Background

The Somali Regional State is situated in the southeastern part of Ethiopia bordering Somalia Republic, Kenya and Djibouti. It is in east and southeastern part of Ethiopia between 4 degree to 11-degree N latitude and 40 degree to 48 degree to E longitude. The Republic of Djibouti and Afar Region bound it in the north, in the south by Kenya, in the east and Southeast by the Republic of Somalia and in the West by Oromia Region. It is the second largest Regional State of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia with an estimated area of 327,068 km². The region has 11 administrative zones, 95 Districts and 6 city administration councils. The Somali Region has a total population of 7,445,219, consisting of 3,472,490 men and 3,972,729 women; urban inhabitants are 1,489,044 or 20% of the population, a further 5,956,175 or 80% are pastoralists and farmers (CSA, 2007). The has over 40 million livestock population that constitute cattle, sheep, goat, donkeys, poultry and beehives (CSA, 2022)

Somali region is endowed with huge natural resources that constitute livestock, water, forestry, minerals, and energy sectors. The region’s geographical location near to the seaports of  Somalia and Djibouti, namely ports of Berbera, Bosaso, Mugadhisho, Kismayo   and Djibouti  which are located  150- 500 Miles  away from                               the region is an opportunity for rewarding investment  in the areas of education and health service   and related sectors to  the neighboring countries of Djibouti, Somalia and Kenya.

The region has some perennial rivers that include Wabi-Shebelle, Genalle, Dawa and Weyib. It also has other smaller seasonal rivers such as Erer, Yerer, Daketa, Fafen. However, the rivers are not evenly distributed in the region. It is estimated that these rivers can irrigate over 650,000 ha of land of which currently only some 1.5% is irrigated. There are also major underground water sources around Jigjiga and Kebridehar.

The region is said to have two generalized major climatic zones, namely, hot arid and semi-arid climatic zones.  About 60-80% of the region falls within hot arid climate with mean annual temperatures of about 23^oc to 30^oc and a mean annual rainfall of less than 200 mm.  The hot semi-arid climate occupies areas adjacent to the high grounds of the eastern plateau.  This zone is said to have a mean annual temperatures of about 18^oc to 27^oc and mean annual rainfall of 400 – 800 mm.  The rainfall is said to be highly variable and evaporation usually exceeds the rainfall.

The Somali Region can be further divided into six agro-ecological zones namely, Hot to warm arid lowland plains (A1),Tepid to cool and mid highlands (A2),Hot to warm sub-moist lowlands (Sm1),Tepid to cool sub-moist mid highlands (Sm2), Hot to warm moist lowlands (m1), and Tepid to cool mid highlands (m2). The major crops that can be grown in the region include the following:-Cereal crops (maize, sorghum, millet and wheat), Oil crops (groundnut, sesame & castor oil), Pulses (pigeon pea, chickpea and mung bean), Industrial crops (cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, sisal), Vegetables and fruits (green bean, sweet potato, muskmelon, asparagus, banana, papaya and grapes), Flowers, forest products etc. There is a tremendous improvement in the transport, communication and access financial institution. Eight out of the eleven zones are connected with Asphalt roads and the remaining are under construction. About 90% of the districts have access to mobile phones and banking and microfinance services. Four cities, Jigjiga, Gode, Kabridahar and Shinile have access to air transport service.