Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing
Flood Mitigation Infrastructure in Goobweyn – GIZ Promoting Climate and Disaster Resilient Food Security Project (CFSP)
On February 10, 2025, the Jubbaland Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction, and Housing (MOPWRH) officially launched the construction of a 165-meter embankment and flood mitigation infrastructure along the Goobweyn River. This intervention forms part of the GIZ – Promoting Climate and Disaster Resilient Food Security Project (CFSP), implemented by GIZ with financial support from the German government.
The newly constructed flood control infrastructure is specifically engineered to mitigate the adverse effects of flash floods originating from the Goobweyn River, which pose a threat to agricultural land, residential areas, and public facilities. This construction marks the first phase of the 365-meter embankment identified in the topographical survey conducted by MOPWRH.
Project Overview
The Comprehensive Flood Mitigation and Community Empowerment Project addresses two critical objectives:
- Flood Mitigation: Establishing durable, community-focused flood control infrastructure to protect homes, farmlands, and public assets in Goobweyn from seasonal flooding events.
- Community Empowerment: Creating livelihood opportunities by engaging local residents, particularly the disadvantaged host communities, in cash-for-work initiatives, thereby stimulating the local economy and fostering resilience.
This integrated approach promotes climate resilience, supports sustainable local development, and enhances community capacity by combining infrastructure improvement with targeted employment and skills development.
Key Mitigation Measures
Gabion Embankment Construction
- Building a 165-meter-long gabion embankment, designed to withstand seasonal floods.
- Utilizing rock-filled wire mesh with a structural height of 3 meters to strengthen the embankment’s durability.
Sluice Gate Installation
- Integrating stainless steel sluice gates (2 meters wide by 3 meters high) to efficiently regulate water flow and manage floodwaters.
Community Involvement
A crucial component of the project is community participation. Through a cash-for-work scheme, over 90 local laborers will be engaged over 42 days, ensuring community ownership and economic stimulation. This collaboration fosters sustainability and ensures that the infrastructure meets the community’s immediate needs.
Community members have shown strong commitment to the project. Speaking on behalf of the residents, Ahmed Burash, Chairman of Goobweyn Village, remarked:
“I am eager to witness the construction of flood mitigation infrastructure in Goobweyn, collaboratively executed by the Ministry of Public Works Jubbaland and GIZ, with funding from the German government. We express our gratitude to God for your assistance. However, we respectfully urge the embankment of the remaining flood-prone areas, which are double the size of the addressed section. We anticipate a timely response to these remaining zones and appreciate the progress achieved thus far.”
Maryam Nasiib, a local community member and construction worker, praised the initiative:
“Participating in this project has been rewarding. It not only strengthens our community’s resilience to climate shocks but also creates valuable employment. We hope the remaining flood-prone areas along the Jubba River in Goobweyn will soon be addressed. The construction of this embankment plays a critical role in protecting our settlement and agricultural lands.”