Throughout the last decade of working with communities to adapt to and overcome disasters, at BRCiS, we have learned that we must constantly learn and adapt alongside Somalis. We are constantly learning and challenging our assumptions – and those of our industry – so that we can be better, more effective partners to the communities we work with.

Over the past two years, we have been on a journey:

to re-think what causes the human suffering that we respond to

and to re-imagine what it takes to improve food security, health, and livelihoods and to reduce displacement in fragile, conflict-affected settings like Somalia.  

What we’ve uncovered is at once obvious, counter-intuitive, and profoundly overlooked:  

Crises occur – and recur – even in healthy environments. But they happen more frequently and more severely – and impact human lives more negatively – wherever the land is unhealthy. When nature struggles to recover, so do communities, who become forced into negative coping strategies that further hurt their environments, creating a downward spiral that is difficult to escape. Despite best intentions, humanitarian first responders often introduce new, maladapted practices in pursuit of near-term relief at the expense of long-term recovery. 

BUT if we – communities and responders alike – step back and partner with nature, this can all change for the better. 

The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has been our ever-present partner in rethinking humanitarianism over the last 13 years. Join Mike Nithavrianakis, the United Kingdom’s outgoing Ambassador to Somalia, as he introduces our nature-based learnings in this video and calls us all to action.  

We are so convinced of the essential role of nature in enabling humanitarian and resilience outcomes that we can’t keep this learning to ourselves. We feel that now, more than ever – as humanitarian needs are soaring and available resources are cratering – these lessons have something for everyone. 

We’ve created this interactive resource to share key lessons, data and tools, practical actions, and advice for implementers and funders. Representing the culmination of our community-led learning journey on humanitarian needs, ecosystems degradation, nature-based solutions, and regeneration, it is packed with insights. You won’t get through it all in one sitting - but bookmark this page to use as a resource and join us! Together, we can regenerate nature and build back resilience in Somalia and beyond. 

Read more at the links below. While we suggest you read Chapter One next for an introduction to the critical concept of ecosystem services, you are welcome to skip to whatever topic interests you most. You can access this navigation at the bottom of every page. This resource is available on mobile devices but is best viewed on a desktop, laptop, or tablet.