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MOGADISHU — Baroness Jenny Chapman, the UK Minister for International Development and Africa, has announced a new £6 million humanitarian funding package for Somalia at the conclusion of her first official visit to Mogadishu.
Official sources reported that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hosted the UK Minister at Villa Somalia, where discussions centered on escalating drought risks and the significant challenges facing vulnerable communities due to climate shocks.
During the meeting, Baroness Chapman underscored the UK’s strategic shift from a traditional donor relationship to an investment-driven development partnership designed to strengthen Somali resilience and bolster economic opportunities.
The Minister commended the Federal Government of Somalia’s leadership in crisis coordination, noting that over 500,000 drought-affected individuals are already receiving emergency cash support through collaboration with the World Bank and the UN.
The visit welcomed the activation of the UK-supported African Risk Capacity (ARC) insurance policy, which triggered $3.4 million in rapid payouts to the government, alongside $2 million for humanitarian partners to ensure timely assistance.
Visiting a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse with Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama, the Minister clarified that the new £6 million assistance would target high-need locations to deliver life-saving support to over 129,000 people.
The Minister emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable groups and delivering proactive aid, calling for continued close partnership between London, Mogadishu, and UN agencies to ensure humanitarian effectiveness.
Discussions also reviewed pre-arranged financing via the (Start Ready) facility, which provided nearly $3 million for anticipatory action, helping mitigate impacts before climatic conditions deteriorate in rural areas.
The visit concluded by reaffirming that technical and financial cooperation will contribute to building a resilient infrastructure capable of absorbing environmental shocks and transforming challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.
This British support serves as a cornerstone in establishing a proactive crisis response system in Somalia, reaffirming that international solidarity is the true guarantee for transforming environmental challenges into opportunities for comprehensive societal stability and prosperity.
