Category: Youth

Call for Applications: Digital Civic Ambassadors – Somalia

May 1, 2026 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Civic Tech, Democratisation, Participatory Democracy, Youth

Introduction

Electoral processes in Somalia remain fragile, marked by recurring delays, limited transparency, and low public trust in democratic institutions. The country has yet to fully implement a nationwide one-person-one-vote system, and participation continues to be constrained by a complex indirect electoral structure, ongoing insecurity, entrenched patriarchal norms, and limited access to civic education—particularly among youth, women, and marginalized communities.

Although young people make up over 75% of Somalia’s population, they remain significantly underrepresented in electoral decision-making and civic processes. Somalia ranks among the lowest globally in youth political participation. While youth-led activism is increasing, meaningful engagement in formal democratic processes remains limited. Even in contexts where local elections have taken place, participation has often been symbolic rather than substantive. In addition, the absence of accessible digital tools, high levels of digital illiteracy, limited access to reliable information, and the growing spread of misinformation continue to undermine inclusive democratic participation.

In response to these challenges, Bareedo Platform Somalia, a youth-led organization, has developed DoorashoKaab—a bilingual (Somali/English), user-friendly civic tech platform designed to empower Somali citizens with civic education, reliable voter information, and safe electoral incident reporting tools.

As part of its commitment to strengthening democratic participation and civic awareness across Somalia, Bareedo Platform is launching the Digital Civic Ambassadors and invites passionate Somali youth leaders to apply and become agents of change in their communities.

About Digital Civic Ambassadors

Digital Civic Ambassadors are young volunteers who lead grassroots, peer-to-peer civic and voter education initiatives within their communities. They play a vital role in promoting civic awareness and introducing the DoorashoKaab platform, helping expand its reach and impact across Somalia.

Who Are Digital Civic Ambassadors?

Civic Ambassadors are youth under the age of 35 who are:

  1. Passionate about civic engagement and community development;
  2. Committed to educating their peers on civic rights and responsibilities;
  3. Interested in promoting informed participation in democratic processes in Somalia;
  4. Active in using online platforms, including DoorashoKaab.

Training & Capacity Building

Selected ambassadors will participate in a structured and intensive training program delivered through the DoorashoKaab platform. The training includes:

  • Civic Ambassador Certification Course
  • Leadership and community engagement training
  • Core civic education modules
  • Digital literacy and misinformation awareness
  • Safe and ethical civic engagement practices
  • Hands-on training on using and promoting the DoorashoKaab platform

👉 Upon successful completion, participants will receive an official certification.

What Will Ambassadors Do?

After completing the training, Digital Civic Ambassadors will:

  1. Lead community-based civic education activities, including peer-to-peer learning sessions in their respective locations across Somalia;
  2. Promote and support the use of the DoorashoKaab platform at the grassroots level;
  3. Organize youth-focused civic and election-related discussions and awareness campaigns;
  4. Counter misinformation by sharing accurate and verified civic and voter information;
  5. Support communities in identifying and reporting false or misleading information;
  6. Coordinate their activities through the DoorashoKaab community network;
  7. Collect community insights and provide feedback to improve the platform and better respond to the needs of Somali citizens.

Why Join the Program?

As a Digital Civic Ambassador, you will:

  • Gain valuable leadership and communication skills
  • Receive certified training in civic engagement
  • Join a national network of young changemakers in Somalia
  • Contribute to democracy, transparency, and peacebuilding processes in Somalia
  • Build experience for future career and leadership opportunities

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be Somali youth aged 18–35 years;
  2. Have a strong interest in civic education and community engagement;
  3. Reside in Puntland, Jubaland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, Southwest, Northeast, or the Benadir region;
  4. Possess basic digital skills, including the use of smartphones and social media platforms;
  5. Be willing and able to commit time to training and community outreach activities in their respective locations.

How to Apply

To apply for the Digital Civic Ambassadors Program, please follow these steps:

  1. Complete the Online Application Form
  2. Submit a brief motivation statement explaining your interest in the program
  3. Upload a recent passport-size photo
  4. Wait for the selection and confirmation process. Shortlisted candidates will be officially invited to join the program and participate in the training.

📍 Location: Nationwide (Somalia)

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2026

📧 Contact: info@doorashokaab.org

🌐 Website: www.doorashokaab.org | www.bareedo.org

DoorashoKaab: Building Election Transparency Platform in Somalia

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

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.

Bareedo Platform Equips Young Feminist Activists in Somalia with Critical Digital Security Skills

June 30, 2025 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Women, Youth

On May 19, 2025, a powerful step toward safer digital spaces for young women in Somalia took place in Garowe. At the request of Hawa Feminist Coalition, a dynamic, youth-led feminist movement, Bareedo Platform delivered an intensive digital security training for 35 young feminist activists.

This initiative aimed to strengthen the capacity of emerging women leaders to navigate online risks, protect their digital identities, and continue their advocacy safely in an increasingly connected world.

Building Safer Digital Spaces for Women Activists

Women activists often face disproportionate risks online—ranging from harassment to targeted cyberattacks. Recognizing this reality, the training was carefully designed to address gender-specific digital vulnerabilities while equipping participants with practical, actionable skills. The training covered seven essential modules, each tailored to empower participants with knowledge and tools for digital resilience.

