Meaningful democracy requires the meaningful participation of youth. Young people have much to offer societies – from innovation to creativity to new thinking. Their participation in democracy promotes active citizenship, strengthens social responsibility and can enhance democratic processes and institutions. Yet young people’s engagement with democracy faces significant challenges – threatening the ongoing political transformation in Somalia.
Bossaso, the busies port city of Puntland in Somalia stands at a critical crossroads of opportunity and vulnerability. As one of Somalia’s most important migration hubs along the Eastern Migration Route, it hosts tens of thousands of migrant workers—many fleeing conflict, poverty, or instability from Ethiopia, Yemen, Syria, and several Asian countries. Despite their vital contribution to Bossaso’s economy, migrant workers face significant risks: irregular status, labour exploitation, gender-based violence, wage theft, trafficking, and arbitrary arrest.
In November 2025, Bareedo Platform Somalia, with support from the ILO under the BRMM Programme, launched an intensive series of community awareness workshops aimed at creating a safer, fairer environment for migrant workers in Bossaso. The initiative brought together migrant workers, host communities, employers, officials, CSOs, media actors, and religious leaders in an unprecedented effort to advance migrant rights, strengthen protection systems, and promote peaceful coexistence.
Bossaso’s strategic location has made it both a destination and transit hub for migration across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Migrant workers fuel key sectors including construction, health, telecommunications, hospitality, and domestic work. Yet the majority, specially Ethiopian, Yemeni, and Syrian migrants—remain undocumented, leaving them vulnerable to abuse, unsafe conditions, and exclusion from protection mechanisms.
Recent security operations against ISIS/Daesh in the Cal-Miskaad mountains in Bari region of Puntland, have also intensified risks, resulting in mass arrests, deportations, housing bans, and restrictions on movement. These crackdowns, though aimed at extremists, have had unintended consequences that worsened the humanitarian situation for thousands of migrants.
The workshops, held by Bareedo Platform in Bossaso, were designed to counter these challenges with information, dialogue, and shared solutions.
Over a series of five community awareness sessions between 11–17 November 2025, Bareedo Platform convened 300 participants across diverse sectors: Migrant workers (regular and irregular), host community members from migrant-dense areas, employers and business owners, government authorities (labour, immigration, police, municipalities), CSOs, UN/INGOs, and human rights actors, media practitioners and influencers, and imams and traditional elders.
Workshops used a multilingual, community-centered approach with Somali, Amharic, Arabic, and English materials to ensure full accessibility.
Techniques included guided group discussions, real-life case analysis, rights education, and collaborative solution-building.
The discussions painted a detailed picture of the migrant experience in Bossaso:
Despite the scale and complexity of challenges identified, the workshops led to significant progress, demonstrating genuine commitment and meaningful shifts in attitudes across all participant groups:
Participants put forward a set of practical, rights-centered recommendations aimed at strengthening migrant protection systems and transforming the migration landscape in Puntland:
The workshops underscore that protecting migrant workers is not solely a policy issue—it is a shared moral, economic, and societal responsibility. Migrant labour keeps Bossaso’s economy running, yet the systems meant to safeguard them lag far behind. Bareedo Platform’s intervention generated hope, conversation, and commitment, but participants unanimously stressed that ongoing, long-term programming is needed.
Bossaso’s migrant workers deserve safety, dignity, and rights—not fear and exclusion. Through continued collaboration among government institutions, civil society, employers, communities, and international partners, Somalia can build a model for humane, fair, and sustainable migration governance.
#BRMM #SafeMigration #MigrantRightsSomalia #MigrantWorkers #FairRecruitment #DecentWork #Bossaso #Puntland #Somalia
Somalia remains one of the most corrupt countries globally, operating under entrenched secrecy with minimal public access to open data. However, a new wave of hope and activism is emerging.
On March 5, 2025, with support from the Open Knowledge Foundation, Bareedo Platform hosted a milestone event in Garowe, Somalia, to mark Open Data Day (ODD) 2025, a global event celebrated annually during the first week of March.
The conference, titled “Somalia Open Data Day 2025: Unlocking Transparency,” aimed to champion the effective adoption of open data initiatives by the Somali government to promote transparency, accountability, good governance, and collaborative, evidence-driven policymaking. It also emphasized the role of open data in fighting corruption, enhancing service delivery, and strengthening Somalia’s democratic processes.
A Strong Gathering of Diverse Stakeholders
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, more than 27 participants attended including representatives from major government institutions such as the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics, Puntland’s Department of Statistics, the National Procurement Board, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation of Puntland State, the Ministry of Finance, and members of the Puntland Parliament.
