Access to reliable water can transform more than household living conditions. In Somalia, the World Bank-supported Barwaaqo project is helping communities connect water resources with livelihood opportunities, including farming, livestock services and local businesses.

Supported by the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s financing arm for lower-income countries, the initiative focuses on linking water investments with economic activities that can help communities strengthen their incomes and resilience.

Turning Water Access Into Economic Opportunity

For communities that depend on agriculture and livestock, water availability directly affects livelihoods. Limited access can restrict crop production, weaken livestock health and reduce opportunities for small businesses.

Reliable water supplies can help farmers cultivate land, support animals and plan production with greater confidence. They can also create opportunities for local enterprises that provide agricultural inputs, livestock-related services and other essential goods.

By connecting water infrastructure with productive activities, projects such as Barwaaqo seek to make water investments more relevant to the everyday economic needs of rural communities.

Supporting Farmers and Livestock-Based Livelihoods

Agriculture and livestock play important roles in Somalia’s rural economy. However, communities face challenges associated with water scarcity, climate variability and recurring droughts.

Improved access to water can support agricultural production and help livestock owners maintain their animals. Water-related investments may also strengthen the services that farmers and pastoralists rely on to sustain their livelihoods.

The benefits depend on how infrastructure is managed, whether supplies remain reliable and whether communities can afford to maintain the systems over time.

Creating Opportunities for Local Businesses

Water investments can generate economic activity beyond farming. Small businesses may benefit when reliable supplies become available for processing, trading and other productive uses.

Local enterprises can also provide services that support agricultural and livestock value chains, creating opportunities for income generation within communities.

Connecting infrastructure development with local economic participation can help ensure that investments contribute to broader livelihood improvements rather than providing access to water alone.

Building Resilience Through Sustainable Water Management

Somalia’s exposure to drought and climate-related pressures makes sustainable water management particularly important. Water infrastructure needs effective maintenance, responsible resource management and arrangements that allow communities to participate in decisions about its use.

Combining access to water with livelihood support can help households diversify their income sources and manage economic uncertainty. Nevertheless, lasting results depend on reliable infrastructure, local capacity and continued investment.

A Broader Approach to Development

The Barwaaqo project illustrates an approach to development that treats water as both an essential service and a foundation for economic opportunity.

By connecting water access with agriculture, livestock services and local businesses, the initiative aims to support communities in improving their livelihoods and strengthening resilience.

The wider lesson is that infrastructure investments can have greater development value when they are designed around the people who depend on them, their economic activities and their long-term needs.