An appraisal of the effectiveness and sustainability of sand dams to improve water security and resilience in Somaliland

Only 28% of the rural population in Somalia has access to basic water services, resulting in water and livelihoods insecurity and high vulnerability to climate variability and recurrent droughts. Existing literature and practitioner experience indicates sand dams and sub-surface dams constitute a low-cost and robust rainwater harvesting technology, capable of enhancing water availability in drylands while strengthening community resilience to the effects of climate change.

Somaliland has favourable climatic and hydrogeological conditions for sand dam development but the technology remains underdeveloped and research limited. Through a study of five communities in Somaliland, this research appraises the effectiveness of sand dams as a rural water supply technology, potentially capable of positively impacting water security and resilience in semi-arid and arid environments in the wider Somali region. This study also explores the technical, environmental, socio-economic and cultural aspects involved in the sustainable and effective management of sand dams.