Civil society organizations showed strong participation, with groups like Puntland NGO Network (PUNTNGO), Somali Relief and Development Organization, Midnimo Women Network, Somali Earth Volunteers, Iskalaji Cultural and Awareness Agency (ICAA), Y-PEER Somalia, Ayaan Initiatives, Hawa Feminist Coalition, Horn Vision, Center for Peace, Conflict and Elections (CPCE), Somali Youth Federation, Horn Orama, Kaalo Aid and Development Organization, Center for Prevention of Violent Extremisms Somalia (CPVESOM), Puntland Research and Development Center (PDRC), and Puntland Lawyers Association among the attendees. Media outlets such as Puntland TV & Radio, Daljir Media, Women in Media Initiatives (WIMISOM), Somali Women Journalists’ Rights Association (SOWJRA), Somali Click, and Somali Open Internet Chapter were also present, underscoring the media’s crucial role in promoting open data.
Opening the Conversation and Discussion
The event opened with welcoming remarks about the significance of Open Data Day. Mr. Abdirahman Hassan, a researcher at Bareedo Platform, delivered a comprehensive presentation on Somalia’s open data landscape, highlighting key achievements and challenges.
Major successes include:
Persistent challenges include:
Insights from the Participants
During the discussion sessions:
Discussions, Recommendations, and Action Items
Participants discussed and proposed actionable strategies, including:
Special acknowledgment was given to government bodies like the Ministry of Finance, Puntland Parliament, and Ministry of Health for making significant steps toward data transparency. Puntland Parliament was particularly praised for opening legislative processes to citizens.
Next Steps and Future Plans
The Open Data Day 2025 in Somalia was not merely a celebration but a launchpad for action toward a transparent and accountable future.
Bareedo Platform committed to a series of follow-up initiatives, with a priority on establishing the Somali Open Data Networking Forum as proposed. They pledged to continue working closely with stakeholders to provide resources, develop policies, and create collaboration opportunities to push forward the open data agenda.
The event concluded with a strong collective call for continued commitment, collaboration, and greater citizen engagement to unlock the full potential of open data in Somalia.
Participants expressed deep appreciation to Bareedo Platform for organizing the impactful event and extended heartfelt thanks to the Open Knowledge Foundation for its critical support.
Follow us on hashtags: #OpenDataDay, #ODD25, and #BetterTogetherThanAlone
As part of the OML-MENA fellowship, supported by NELIS Global, an Agro-Pastoralism Caravan Raising Awareness was conducted in December 2024. The initiative aimed to address the increasing vulnerability of Somali pastoralist communities to climate change. The “Roob Raac” (“Rain Followers”), Somalia’s traditional pastoralist communities, are facing severe challenges due to climate change.
During the awareness-raising caravan in the Nugal region, Puntland, Somalia, OML-MENA champions and fellows engaged with grassroots herder communities to discuss the impact of rising temperatures on their lives and survival. Through these discussions, it became evident that the communities are experiencing extreme weather conditions, including recurrent droughts, water scarcity, and pasture degradation, which have led to severe livestock losses and displacement of pastoralist families.
The pastoralist communities highlighted that many households lost their livestock during the 2022 droughts, which followed five consecutive years of non-seasonal rains. The participants affirmed that their lives as pastoralists have drastically changed due to new and unfamiliar scenarios, including unpredictable and shortened rainfall seasons, as well as recurrent droughts leading to water scarcity.
It became clear that the pastoralist communities had limited knowledge about climate change, often perceiving it as divine punishment rather than a result of human actions. This lack of understanding has forced many pastoralists to abandon their traditional nomadic practices, leading to displacement into urban areas as an Internally Displaced Persons, further jeopardizing their way of life.
Through the caravan’s awareness-raising activities, information was shared with pastoralists about climate change and its impacts on their communities. They were also empowered with adaptive strategies, including agro-pastoral practices, to secure water and pasture during droughts.
The pastoral communities acknowledged that they lacked effective adaptation mechanisms to cope with recurrent droughts, rising temperatures, and water scarcity. Their only option has been to migrate to areas with available water and pasture, often resulting in further livestock losses and cultural abandonment as they move to urban areas. The caravan’s initiatives focused on enhancing resilience through knowledge dissemination, fostering market linkages, and promoting agro-pastoral adaptation strategies. Visual aids such as posters and illustrations were used to communicate these strategies, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage while adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
A four-session training was held in Garowe, Somalia, with over 25 selected champions participating in Phase 2 of the Leadership Challenge of the One Million Leaders Fellowship Program. The sessions were facilitated by OML-MENA Fellow and Rotary Peace Fellow Mr. Sharmarke and featured a special guest speaker, climate activist Mr. Abdikhay M. Hussein. The training introduced participants to the OML initiative, a global network dedicated to empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders. Guided by the vision of creating “One World in Harmony,” the program aims to build a community of leaders capable of driving sustainable change worldwide.
The in-person training was supported by TOC for Education, Inc. (TOCfE), a not-for-profit foundation (US 501c3) established in 1995. TOCfE applies a set of thinking processes and common-sense methodologies designed to logically identify and overcome key limitations that hinder communities from achieving a more sustainable world.
The training primarily focused on the impact of climate change on Somali pastoralists (nomads). Participants explored how droughts and famine have severely affected pastoralist communities by causing a lack of pasture and water, leading to the death of livestock and widespread displacement. These discussions highlighted the critical need for pastoralists to adapt to climate change in order to build resilience and ensure their resilience in the face of environmental shocks.
