As climate change impacts and droughts intensify across the Horn of Africa, the World Bank has approved a $35 million grant for the Government of Djibouti. This funding is dedicated to the “Djibouti Groundwater Resilience and Water Supply Project” (DJIRESA), which primarily aims to address the severe water scarcity seen in the country’s rural areas.
Currently, water supply coverage for rural residents in Djibouti stands at only 47 percent; this project is expected to provide clean drinking water to 127,000 people and build climate change resilience for an additional 167,000 individuals.
This initiative in Djibouti is part of a broader $455 million Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Program, which includes Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. Djibouti is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with renewable water resources currently estimated at just 185 cubic meters per person per year.
This falls significantly below the 500 cubic meter threshold considered essential for basic living, exposing the country to high economic risks. According to World Bank estimates, drought alone can reduce Djibouti’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by as much as 4 percent.
Beyond expanding infrastructure, the project focuses on resolving long-standing water management challenges.
This includes rehabilitating rural water facilities that have fallen into disrepair due to technical gaps, establishing modern operational systems, and building the capacity of government institutions.
The plan also includes creating a national groundwater information system and linking that data with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to strengthen the management of transboundary water resources. Djibouti’s Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, stated that this investment plays a vital role in addressing water issues essential to the well-being of citizens and the country’s overall development.
