Month: January 2026

Building DoorashoKaab: A Civic Tech Platform for Inclusive Electoral Participation

January 28, 2026 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Civic Education, Participatory Democracy

Somalia’s electoral processes remain highly fragile, marked by recurring delays, limited transparency, and low public trust in democratic institutions. Decades after the collapse of centralized governance, the country has yet to implement a nationwide one-person-one-vote electoral system. Instead, participation continues to be constrained by a complex indirect voting structure, ongoing insecurity, deeply rooted patriarchal norms, and the widespread absence of civic education—particularly among young people.

This challenge is especially significant considering that youth account for more than 75% of Somalia’s population. Despite their demographic majority, Somali youth remain marginalized and largely excluded from electoral decision-making, placing the country among those with the lowest levels of youth political participation globally. Although youth-led activism has been steadily growing, their involvement in formal electoral processes remains limited. Even where democratic local elections have been conducted, youth participation has often been symbolic rather than substantive.

At the same time, Somalia faces a growing digital divide that further complicates civic engagement. The country lacks the digital tools and infrastructure necessary to empower meaningful youth participation in democratic processes. High levels of digital illiteracy, limited access to reliable information, and the increasing spread of disinformation continue to undermine democratic progress and public trust in electoral institutions.

Introducing DoorashoKaab: A Civic Technology Solution

In response to these challenges, Bareedo Platform—an initiative committed to strengthening civic engagement and democratic participation—has launched the development of DoorashoKaab, a civic technology platform designed to promote and strengthen meaningful youth participation in Somalia’s electoral processes.

The initiative is supported by AfricTivistes, a pan-African organization dedicated to promoting democracy, digital rights, and civic engagement across the continent. Through this partnership, DoorashoKaab aims to address key barriers to participation, including the lack of accessible civic education, limited youth engagement, low trust in electoral institutions, and the growing problem of electoral disinformation.

DoorashoKaab is envisioned as a digital civic space that will provide accessible voter education, reliable electoral information, and tools for citizen engagement, ensuring that Somali youth are better informed and able to participate meaningfully in democratic processes.

Youth Consultations to Shape the Platform

To ensure that the platform reflects the needs and realities of Somali youth, Bareedo Platform organized four consultation sessions in Garowe, Galkacyo, and Mogadishu in January 2026. More than 80 youth participants took part in the discussions, offering valuable insights on the platform’s features, design, content needs, and accessibility.

These consultations played a critical role in shaping the development of DoorashoKaab. Participants emphasized that the platform should focus primarily on civic education, voter information, and real-time reporting of electoral incidents. In addition, the platform should serve as a central hub for general updates and information related to elections across Somalia, covering both federal and state-level electoral processes.

Key Recommendations from Youth Participants

The youth consultations generated a number of important recommendations that will guide the development of the platform:

  • Accessible Civic Education: DoorashoKaab should prioritize civic education content, voter guidance, and reliable election updates in a simple and understandable format, particularly in the Somali language.
  • Low-Bandwidth Optimization: Given Somalia’s connectivity challenges, the platform must function effectively in low-bandwidth environments and remain accessible in areas with limited internet connectivity.
  • Inclusive Communication Formats: To reach citizens who cannot read or have limited literacy skills, the platform should include simplified election information delivered through animations or audio explanations.
  • Lightweight Content: Participants recommended avoiding large or heavy files such as high-resolution videos that could slow down the platform or limit accessibility.
  • Transparent Resources: Any documents uploaded to the platform—such as election policies, procedures, and guidelines—should clearly indicate their source or owner. The platform should also allow users to report outdated documents.
  • Downloadable Resources: Educational materials, electoral guidelines, and other resources should be downloadable so users can access them offline on their mobile devices.
  • Secure and Confidential Reporting: The platform should allow users to report election-related incidents anonymously or by name, while ensuring that personal information such as names and contact details is not publicly displayed.
  • Youth Advisory Mechanism: Participants recommended establishing a youth advisory committee and discussion forums to further promote citizen engagement and digital innovation in electoral participation.
  • Data and Accountability: DoorashoKaab should publish quarterly or annual bulletins presenting data on platform usage, civic engagement trends, challenges, and improvements. These reports could help inform policymakers and stakeholders about the progress of youth participation in elections.
  • Impartial and Inclusive Governance: To maintain trust, the platform must remain impartial, fair, and accessible to all federal member states. It should avoid influence or manipulation by political actors.
  • Civil Society Ownership: Participants strongly emphasized that the platform should be managed and maintained by Bareedo Platform in collaboration with civil society and youth groups. Transferring full control to government electoral bodies could risk ineffective maintenance, reduced transparency, or potential manipulation of information.