Participants engaged in problem analysis using methodologies such as the Problem Tree Analysis and Cloud Method to better understand the challenges faced by pastoralist communities. These tools helped clarify the causes and effects of droughts and enabled participants to identify obstacles and potential solutions for achieving a sustainable future for these communities.
Mr. Abdikhay Hussein, a climate activist, shared his practical experience on the vulnerability of Somali pastoralists to drought shocks in the face of climate crissi. He explained the traditional pastoralist lifestyle, where communities move from place to place with their livestock in search of pasture and water. This nomadic way of life, practiced by 60 percent of Somalia’s population, makes them particularly vulnerable to the increasing frequency and severity of droughts driven by climate change. The economic losses resulting from the death of livestock often lead to displacement as pastoralists seek new opportunities to sustain their families.
In recent years, Somalia has faced increasingly severe droughts, exacerbated by natural resource degradation and climate change. Rural communities, whose livelihoods are closely tied to weather patterns, are particularly affected. Since 2011, Somalia has experienced only one proper rainy season, leading to a prolonged crisis that has left millions facing food insecurity.
In the final part of the training, participants discussed strategies to promote solutions that support transforming the lives of pastoralists, making them more sustainable and resilient to droughts. Using problem-solving tools, particularly the Theory of Constraints (TOC) for Education, participants worked on developing sustainable solutions that combine traditional livestock rearing with modern farming practices. The goal is to build community resilience against climate shocks while preserving the cultural practices of pastoralist communities.
Finally, the training sessions provided participants with a deeper understanding of the OML initiative and the critical challenges faced by Somali pastoralists in the context of climate change. Through interactive discussions and problem-solving exercises, participants shared experience and discussed on actionable strategies to support pastoralist communities in adapting to environmental challenges and building a sustainable future.
Bareedo Platform Somalia, with the support of the Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP), conducted a two-day training in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia, from June 27 to 29, 2024, for over 42 civil society organizations from various regions of Somalia. In this training, Bareedo Platform trained them on how they can use Microsoft technology, software, and products provided for nonprofit organizations after they have received approval from Microsoft to use these products free of charge. They received training on utilizing Microsoft-provided security tools, which aid in preventing cyber-attacks, detecting and resolving threats, and responding to data breaches.
Bareedo Platform previously identified and recognized 91 civil society organizations, predominantly led by women human rights defenders, feminists, and minorities, as the most vulnerable to digital attacks and threats in Somalia. These groups have consistently faced severe digital attacks such as phishing, spyware, communication theft, surveillance, privacy breaches, censorship, and online harassment, which have significantly impacted their work. Their vulnerabilities mainly resulted from their lack of digital security knowledge and their use of insecure digital equipment and communication platforms, which made them more vulnerable to digital attacks.
Before this training, Bareedo Platform had been providing individual technical assistance for these civil society organizations for months to develop sustainable internal digital security policies and action plans to better respond to cybersecurity challenges and digital threats. The support included how these organizations could have access to Microsoft’s grants, donations, and discounted products and services specifically designed for nonprofit organizations, although these organizations could not afford to buy the expensive secure software and products.
With the technical assistance of Bareedo Platform, 40 out of 51 organizations that applied for Microsoft Nonprofit Solutions received approval from Microsoft to use their secure software and products free of charge or at a discounted price. Bareedo Platform conducted a two-day training for these organizations to teach them how to use the services provided by the Microsoft nonprofit to help them effectively protect themselves from digital threats.
With the use of Microsoft’s secure products and software, these civil society organizations, which have previously faced digital threats and attacks, can now keep their data safe from cyberattacks and help manage their network security.
As part of this project that is funded by Digital Defenders Partnership (DDP), Bareedo Platform previously conducted three-days long digital security awareness and training for 108 civil society organizations, human rights defenders, activists, and journalists in Somalia who have been facing digital attacks and risks. The training which was held from March 2, 2024 to March 4, 2024 in Garowe, Somalia and facilitated by a professional digital security expert, the participants learned the following digital knowledge and practices to respond to the digital security challenges they face in their work and daily lives.
Bareedo Platform also reached out to and provided direct digital security support for 49 NGO staff, human rights defenders, activists, and journalists across Somalia and also helped 21 civil society organizations, particularly those led by vulnerable groups such as women, feminists, minorities, and LGBTQ people, solve some immediate security threats and risks they have been facing digital threats throughout Somalia, as well as develop sustainable internal digital security policies and action plans to better respond to cybersecurity challenges and digital threats.
Bareedo Platform also developed the first draft of a digital risk assessment tool that will be available online for more than 10,000 civil society organizations, human rights defenders, activists, and journalists in Somalia to identify their online security strengths and weaknesses and get relevant recommendations and resources for improvement.
Bareedo Platform appreciates Puntland NGO Network (PUNTNGO), an umbrella body that brings together all registered local non-governmental and non-profit organizations (NGO) operating in Puntland, Somalia, for facilitation of the training, as well as their close collaboration on referral and bringing the most at-risk groups facing digital attacks to our attention.
