Just outside Borama in Somaliland’s Awdal region, the village of Holhol has long relied on its earth dam for water. The dam, first built in the 1970s, is essential for nearly 1,000 households who depend on farming and herding to survive. Over recent years, climate change has made water even scarcer by causing severe droughts and floods that have destroyed crops and livestock.
Aisha Jibril, a pastoralist in Holhol, described how daily life has changed: “We used to walk for hours every day to fetch water. Some years, we lost half our herd. But now, with the dam full, we don’t have to leave our homes. The water is here.”
The dam also serves neighboring communities like Asha-ado, Abuqeys, and Sogsogley. Local elder Hussein Hassan Duale explained the seasonal importance of the reservoir: “During the Gu and Deyr rains, it fills up. But in the dry Hagaa season, this is the only source that keeps life going.” Another resident, Hibo Arab Adan, highlighted what is at stake: “Without the dam, our animals would suffer, and our children would go thirsty. This water means survival.”
In 2024, Holhol Dam was selected for upgrades under the Somalia Water for Rural Resilience Project (locally called Barwaaqo), an initiative supported by the World Bank and led by Somaliland’s Ministry of Water Resources Development. The project aims to give improved access to water for 600,000 people—30% of whom are women—by enhancing drought preparedness and resilience.
The rehabilitation addressed sediment buildup that had reduced storage capacity by half over time. Upgrades included desilting the reservoir; adding a perimeter fence; installing solar-powered pumps; building a masonry tank; constructing a public kiosk; and providing separate troughs for livestock. Mubarik Mohamoud Rabileh from the Ministry said: “This dam is more than concrete and earth. It is the foundation of our community’s survival.”
Community engagement played a central role throughout planning and implementation. Elders recalled previous hardships during meetings held at the site. “We don’t want to relive those days,” said Hussein Duale. “With this support, we hope we never will.” Women in particular noted improvements in their daily routines since rehabilitation work finished: “We used to walk two hours with jerry cans,” said Aisha Jibril. “Now it takes 30 minutes. That gives us time for farming, for our children, even for rest.”
Digital monitoring technology now tracks water use from afar as well. Hodan Ahmed oversees real-time data as Director of Information Technology at Somaliland’s Ministry of Water Resources Development in Hargeisa: “The upgraded dam now holds up to 70,000 cubic meters of water,” she explained. “It meets about 70% of the village’s water demand during the dry season, and two months into the wet season. That’s significant.” She added that selection of Holhol Dam was based on hydrological data and local consultations: “The data guided us, but the community made it work. Infrastructure alone isn’t enough. We’re pairing physical investments with local training, governance, and digital monitoring.”
As Somalia faces ongoing climate challenges, officials point to Holhol Dam as an example of how international support combined with local participation can improve access to clean water.