Introduction

The Somaliland Natural Resources Research & Database Center (SNRRDC) is a national initiative under the Ministry of Investment and Industrial Development (MOIID), hosted within the Ministry’s Department of Research & Development. The SNRRDC will serve as a central hub for research and data on Somaliland’s natural resources, directly supporting resource governance, evidence-based investment decisions, and informed policy-making. By consolidating critical data and conducting targeted research, the Center will enable the government to manage natural resources more sustainably and attract investors through transparent, reliable information. This proposal outlines the Center’s core objectives, structure, functions, first-year plan, resource needs, and budget requirements for consideration by government leadership.

Objectives and National Scope

The SNRRDC’s mission is to strengthen national capacity in managing and utilizing natural resources through data-driven research and knowledge sharing. Its core objectives include:

• Centralize Natural Resource Data: Establish a comprehensive national database for all key natural resource sectors, ensuring data is collected, verified, and accessible to support planning and decision-making.
• Support Sustainable Resource Governance: Provide research and analysis that help government agencies formulate policies and regulations for responsible resource management and environmental protection.
• Facilitate Investment and Development: Supply potential investors and policymakers with up-to-date data on resources (e.g. minerals, land, water) to inform project feasibility, promote industrial development, and encourage investment in Somaliland.
• Enhance Policy Formulation: Serve as an in-house “think tank” that produces policy briefs and advisory reports, ensuring that laws, regulations, and development plans related to natural resources are grounded in evidence.
• National Coverage and Collaboration: Operate with a national scope, covering all regions of Somaliland and working across ministries. The Center will collaborate with relevant line ministries (Water, Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Minerals, etc.), academia, and regional authorities to gather data and share findings, thereby avoiding silos and ensuring one authoritative source of data for the country.

Key Functions

To achieve its objectives, the SNRRDC will carry out several key functions:

• Data Collection & Management: Design and implement standardized methods to collect existing data from various sources (government ministries, surveys, historical reports) and continually gather new data. All information will be cleaned, verified, and stored in a centralized database for easy retrieval.
• Research & Analysis: Conduct in-depth research studies and assessments on natural resource topics. This includes analyzing trends, evaluating resource potential and usage, and assessing environmental and socio-economic impacts. Research findings will be published in reports or briefs to guide policy and investment decisions.
• GIS Mapping & Spatial Analysis: Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map natural resources and related variables across Somaliland. The Center will produce maps and spatial datasets (e.g. mineral maps, groundwater maps, land use maps) that visually inform planners and investors about resource locations and conditions.
• Policy Advisory & Knowledge Sharing: Translate data and research results into actionable policy advice. SNRRDC will prepare policy briefs, technical guidance notes, and recommendations for government leadership. It will also organize knowledge-sharing events (seminars, workshops) to disseminate findings to stakeholders and the public.
• Database Platform Services: Maintain an online platform or portal where key data can be accessed by authorized stakeholders. Over time, this may evolve into a public-facing open data portal on Somaliland’s natural resources, increasing transparency and attracting scholarly and commercial interest.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Act as a coordinating body that brings together stakeholders in natural resource sectors. The Center will convene inter-ministerial meetings, roundtables with private sector and community representatives, and serve as a reference point for any initiatives related to natural resource data and research in Somaliland.

Focus Sectors (Database Scope)

The SNRRDC will take a multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral approach, building a national database that covers all major natural resource sectors of Somaliland. Key sectors and data domains include:

• Minerals & Mining: Geological surveys, mineral occurrence data, mining site information, and potential petroleum or extractives data. The Center will catalogue Somaliland’s mineral resources (such as industrial minerals, gemstones, etc.) and provide data useful for mining policy and investment promotion.
• Water Resources: Data on surface water (rivers, dams), groundwater (aquifer maps, borehole yields, water quality), rainfall and hydrological records. This supports water security planning, irrigation development, and drought management.
• Land Use & Agriculture: Land use maps, soil data, arable land distribution, crop production statistics, and rangeland conditions. Such data will aid agricultural policy, land management, and food security planning.
• Energy Resources: Information on both renewable and non-renewable energy resources. This includes solar and wind energy potential maps, biomass resources, as well as any data on oil/gas explorations or geothermal sites. These data inform energy investment opportunities and rural energy planning.
• Environment & Ecology: Environmental indicators and natural ecosystems data – e.g. forest cover, biodiversity records, wildlife habitats, climate data, land degradation hot spots, and protected areas. Tracking these supports environmental conservation efforts and climate resilience policies.
• Other Related Domains: The Center may also incorporate data on infrastructure related to resource sectors(like irrigation canals, mining infrastructure, etc.) and socio-economic data pertinent to natural resource use (such as population distribution in resource-rich areas), to enable integrated analysis.

By covering these sectors at a national level, SNRRDC ensures that Somaliland’s leaders have a holistic view of the country’s natural assets and the information needed to manage them sustainably.