Shidle Village, situated 35 kilometers from Dollow Town in the Gedo region of Somalia, is home to the minority Somali Bantu community. One of the longstanding challenges faced by the village is the scarcity of clean water. Despite the community’s effort to construct a shallow well along the river, the absence of infrastructure, such as a water pump, made it difficult for the residents, particularly women and girls, to access water easily. Consequently, they resorted to fetching water directly from the river 1.5 kilometers away. This resulted in the neglect and eventual deterioration of the once-constructed shallow well due to exposure to the elements. Ebla Ahmed, a 45-year-old mother from the village, vividly recalls the arduous daily journey to the river under the scorching sun to fetch water.
Ebla Ahmed fetching water at the river before constructing the water infrastructure in Shidle.
In response, Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD), in partnership with the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), implemented an emergency Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Project in Shidle Village. The initiative aimed to alleviate the immediate access to portable water challenges to the community members and establish a sustainable water supply system. NAPAD rehabilitated the shallow well through a cash-for-work program, installed a solar-powered water pumping system, constructed an above-ground berkad, and laid a 1.5km pipe network from the well to the berkad.
NAPAD Cash for Work Program links relief to improved livelihoods.
The rehabilitated Shallow well through the cash-for-work program
The impact of this project is profound. One hundred and eighty households in Shidle Village now have a reliable access to clean and safe drinking water. This impact is not only infrastructural but also economic, as shown by Dahiro Adan Amey, a widow among the 22 beneficiaries in the cash-for-work program. Dahiro earned $9 daily through her unskilled labour together with 20 other unskilled workers. Dahiro used her income to provide food for her children, meet her family’s needs, and overcome financial challenges following her husband’s passing. On the other hand, the 2 skilled workers earned $25 per day for the 15 days of the cash-for-work program.
NAPAD’s cash-for-work programs aim to address the immediate needs of vulnerable households by engaging them in casual labour focused on developing their community’s infrastructure. This fosters positive changes within the community and provides a short-term means for vulnerable groups to sustain their livelihoods and support their families. Additionally, these programs build stronger social bonds between internally displaced persons (IDP) and host communities.
Dahiro Adan receives her hard-earned pay after a day of dedicated work.
Dahiro reflects on her unconventional role, breaking cultural norms for the betterment of her family and community, saying, “Although it’s uncommon for women to work outside the home, especially in manual labour in my culture, I was willing to test tradition if it meant making some money to help feed my children and improve my community.”
Sustainable access to Clean Water
Several months after the project’s completion, Shidle Village has a fully functional solarized water supply system, providing a sustainable, affordable, clean water source. The positive ripple effect extends beyond Shidle, as neighbouring villages, like Wagadey, have also benefited from the improved water infrastructure. The gratitude expressed by the community emphasizes the newfound convenience, particularly for women and girls who now spend fewer hours fetching water.
Women fetching clean water at the above-ground Berkad in the village
NAPAD’s holistic approach, blending immediate access with long-term sustainability, demonstrates the potential for transformative change among vulnerable communities, proving that access to clean water is a necessity and a catalyst for progress and resilience.