ADRO, in partnership with FAO and funded by USAID, is currently implementing the RECOVER Project in Baidoa District, Bay Region, Somalia. This ongoing initiative, which began in April 2024 and is set to conclude in May 2025, focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity, strengthening cooperative governance, and promoting economic resilience among rural communities.
Photo 1: Community meeting at Al Ahmar cooperative.
“Community members actively engaged in discussions on cooperative strengthening and agricultural development.”
The project targets 3,200 beneficiaries across eight cooperatives, aiming to improve sustainable farming practices, diversify livelihoods, and reduce post-harvest losses. Key activities include:
- Training 80 lead farmers (38F/42M) on climate-smart agricultural practices and resilience-building techniques.
- Mobilizing and verifying existing beneficiaries, supporting the registration of new cooperatives, and conducting scoping exercises for Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) and Farmer Field Schools (FFS).
- Developing and disseminating training manuals and extension services to strengthen cooperative governance and farming capacities.
Photo 2: Training session with lead farmers on climate-resilient practices.
“Lead farmers gaining practical knowledge on sustainable agriculture and resilience-building.”
Key Progress Highlights
- Registered two new cooperatives, Isfahan and Aragsan, adding 700 beneficiaries to the project.
- Conducted training sessions for 80 lead farmers across eight cooperatives, covering gender mainstreaming and good agricultural practices.
- Completed scoping activities for 108 VSLAs and Farmer Field Schools, identifying challenges and opportunities for revitalization.
- Developed comprehensive training materials for capacity-building initiatives, with ongoing efforts to translate content into accessible formats for wider dissemination.
Photo 3: Village-level scoping exercise with cooperative leaders.
“Assessing VSLA and FFS activities to enhance community resilience and sustainability.”
The project also includes efforts to establish disaster risk reduction (DRR) plans and strengthen community capacities to manage shocks and disasters effectively. These targeted interventions aim to empower communities, ensuring long-term sustainability and reduced reliance on humanitarian aid.
Photo 4: Cooperative leaders discussing governance strategies during a training session.
“Building cooperative governance for improved agricultural and economic outcomes.”
While challenges such as insecurity and logistical delays persist, ADRO continues to collaborate with FAO, local authorities, and cooperative members to address these issues and ensure the project’s successful implementation through May 2025.
Photo 5: Meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture with cooperative representatives.
