Aw-Barkhadle Women Milk Union: A Story of Sisterhood of Strength and Growth

Along the busy highway linking Hargeisa and Berbera, a group of 30 women have transformed a daily struggle into a shared purpose. United as the Aw-Barkhadle Women Milk Union, their journey is one of resilience, collaboration, and economic empowerment.
For years, these women sold milk individually under harsh conditions—exposed to sun, dust, and uncertainty. Their work was essential to their families’ survival, but lacked structure and security. Realizing the power of collective action, they came together not only to improve their income but also to build a support network.
That turning point laid the foundation for what came next. With support from the Barwaaqo project, funded by the World Bank, the women received simple yet impactful tools: clean milk containers, shade umbrellas, and market tables. The results were immediate. Milk quality improved, working conditions became safer, and sales increased. In the rainy season, a single member can now sell over 20 liters of milk in a day—doubling her income and strengthening her household's stability.
Khadra, one of the members, shared her experience: “I’m so grateful for the support we received,” shares Khadra, a proud member of the union. “The milk equipment has helped us keep our milk clean, and the umbrella protects us from the sun. We are not just women selling milk – we are a support system for each other. We promote one another’s sales and stand together through challenges.”
They have demonstrated that with the right tools and the training they received, their resilience is an unstoppable force.
Yet, their story is not finished. Their very success has brought them to a critical turning point. The tables meant for one or two are now crowded with five women, a testament to their growth but a bottleneck to their efficiency. More urgently, as the sun reaches its peak, they watch their profits become a race against time. Without refrigerators, every unsold liter of milk is at risk—a potential loss that undermines the stability they have fought so hard to build.
As their business grows, so does their vision. Khadra Notes, the women are now seeking additional training in business management and marketing to take their enterprise to the next level. With the right support, they aim not only to expand their reach but to sustain their impact—improving livelihoods, advancing gender equity, and strengthening the resilience of their community.

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Improving Livestock Health in Somaliland, Community Animal Health Workers and Delivering Vital Veterinary Services

In the vast, arid landscapes of Somaliland, the rhythm of life is dictated by the health of the herd. Here, livestock are not merely an asset; they are the lifeblood of the economy and the cultural cornerstone of rural communities. This is a bond measured in staggering number livestock contribute nearly 30% to the nation's GDP and represent a remarkable 85% of its export earnings. For the 40% of the rural workforce whose livelihoods are woven into agriculture, a healthy livestock’s leads to a stable family
Yet, this vital connection has long been threatened by a silent crisis, the tyranny of distance for countless herders, professional veterinary services are a world away, their absence leaving communities vulnerable to preventable diseases that can decimate a herd.
In response to this challenge, a new chapter is unfolding across five rehabilitation villages. Through the Barwaaqo Project, funded by the world bank and the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Development, a powerful new model for animal health is taking root. The initiative is not about building clinics, but about empowering communities from within. Its focus is on training and deploying a new line of defense: the Community Animal Health Worker (CAHW).
“Before I was trained, I watched many herders struggle because they couldn’t afford treatment or travel far for it. Their animals are all they have. Now, I feel proud to help them keep their livestock healthy.” Mohamed, community livestock health worker, Labisagaale”
The project strategically targets the villages of Holhol, Aw-Barkhadle, Ceelbaxay, Oog, and Labisagaale areas where recently rehabilitated water points have completed , drawing in communities that depend on their livestock for transport, food, and income.
At the heart of this transformation are the CAHWs themselves. These are not outsiders, but neighbors, friends, and family chosen from within their own communities. The current initiative is training 90 of these dedicated individuals 18 from each village equipping them with the skills and tools to become trusted local experts.
“I’m so grateful for this help. My livestock is all I have to support my family. Before, when an animal got sick, I didn’t know what to do and sometimes had to slaughter it for a small problem. It was painful. Now, with this treatment and knowledge, I feel hope that my livestock will stay healthy and we can have a better life.” Kaahin, community member Oog’’
But the story of CAHWS is told not just in numbers, but in the tangible results they represent. Healthy livestock means more milk for children, more meat for families, and more stable income to weather economic shocks and drought. It’s about building a foundation of resilience that empowers communities to take charge of their own development.

