In October 2025, Somalia delivered its first‑ever nationwide Humanitarian Logistics Tabletop Exercise (TTX), organized by Logistics Cluster, led by the World Food Program in collaboration with the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MoHADM) at the state level. The three‑day exercise convened 50 participants from government institutions, UN agencies, international and national NGOs, and frontline responders. It reinforced national ownership of preparedness, improved inter‑agency coordination, and produced a clear, actionable road map to strengthen Somalia’s humanitarian supply chain, marking a transformative moment in the country’s journey toward enhanced emergency preparedness and localized response capacity.
Context & Objectives
The TTX was designed to test coordination and decision-making under pressure, identify operational bottlenecks, and co-create practical solutions tailored to Somalia’s context. Objectives included:
- Clarifying the Logistics Cluster’s mandate and tools.
- Building a network of first responders.
- Reflecting on systemic challenges and opportunities; and
- Agreeing on collective priorities and quick wins for preparedness and response.
Participation & Representation
A diverse group of partners participated, with strong representation from government authorities, UN agencies, and NGOs. The table below summarizes the composition of participants.
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Three Days of Learning, Innovation, and Collective Action
Day 1 – Simulation, Coordination, and Decision-Making Under Pressure
Participants engaged in a multi-phase emergency simulation requiring rapid needs assessment, resource mobilization, and coordinated decision-making. The exercise exposed real-world challenges, communication bottlenecks, access constraints, and resource limitations, while reinforcing unified coordination and shared action planning.
Day 2 – Somalia’s Preparedness Landscape: From Gaps to Solutions
Using a flood scenario, partners analyzed current capacities and co-created the ideal future state across four areas: Coordination, Partnerships, Logistics Infrastructure, and Information Management. The process yielded tangible, context-specific solutions including improved SOPs, strengthened strategic storage hubs, enhanced data-sharing tools, and inclusive partnerships with local actors.
Day 3 – Global Logistics Meeting (GLM): Turning Insights into Strategy
Somalia’s first GLM convened stakeholders to address systemic challenges, funding, access, duplication, customs clearance, and coordination gaps. Partners co-designed a national advocacy and action plan focused on collaborative logistics solutions, unified donor messaging, strengthened government engagement, and measures to increase efficiency, innovation, and reduce fragmentation. Outputs contribute to the Global Logistics Cluster Strategy.
Participants Voice: Powerful Validation
The training received an average rating of 4.76/5 from 33 respondents (67% response rate), notably 88% were first-time TTX participants. Participants described the exercise as “practical, realistic, and deeply relevant, a reminder that “logistics depends on teamwork, communication, and planning,” and “an opportunity to build trust and partnerships across agencies and government.”
Impact: Strengthening Somalia’s Humanitarian Supply Chain
- A stronger network of national and sub-national first responders.
- Improved understanding of Logistics Cluster tools, systems, and processes.
- Clear priorities for enhancing preparedness ahead of future shocks.
- A collaborative action plan addressing access, storage, transport, customs, and coordination challenges.
- Greater national ownership and localized leadership in humanitarian logistics.
Collective Priorities & Solutions Agreed
1. Improve Physical Access and Infrastructure
- Rehabilitation of critical roads and bridges in Beletweyne, Bardhere, Dollow, and Bula-Burte.
- Utilize findings from the road feasibility study to test alternative transport routes and expand coverage beyond Southwest Somalia.
- Advocate for full border openings and streamlined customs clearance in Mandera, Liboi, and Dhobley.
2. Strengthen Storage and Transport Capacity
- Establish shared humanitarian warehousing networks and intermediate hubs in Kismayo, Dhobley, Dollow, Beletweyne, Garowe, and Baidoa.
- Maintain a contingency transporter roster for rapid deployment during emergencies.
- Advocate funding for air transport options (including helicopters) and collaborate with private sector transport providers.
3. Procurement
- Develop an inter-organisation procurement plan to harmonize sourcing and reduce duplication.
- Conduct market assessments for price monitoring and cost efficiency.
- Maintain a vendor list to streamline supplier engagement and ensure reliability.
4. Enhance Coordination and Information Management
- Develop a national logistics data platform for emergency forecasting, weather monitoring, and operational planning.
- Encourage partners to share warehouse capacity information to optimize resource utilization.
- Establish a unified coordination mechanism to reduce duplication and streamline emergency response.
Broader Action Plan
- Policy & Advocacy: Push for blanket tax clearance for humanitarian cargo during emergencies and mobilize donor/private-sector support for logistics investments.
- Preparedness & Training: Cascade Logistics Cluster Induction (LCI) to field staff, replicate TTX and GLM in other regions, and preposition emergency stocks in strategic hubs.
- Innovation & Sustainability: Promote solar-powered facilities to reduce operational costs and ensure cold chain continuity.
- Cross-Border Operations: Strengthen the Dobley logistics hub and explore additional corridors via Kenya and Ethiopia to improve access to Southern Somalia.
Appreciation and Acknowledgement
This success was made possible through the leadership of Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MOHADMA), and the strong collaboration of Somalia Logistics Cluster partners from government institutions, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, and the private sector. The closing remarks delivered by Mr. Marco Selva, WFP Somalia Deputy Country Director, and the distribution of participation certificates highlighted the commitment and collective achievements of all partners.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our esteemed donors, whose generous support enabled the successful planning and delivery of this first‑of‑its‑kind national exercise. In particular, the contributions of ECHO and USAID played a vital role in strengthening Somalia’s humanitarian logistics capacity and making this event a reality. Their continued investment in preparedness and coordination remains essential to advancing a more efficient and locally driven humanitarian response across Somalia.
Looking Ahead
Partners will continue aligning preparedness actions with strategic priorities, strengthen coordination with government and donors, and replicate the training model across regions. Implementing the agreed priorities will enhance emergency readiness, reduce duplication, and improve access to hard-to-reach populations.
For more information, visit the Somalia Logistics Cluster webpage.