Jowhar, Somalia – The Centre for Peace and Democracy (CPD), with support from Welthungerhilfe (WHH) through the WAHAFA Project, has conducted a two-day training for community-led flood monitoring teams in Jowhar District, Hirshabelle State.
According to CPD, the training was aimed at building local capacity to observe, interpret, and respond to early warning signals for floods and droughts, enabling timely and community-driven preparedness.
A total of 20 participants — 11 men and 9 women — took part in the training. Among them were 12 members from Community Early Warning and Risk Monitoring Teams (CEWRMTs) across four villages, established by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in collaboration with CPD. Each village was represented by three committee members and one focal point, together with other community representatives, ensuring inclusivity and gender balance.
During the sessions, participants received lessons on disaster risk concepts, hazard identification, and environmental signal observation. They were also trained on how to monitor rainfall, river levels, and drought indicators using Kobo Toolbox and the Flood and River Risk Monitoring Information System (FRRMIS).
CPD said that by the end of the training, participants demonstrated improved skills in hazard observation, data management, and reporting. The organization, together with WHH, will continue to support these teams to further strengthen locally led early warning systems in Hirshabelle State.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote community-based disaster preparedness and resilience in Somalia, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Jowhar.