Hargeisa, Somaliland – The University of Hargeisa, through its National Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Resilience (NICER), has highlighted research on sustainable rainwater harvesting and climate resilience, emphasizing the importance of integrating scientific research, community participation, and sustainable resource management to address water scarcity and strengthen environmental resilience in Somaliland.
The research presentation, titled “Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting and Climate Resilience: Translating Research into Practice,” was delivered by Dr. Abdiqani Muse Hassan, drawing on a research study co-authored with Abdikarin Hassan Hussein, a specialist in Civil Engineering and Water Resource Engineering.
The study, titled “A Multi-Criteria Decision Framework for Sustainable Rainwater Harvesting Site Selection Based on Livelihood Capital Factors,” was published in February 2026. It introduces an integrated approach to identifying suitable locations for rainwater harvesting systems by considering environmental conditions alongside social, economic, institutional, and technical factors.
The presentation examined the growing challenges of water scarcity, climate variability, and the long-term sustainability of water infrastructure, particularly in Somaliland and other water-stressed regions.
It highlighted how conventional approaches to rainwater harvesting have frequently prioritized physical and environmental characteristics, including rainfall, soil conditions, land slope, and catchment areas, while giving insufficient attention to community participation, local governance, financial sustainability, and equitable access to water resources.
The research emphasized that technically suitable locations do not necessarily guarantee successful or sustainable rainwater harvesting projects. Long-term success also depends on the capacity of communities to manage infrastructure, mobilize resources, maintain facilities, and establish effective local governance arrangements.
The study applied the Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF), incorporating five interconnected dimensions: natural capital, human capital, social capital, financial capital, and physical capital.
These dimensions provide a comprehensive basis for assessing the suitability and long-term sustainability of rainwater harvesting systems.
To develop the decision-making framework, the researchers employed three analytical methods:
Through this integrated methodology, the researchers initially identified 43 determinants, of which 26 were validated for further analysis.
The findings demonstrated that the sustainability of rainwater harvesting systems depends on more than environmental and engineering considerations.
Among the five livelihood dimensions, social capital received the highest importance weight at 22%, followed by human capital at 20.2%, physical capital at 19.8%, financial capital at 19.1%, and natural capital at 18.1%.
These findings highlight the importance of community relationships, collective decision-making, technical capacity, financial resources, and infrastructure in determining the success of rainwater harvesting initiatives.
The research also identified several important site-selection considerations, including rainfall availability, local leadership support, community participation, water equity, and external financial assistance.
Its causal analysis further demonstrated the influential roles of social and financial capital in shaping the conditions necessary for sustainable water infrastructure development.
A central message of the presentation was the importance of translating academic research into practical, evidence-based solutions that respond to community needs.
The study offers recommendations for policymakers, development organizations, water resource managers, and local institutions involved in planning and implementing rainwater harvesting projects.
These include selecting environmentally appropriate locations, strengthening local governance, encouraging community ownership, promoting equitable access to water, and adapting project decisions to local social and economic conditions.
The research also acknowledged the need for further field validation and long-term performance assessments to establish how effectively the proposed framework operates in practical settings.
The presentation reflects the University of Hargeisa’s broader commitment to advancing research that addresses pressing environmental and development challenges.
Through the National Institute for Climate Change and Environmental Resilience (NICER), the University continues to promote scientific knowledge, sustainable resource management, and practical approaches to climate adaptation.
The research reinforces the importance of connecting academic knowledge with community needs and demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches can contribute to improved water security, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience in Somaliland and beyond.
