The SWALIM project has been implemented since inception as a continuum of objectives and activities leading towards empowering selected Somali institutions to achieve self-sufficiency in their capacity to generate and manage natural resources information.

SWALIM grew out of a concept paper developed in late 2001 and became operational under an establishment phase (funded by Cooperazione Italiana) implemented throughout 2002. The project has since grown through six phases, from Phase I (funded by the European Community) which was started in 2003, to the current Phase VI, which began in November 2018 and run for four years (2018 - 2022). Throughout its early phases, SWALIM recovered as much lost data as possible, searching for existing information sources in Somalia and around the world. In the course of its successive stages, SWALIM has re-established the necessary baseline data and supported the development of core infrastructure to enable effective water and land management. This has been supplemented by producing baseline information through wide-ranging and ongoing assessments to document the current state of natural resources. The project has also re-established data collection networks in collaboration with partner agencies to facilitate better monitoring and assessment of rainfall, river flows, and available groundwater resources, as well as land use, soil characteristics and land use suitability. At the same time, SWALIM studies and monitors natural resources degradation and has improved systems of flood and drought early warning and response management.