Farming Smarter in Aw-Barkhadle: How Haybe Turns Every Drop into Growth

Simple Catchment, a smart farmer, this Aw barkhadle farmer turns every drop into growth for his land and hope for his community ,When the rains come to Aw-Barkhadle, many farmers watch the water rush past precious and fleeting. But Haybe’ a local farmer sees opportunity in every drop with a bit of creativity and the right support, even a small solution can drive big change
Haybe’s farm might look modest at first glance, but it holds the marks of innovation and resilience. Using a simple 14-by-8-meter plastic geomembrane sheet, he built a catchment system to harvest rainwater. It’s a basic setup just plastic stretched over a small basin—but it’s effective. The water it collects is used to irrigate his crops, keep his farm running, and even supply nearby communities and urban neighborhoods via water trucking. This extra income helps him cover operational costs, pay his three employees, and support his family.
Haybe is a member of a Farmer Field School (FFS) supported by the Barwaaqo project, funded by the World Bank. The project gave him access not only to the plastic sheet, but also practical training and a greenhouse two key additions that are helping him diversify and expand. His farm already produces cash crops, oranges and mangoes, but with the new greenhouse, he plans to grow tomatoes, a crop in high demand in the local market.
“Before, we were limited by the weather and what we could afford. Now, with the greenhouse and the knowledge we’ve gained, I’m planning to grow more and sell more,” Haybe explains. “We’ve been given tools, but also confidence to think bigger.”
The impact is already visible. With a reliable water source and a controlled growing environment, Haybe is better equipped to manage the risks of farming in a semi-arid area. His tomatoes will not only bring in higher returns, but also allow him to supply the market more consistently.
Haybe’s story is a powerful example of what happens when local knowledge meets targeted investment. With basic tools, access to training, and a small push in the right direction, farmers like him are building more resilient livelihoods benefiting not just their own families, but the wider community as well.

Rangeland rehabilitation through soil and water conservation

Healing the Land: Five Villages Stand Together for Restoration, One Stone at a Time.
Across the drylands of Somaliland, where communities depend on livestock and rainfed farming, the land itself has long been under threat. Years of drought, erosion, and overuse left soils bare and pastures depleted. on this landscape of hardship, a story of resilience and restoration is unfolding.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change launched a bold rehabilitation programme a crucial project led by Barwaaqo Project funded by world bank. covering five critical villages: Holhol, Awbarkhadle, Ceelbaxay, Lebisagaale, and Oog. These are not just sites on a map – but homes to thousands of pastoralists and farmers whose futures depended on the health of their rangelands.
The strategy was simple yet profound, work with nature, not against it. By implementing a series of proven soil and water conservation techniques, the project sought to slow down the destructive force of water runoff, capture vital moisture, and give the land a chance to heal itself.
Project teams and Engineers worked tirelessly to build soil bunds, stone bunds, check dams, gabion structures, and water diversion . In Awbarkhadle, protective bunds slowed water runoff; in Ceelbaxay and Holhol, check dams trapped fertile soil, in Labisagaale and Oog, kilometers of soil bunds reshaped the land for better water retention.
Community members were not bystanders. They were trained, engaged, and empowered with the skills to maintain these structures long after the engineers left. In total, over 1,413 hectares of degraded land were rehabilitated, bringing hope back to villages that had watched their pastures vanish year after year.
the project's most enduring legacy may not be etched in earth and stone, but in the skills and ownership fostered within the communities. 145 local residents, once witnesses the land's decline, are now active partners in its restoration. Through dedicated training, they have become proficient guardians of their renewed environment, equipped with the knowledge to maintain and expand these vital conservation efforts.

The scale of impact was remarkable.from the 527 hectares in Lebisagaale to 430 hectares in Og, 258 hectares in Awbarkhadle, 141 hectares in Ceelbaxay, and 57.4 hectares in Holhol. These interventions brought back hope for increased pasture availability, reduced erosion, and improved soil fertility essential for crop production
This programme was more than construction. It was an investment in people, livestock, food security, and the dignity of rural life. It showed that when communities and government work hand in hand, deserts can bloom, and hope can be restored.