RAAS - Rainwater Association of Somalia

The Rainwater Association of Somalia (RAAS) is non-governmental, not-for-profit and non-partisan national membership association that brings together with individuals/institutions of diverse professional backgrounds shared with a common vision of sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic developments equal to all people in Somalia. It was officially formed on 16th June 2005 and legally registered with the federal government of Somalia on 20th July 2005. In Somali language, the acronym of the Association (RAAS) has two useful meanings for the social and economic life of the Somali people. It first denotes “HABITATION” and secondly “FAMILY”.

RAAS is a member of the larger regional and global networks including the Greater Horn of Africa Rainwater Partnership (GHARP), which brings together with national rainwater associations of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania. It is also a memeber of the Southern & Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (Sear-Net) which brings together national rainwater associations in Eastern & Southern Africa countries including GHARP. RAAS is also member of International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA), Global Water Partnership (GWP), Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Earth Charter International (ECI), Freshwater Action Network (FAN), African Civil Society Network on Water & Sanitation (ANEW), Gender and Water Alliance (GWA), World Toilet Organization (WTO), Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) & Arab Countries Water Utility Association (ACWUA).

Finally, RAAS is an active member of the larger humanitarian co-ordination structures in Somalia since 2005 and partner with several UN-Agencies and international NGOs including but not limited to UNICEF, FAO, WFP, IOM, UNHCR, ICRAF and RAIN-Foundation-Netherland. In conclusion, RAAS has an effective working relation and partnership with line institutions of the federal government of Somalia, federal member states, district adminstrations and grassroot community organisations and leaders

Vision: Sustainable livelihoods and socio-economic developments equal to all people

Mission: To improve food security, WASH, nutrition, health and sustainable natural resources management through promotion of integrated natural resource management with complementary good governance, social enterprise, climate resilient/market oriented technologies and services in partnership with other stakeholders to meet the sustainable development goals in Somalia by 2030

OBJECTIVES

To enhance the capacity of beneficiary communities in project planning and implementation to ensure ownership, sustainability, transparency and accountability to communities, government and donors

To promote implementation, development and replication of integrated natural resource management programs with complementary climate resilient and market-oriented technologies for improved livelihoods, food security, nutrition, health, WASH and environmental sustainability

To promote gender and human rights mainstreaming, community-based conflict resolution mechanisms and linking existed traditional systems to the conventional rule of laws and good governance

To promote publicity, advocacy and support for the development of appropriate policies, strategies, technologies and guidelines to improve social services and natural resources management

To promote and sustain networking, collaboration and partnership at national/global levels

To provide technical support, consultancy services and capacity building integrated natural resource management to NGOs, CBOs, private sector, government institutions and other development partners

To promote research, technology development and disseminations of integrated natural resource management with complementary climate resilient and market-oriented technologies