Global Partnership Call: Somalia Sustainable EcoLab & Climate Resilience Innovation Center

The Barako Foundation, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization focused on sustainable development, climate resilience, and community-led innovation in fragile and underserved regions, is seeking qualified international partners to collaborate on the development of the Somalia Climate Resilience EcoLab and Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Center in Laascaanood, Somalia.

This initiative aims to establish a regional environmental innovation and demonstration hub that will pilot and scale climate-resilient agricultural systems, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable land management practices designed specifically for arid and climate-vulnerable environments.

Somalia continues to face severe climate challenges including drought, land degradation, and food insecurity. The proposed EcoLab will function as a practical learning and innovation platform, enabling the testing, demonstration, and local adoption of sustainable technologies that strengthen community resilience and food systems.

The project will directly benefit over 3,000 community members, including farmers, youth, and local organizations, while providing broader regional impact through training, knowledge dissemination, and scalable environmental solutions.

Key components of the EcoLab include:

• Climate-resilient agriculture and regenerative farming systems

• Greenhouse and water-efficient irrigation technologies

• Soil restoration and sustainable land management practices

• Solar-powered agricultural systems and rural energy solutions

• Environmental education and community training programs

• Applied research and pilot programs for sustainable technologies

Barako Foundation is seeking international engineering firms, development consultancies, environmental research institutions, and technical organizations with expertise in:

• Climate adaptation and environmental engineering

• Sustainable agriculture and food system innovation

• Renewable energy and off-grid rural electrification

• Water resource management and irrigation technologies

• Environmental monitoring and climate risk assessment

• Capacity building and knowledge transfer in developing regions

Potential partnership structures may include:

• Consortium participation in development projects

• Technical advisory and engineering collaboration

• Joint project implementation

• Research and pilot technology partnerships

• Capacity building and institutional strengthening programs

Through this collaboration, Barako Foundation will provide local operational capacity, stakeholder coordination, regional access, and on-the-ground project implementation support in Somalia, while international partners contribute technical expertise, innovation, and global development experience.

The objective of this partnership is to develop a scalable model for climate-resilient development in fragile environments, with potential for replication across drought-affected regions in the Horn of Africa.

Organizations with demonstrated experience in donor-funded projects, climate resilience programs, environmental innovation, or sustainable infrastructure development in emerging markets are encouraged to express interest.