From scarcity to sustainability: a review of the causes, consequences, and management strategies of water scarcity in Somalia

Water scarcity is a growing challenge in Somalia, especially in the Juba and Shabelle river basins, where overdependence on upstream flows from Ethiopia, frequent droughts, poor infrastructure, and weak governance systems contribute to chronic water shortages. Although many global studies discuss water management, few focus on Somalia’s specific problems or the role of traditional systems in water governance. This review aims to fill that gap by analyzing the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to water scarcity in Somalia. It is based on a narrative review of 49 selected sources, drawn from an initial pool of 120 publications published between 1989 and 2025. The study uses narrative analysis to identify physical and economic drivers of scarcity, such as climate change, lack of investment, and policy gaps. This study confirms that sustainable strategies such as Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and rainwater harvesting are widely supported in the literature as effective approaches for improving water availability. For example, FAO-SWALIM (2013) recommends rainwater harvesting to support agricultural resilience in Somalia’s arid zones, while UNEP (2024) highlights IWRM as essential for building institutional coordination in water-scarce environments. This review concludes that sustainable water solutions in Somalia must combine technical innovation with traditional knowledge, improved governance, and regional cooperation to ensure long-term water security.