to the country’s development in science and technology. Some ASAP membership benefits include participation in online and in-person conferences and presentations. Interested professionals and students can fill in the ASAP membership form. The organization can also give theses to qualified graduate students. Student members may also participate in ASAP conferences and seminars. The organization is committed to advancing the country’s capacity-building initiatives and may also offer training programs to federal government workers in water resources management and development. For membership information, please visit the membership page at: https://agriculturesomalia.org/membership/. For any questions about membership, please contact Dr. Awes Karama at: awesk@yahoo.com.

SOMALIA NEEDS A VISION FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT: In comparison to neighboring countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia, Somalia has been in arrested development mode for many years. The country has vast grazing lands that can be as productive as that of Australia, vast and productive marine resources, two perennial rivers, land suitable for irrigated agriculture, and two rainy seasons per year. There is also limited seasonal rain in some coastal areas. We may ask why Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world despite the plethora of natural resources. The reason that Somalia cannot benefit from its abundant resources is due to a lack of well-trained and well-educated human resources. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) created an index known as the Human Development Index (HDI). Every year, UNDP publishes HDI for all 54 African countries. The index is based on three factors which are long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Last year, Somalia was ranked the country with the lowest HDI of 0.380. This year, South Sudan had the lowest index, and Somalia has the next lowest index at 0.404. Having the second lowest HDI in Africa 25 years after the civil war is indicative of the lack of leadership in Somalia and the impact of the 4.5 power-sharing methods. ASAP initiative is an approach whereby Somali professional organizations assist in the country’s development. Africa is undergoing a wind of self-reliance and Somalia must not be left behind.

HYDROMETRIC CONDITIONS OF THE JUBA AND SHABELLE RIVERS AFTER THE CIVIL WAR: AN EXAMPLE OF ASAP CONTRIBUTION: In the context of this article, standard river measurements conducted by hydrologists are water level measurements and river flow measurements also known as rating curve method. River level measurements only measure the water surface height from a specified datum. Conversely, the rating curve method estimates the amount of water that flows through rivers and streams. Hydrometric network river level stage readings started in the Jowhar area in 1925. River flow measurements on the Juba and Shabelle Rivers started on Luuq and Beled Wayne in 1951. The project was funded by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. After independence, additional river flow measurements were added between 1951 to 1990. The history of the hydrometric data of the Juba and the Shabelle Rivers had serious technical challenges that included the constant need for expatriate engineers, lack of local training for the Somali engineers and technicians, and lack of data quality control procedures. As such, Somalia has been unable to conduct hydrometric studies without the support of the international donor community. From 1980-1982, the FAO hydrometry project (TCP/SOM/8096) rehabilitated dysfunctional gauging stations in Juba and Shabelle. The most notable hydrometric project was funded by the UK Overseas Development Administration (ODA) from 1983-1991. The previous (ODA) organization is now called the Department for International Development (DFID). This project coincided with the Baardheere dam studies in the late 1980s. The UK project collected the best quality river flow data for Somalia. The project also rehabilitated the entire river flow data from 1951 to 1991. Before the civil war started in 1991, Somalia had twelve gauging stations that were in full operation on the Juba and Shabelle Rivers. Due to the civil war, hydrometric data was not collected on the Juba and Shabelle rivers from 1991 to 2000. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) project rehabilitated Luuq and Baardheere stations in 2001 and Beled Wayne and Bulo Burti in 2002. ASAP reviewed the SWALIM data and identified procedural flaws. ASAP engineers conducted data quality control/quality assurance of the historical data and the SWALIM data. The engineers confirmed that SWALIM used outdated rating curves instead of building new rating curves for the rehabilitated stations. ASAP corrected the errors and archived the data. When appropriate, the engineers would like to share the quality-controlled data with the Somali government even though the government does not have the capacity to manage the hydrometric data of the Juba and Shabelle Rivers. As of now, there are no river flow measurements in operation on the Juba and Shabelle Rivers. Only water level measurements data were measured in Luuq, Dollow, Beled Wayne, Bulo Burti, and Jowhar. The last time that Somalia had the capacity to measure river flow measurements on the Juba and Shabelle rivers was in 1991 when the last expatriate hydrologist left the country because of the civil war. Somalia is perhaps the only country in the world that cannot measure the daily river flows of its rivers without donor support. Given the lack of adequate training of the Somali federal government workers, ASAP may offer seminars that strengthen the capacity of the federal government engineers and technicians through workshops, lectures, and seminars. ASAP is unaware of any hydrometric activities directly led by the Somali government after the civil war. To see the current condition of the hydrometric data, please follow this link: https://frrims.faoswalim.org/rivers/levels

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The ASAP team strongly believes that Somalia’s only solution to achieve sustainable development is the utilization of science and technology. Unfortunately, few Somalis have advanced degrees in science and technology. For those of us with advanced degrees, it is our civic duty to contribute to the country’s development. If you are a Somali professional with an advanced degree in science and technology and have the means to participate in the country’s recovery efforts, we strongly recommend you become an ASAP member. To quote the inaugural address of former US president John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” This promotion of civil action and volunteering encouraged Americans to join the Peace Corps and Green Berets, while others went on to law school and participated in governmental social programs. ASAP may not be the only group of Somali professionals who have given some thought and time to the condition of our country. I urge all Somali professionals to establish professional organizations in their areas of expertise. If needed, please feel free to contact the ASAP team for organization-building ideas. ASAP will offer you guidance on how to establish a professional organization like ours. Even though ASAP made a pioneering effort in its conception and introduction of a workable institution, we need many more professional organizations for different disciplines. We encourage you to explore this noble suggestion and participate in the country’s development. Together, we can change the condition of our country through knowledge and solidarity. Note that the main reason for publishing this article is not to advertise the Association of Somali Agricultural Professionals (ASAP), but to share with fellow Somali professionals an innovative concept for the development of the country. ASAP would like to have an effective dialogue with like-minded Somali professionals who are interested in research and development in agriculture, water resources, and environmental management.