  1. Understanding Digital Risks and Online Threats: This session highlighted both the common and gender-specific risks women face online, emphasizing how gender-based vulnerabilities make women more frequent targets in digital spaces.
  2. Protecting and Securing Mobile Phones: Given the central role of mobile phones in daily communication and activism, this module focused on practical phone security.Participants learned how to create strong, secure passwords, adjust privacy and security settings, back up important data, use account recovery optionsand enable “Find My Phone” features. A live demonstration introduced essential tools such as antivirus software, permission management, Secure Folder, and Google Play Protect. Special emphasis was placed on avoiding harmful apps and carefully reviewing app permissions.
  3. Securing Messaging Apps and Email: Messaging platforms and email accounts are often entry points for cyber threats. This session provided hands-on guidance for securing commonly used tools. Participants practiced enabling two-factor authentication, strengthening passwords, configuring recovery options and identifying phishing messages and suspicious links. They also learned how to block and report abusive users, as well as how to respond safely to scam attempts.
  4. Securing Social Media Platforms: Social media plays a crucial role in activism, but it also exposes users to risks. This module focused on protecting accounts across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.Key topics included login alerts and notification settings, password security and authenticator apps, managing personal data visibility (age, location, contact details), controlling who can view posts, tags, and profiles. Participants were also trained to report and block harassment and impersonation, prevent misuse of personal content, including risks like non-consensual sharing as well as manage digital footprints by deleting location history and disconnecting third-party apps. A practical demonstration showed how to recover compromised accounts and regain control after security breaches.

Strengthening Feminist Leadership Through Digital Safety

This training was more than a technical workshop—it was an investment in the safety, confidence, and leadership of young feminist activists in Somalia. By equipping participants with essential digital security skills, Bareedo Platform and Hawa Feminist Coalition are helping to create a generation of women who can advocate boldly and safely, both online and offline.

As digital spaces continue to shape activism and social change, initiatives like this are critical in ensuring that women are not only present—but protected, empowered, and leading.

Bareedo Platform trains 42 at-risk civil society organizations on how to use the Microsoft nonprofit’s secure software and products in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia to improve their digital security capacity

July 14, 2024 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Digital Rights, Women, Youth

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.

Call for Champions Leadership Program 2024

June 18, 2024 bareedo Leave a comment All, Bareedo Core, Civic Education, Democratisation, Women, Youth, Youth Promotion Awareness Rising

Background

Somalia has one of the world’s largest young populations, with 75 percent of its population under 30 years old. While young people represent the majority in Somali society, continuing unrest, conflict, and socioeconomic and political exclusion have left them with psychological wounds and multiple roadblocks to adulthood.

This leadership training challenge is part of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Fellowship Program, a flagship project supported by NELIS—Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability. The Fellowship Program aimed to equip one million NexGen leaders and social innovators with the required skills to lead positive and sustainable change in their regions by 2030.

Many young people in Somalia lack the critical thinking and leadership skills necessary to develop into better adults because ongoing unrest and conflict have demoralized them, leaving them with psychological wounds and numerous obstacles to adulthood.

Engaging and empowering young people is a prerequisite for the UN to deliver on its mandate in support of the Somali people. As a result, a number of global and national frameworks shape the UN’s integrated response in support of Somali youth. Youth leadership development is crucial for fostering future leaders and empowering young individuals to make a positive impact in their communities. This proposed training initiative aims to develop effective youth leadership programs by exploring strategies and best practices that can enhance youth’s leadership skills and abilities to inspire positive change in their communities.

Why join the Youth Leadership Program?

Participating in the Youth Leadership Program will equip you with leadership and critical thinking skills, enhancing your ability to influence and contribute to socio-economic development within your local community as a productive and inspired citizen. This leadership program aims to boost your potential to contribute and open up broad network opportunities, while also building your capacity to contribute and implement sustainable community programs in communities.

During the program, you will undergo 3 weeks of extensive training to prepare you for your role as a program facilitator, coach, and change maker. After training, you will have the opportunity to participate in community support initiatives.

Are you a passionate and driven young leader looking to make a difference in your community? Are you between the ages of 18 and 30, living in Somalia,  who is highly motivated to cause change in their lives and the lives of their communities?

Join the leadership program in collaboration with the OML-MENA Fellowship Program, NELIS: The Next Leaders’ Initiative for Sustainability. The MENA Fellows Leadership Challenge is proud to announce that applications are now open for the Youth Leadership Program in August–Sep 2024. This transformative initiative aims to equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and creativity needed to drive social change and foster entrepreneurship leadership in their communities.

Eligibility

  • Age 18–35
  • Have an interest in personal development and leadership.
  • Traits of a problem solver
  • Having a personal vision
  • Passion to make a positive change in the community, particularly pastoralist communities
  • Have access to a basic smartphone or laptop and possess basic computer skills.
  • Demonstrated leadership and passion for community development and entrepreneurship.

How to Apply

Click this online link https://forms.gle/ybKjb83YWT8b1hRY6 and fill it with all required information regarding your interest in the participation of the program.

Deadline for Application: 30 Aug 2024