Jigjiga, Ethiopia | 4 September 2025 — More than 150,000 people in the Somali region, Ethiopia, will now have reliable access to clean water through a new partnership co-financed by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Groundwater Access Facility for Africa (GAFA) initiative. 

The 24-month initiative, valued at over USD 6.2 million, will deploy state-of-the-art drilling rigs and solar-powered water systems to equip 20 new boreholes serving local communities as well as 34 health facilities, and 59 schools across four key locations: Jigjiga, Dhanaan, Birkot, and Dhagahbour. 

H.E. Mustefe Mohammed, President of the Somali Region noted, “The region has made significant progress on increasing the water supply coverage from 19% to 50.8%, but significant investment is still required to meet the WASH needs of our community. The project we officially launched today with CIFF and UNDP is part of our ongoing long-term partnership.” 

To ensure long-term sustainability, the project will deliver targeted capacity building for local water utilities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) schools, and water technicians on operation and maintenance of solar-powered groundwater systems.

“This partnership is a powerful example of how innovation, collaboration, and local leadership can deliver sustainable solutions to water insecurity,” said Zeynu Ummer, Director of the UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa. “By combining CIFF’s investment with UNDP’s technical expertise and the government’s commitment, we are building a model for scalable water access across Africa.”

Home to large pastoralist communities, the Somali Region faces chronic water stress driven by complex hydrogeology and low rainfall. Today, only 42% of households have access to improved drinking water sources, well below the national average. By expanding community systems and critical social services, GAFA will improve health and education outcomes, strengthen livelihoods, and reduce tensions over scarce water resources.

“The Ministry of Water and Energy acknowledges and extends its sincere appreciation to CIFF and UNDP for the launch of the productive use of water project for the needy people of Somali Region” H.E Mr. Motuma Mekassa, Special Advisor to the Minster of Water and Energy, at the State Minster level . “The Ministry of Water and Energy will further provide for the successful and smooth implementation of the project as it did during the project development process.” 

“CIFF is proud to support this initiative that brings together two essentials for the Somali Region’s future: resilient communities and reliable access to safe water,” said Richard Matikanya, CIFF Deputy Executive Director for Africa. “By investing in both, we help children, women, and pastoralist communities not only survive but thrive in the face of climate challenges.”

The project aligns with Ethiopia’s national water strategy, builds on a decade of hydrogeological research and leverages UNDP’s extensive experience in groundwater development across Africa.  

GAFA was launched in Jigjiga in May 2024 and will be delivered with in-kind contributions from the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Somali Regional State, with technical support from World Vision. Implementation will be led by the UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa and the UNDP office in Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Somali Regional Government, and guided by a joint board and technical committee to ensure transparency, local ownership, and sustainability. Following a three-month inception period, the first drilling phase will begin in November 2025.

Contact Information: 

CIFF: Simeon Ogamba, Senior WASH manager, Sogamba@ciff.org

UNDP Resilience Hub: Water Partnership Specialist, desire.sengoga@undp.org

UNDP Ethiopia: communication.et@undp.org

About UNDP: UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. www.undp.org. 

About CIFF: The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) is the world’s largest philanthropy focused on improving children’s lives. CIFF funds high-impact solutions across child health and development, climate, SRHR, girl capital and child protection, working with partners worldwide. www.ciff.org

Get in touch:               X @UNDPResilience @UNDPEthiopia @CIFFchild

More resources:          Our work |