Moving Forward

Bareedo Platform will incorporate the insights and recommendations gathered during the consultations into the ongoing development of DoorashoKaab. The goal is to build a civic technology platform that is accessible, inclusive, secure, and responsive to the needs of Somali youth.

By leveraging digital tools to provide credible information, civic education, and citizen reporting mechanisms, DoorashoKaab has the potential to strengthen democratic participation and rebuild trust in electoral processes in Somalia.

The consultation process was led by a team headed by Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Hassan, a civic education expert with over 14 years of experience in civic education, community outreach, and electoral processes. His leadership ensured that the discussions were grounded in both practical electoral experience and the realities facing Somali youth today.

As Somalia continues its gradual path toward democratic reform, initiatives like DoorashoKaab demonstrate how civic technology can play a transformative role in bridging the gap between citizens and democratic institutions—particularly for the country’s largest and most dynamic demographic: its youth.

A Multi-Channel Public Awareness Campaign for Rights, Protection, and Dignity of Migrant Workers in Bossaso, Puntland, Somalia

January 5, 2026 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Promotion of Migrants’ Rights

Bossaso, the largest commercial and port city in Puntland State of Somalia, serves as a critical hub along the Eastern Migration Route, functioning both as a transit point and destination for migrants traveling between the Horn of Africa and the Gulf. The city hosts tens of thousands of migrant workers, primarily from Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, and several Asian countries, many of whom are in irregular situations and face heightened vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, trafficking, and labour rights violations.

In a city that serves as a critical migration hub, ensuring that migrant workers have access to accurate information, protection services, and their fundamental rights is more important than ever. Through a comprehensive media and outreach campaign in Bossaso, Bareedo Platform, supported by International Labour Organization (ILO) under the Better Regional Migration Management (BRMM) Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), implemented a multi-channel approach that brought vital information directly to migrant communities, host populations, and key stakeholders.

Taking Awareness to the Streets and Neighborhoods

At the heart of the campaign were five targeted outreach missions conducted across migrant-dense neighborhoods and strategic locations, including Mareero, Suweyto, Bossaso Port areas, markets, recruitment agencies, the Migration Response Center (MRC), and police stations. These missions ensured that information reached people where they live and work.

Over 2,000 multilingual IEC materials—produced in Somali, Amharic, Arabic, and English—were distributed, making information accessible to diverse migrant groups. More than 1,950 individuals were directly reached through these efforts.

Beyond distribution, outreach teams engaged communities through on-the-spot sensitization, raising awareness about migrant workers’ rights, safe recruitment, and available protection services. These activities also strengthened visibility of the campaign and generated valuable feedback from migrants and community members.

Amplifying Voices Through Media

To expand reach beyond physical locations, the campaign leveraged both traditional and digital media. Three local FM radio stations—Dalmar Radio, Radio SBC, and Barkulan TV—broadcast five multilingual awareness messages twice daily over a 30-day period, ensuring continuous and wide-reaching dissemination.

In parallel, three high-reach online media personalities, alongside Bareedo Platform’s social media channels, drove a coordinated digital campaign using 15 awareness posters. This effort generated 450 direct online engagements and reached an estimated 20,000+ people.

Creating Lasting Visibility and Access

The campaign also prioritized visibility and sustainability. A total of 300 posters were installed across migrant-populated areas and key service locations such as the MRC. Additionally, five billboards were strategically placed at major entry and exit points, including Bossaso port, airport, and checkpoints.

To ensure continued access to information, 500 migrant welcome kits were produced and integrated into MRC services, while IEC materials were embedded into referral systems and waiting areas. Feedback boxes installed at the MRC further created channels for ongoing engagement and service improvement.

Substantial Campaign Impact

These multichannel campaigns increased awareness among migrant workers, host communities and service providers on International Labour Standards, migrant rights, and protection mechanisms; promoted peaceful coexistence and social cohesion; and strengthened institutional coordination and accountability in migration governance.

The outreach activities, and the widespread dissemination of multilingual IEC materials, addressed low levels of awareness among migrant workers, host communities, and key stakeholders, leading to improved understanding of migrants’ rights, International Labour Standards, and available protection mechanisms.

These campaigns also mitigated widespread misinformation, discrimination, and negative perceptions toward migrant workers through media engagement, community dialogue, and public awareness campaigns, promoting more accurate, balanced, and rights-based narratives.

This integrated approach combining direct outreach, media engagement, and public visibility, demonstrates how multi-channel communication can effectively bridge information gaps, reduce vulnerability, and strengthen protection systems for migrant workers.

By meeting people where they are—on the streets, on the airwaves, and online—the campaign not only raised awareness but also built trust, improved access to services, and laid the foundation for more inclusive and responsive migration governance in Bossaso.

#MigrantRights #SafeMigration #Bossaso #ILO #BRMM #MigrationProtection