Who We Are
The Rainwater Association of Somalia (RAAS) is a non-governmental and not-for-profit
Who We Are
The Rainwater Association of Somalia (RAAS), a non-governmental, not-for-profit national membership association that brings together with individuals and institutions of diverse professional backgrounds including NGOs, CBOs, private sector, academia and research institutions shared with 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 global networks including the Greater Horn of Africa Rainwater Partnership (GHARP), Southern & Eastern Africa Rainwater Network (Sear-Net), International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA), Global Water Partnership (GWP), Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Rural Water Supply Network (RWSN), 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), Ecosystem Service Partnership (ESP), Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA) and UN Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN).
RAAS has been active member of the larger humanitarian & development co-ordination structures in Somalia since 2006 and effectively coordinate its work with the relevant clusters including WASH, Food Security, Nutrition, Health, Protection, Shelter Clusters and Area Based Coordination (ABC). It also has close working relation and partnership with the line government institutions including the Ministry of Water & Energy, Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation, Ministry of Livestock, Forestry And Range, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Ministry of Health & Human Services, Ministry of Women & Human Rights Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Labor and Social affairs, Ministry of Education & Culture, Ministry of Public Works & Housing, Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs & Reconciliation, Ministry of Planning & International Cooperation at both levels of the federal government and federal member states, as well as the Municipal Authorities, Grassroots Organizations and Elders.
In conclusion, since 2006 RAAS has been working with several UN-Agencies and international NGOs including UNICEF, FAO, WFP, IOM, UNHCR, ICRAF, Aid Environment/RAIN-Foundation-Netherland and International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA)
