A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in June 2025
Highlights from some of the activities of the UN System in the month of June, 2025.
Economy| UNIDO fosters international partnerships for entrepreneurs from Somalia
UNIDO, in partnership with the European Union and its local and international partners, facilitated a study tour across Italy, Slovenia, and Austria for Somali incubator representatives. Organized under the EU-funded initiative “Business Incubators to Support Entrepreneurship and MSME Creation in Somalia,” the tour exposed participants to best practices in innovation, climate-smart technologies, sustainable agriculture, creative industries, and artificial intelligence.
The initiative aimed to build the capacity of Somali incubators, foster international linkages, and promote inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship. Before the tour, the UNIDO Somalia team held a week-long retreat at UNIDO Headquarters to reflect on programming priorities, including value chain development, entrepreneurship, access to finance, and skills training.
By connecting Somali incubators with international ecosystems, the initiative supports a more resilient and inclusive private sector in Somalia. UNIDO, together with the EU and other partners, remains committed to enabling Somali entrepreneurs to drive innovation and transformative economic growth.
Protection | UNHCR marks World Refugee Day
In June, UNHCR and partners marked World Refugee Day 2025 with a series of events across Somalia, focusing on the global theme of “Solidarity with Refugees.” The commemorations aimed to recognize the courage and strength of displaced communities while creating spaces for storytelling, cultural expression, and community engagement.
Through art, sports, and dialogue, the events celebrated refugee contributions and promoted inclusion, unity, and hope. World Refugee Day also served as a vital moment to reflect on the ongoing challenges facing forcibly displaced people and to renew collective efforts toward protection, dignity, and lasting solutions.
Agriculture | FAO hands over new fodder hub
In Gabiley, FAO Representative in Somalia, Etienne Peterschmitt handed over a new fodder hub to Somalia’s Minister of Livestock and Rural Development, Hon. Omar Shaib. This critical facility will transform local fodder systems by providing reliable access to quality animal feed—a lifeline for agro-pastoral communities in drought-prone regions.
Fodder hubs mitigate the devastating impacts of climate shocks by stabilizing livestock nutrition during dry seasons, preventing mass animal deaths, and safeguarding pastoral livelihoods. By ensuring year-round feed availability, the hub enhances resilience, sustains milk production for vulnerable households, and bolsters income generation through healthier livestock markets.
Health| WHO supports access to lifesaving vaccines for Somali children
In the month of June, WHO supported the delivery of measles, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and polio vaccines as part of the first integrated campaign of its kind to protect Somali children from measles, pneumonia, and polio across in Somalia. This follows the April 2025 introduction of PCV into the national immunization programme in an initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners.
Youth and Women Empowerment |IOM and Japan launch Project to Empower Women and Youth in Somalia
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from the Government of Japan, launched a new project to empower women and youth affected by violent extremism in Somalia.
The initiative will reach over 30,000 people across Jubaland and South West States over the next 12 months; and will provide critical support to women and youth formerly associated with violent extremist groups. It aims to prevent (re-)recruitment by addressing drivers of violent extremism and fostering inclusive, resilient communities through tailored protection services, skills development, and peacebuilding efforts.
Community Empowerment| IOM Co-Funding initiative raised funds to empower communities
As parts of efforts to mitigate unreliable power and unsafe roads threatened their university education, IOM Somalia co-funding initiative is supporting a solar-powered solution. With support from the District Commissioner and IOM’s Co-Funding System (CFS), they raised $10,000, which IOM matched, lighting the road and powering the university sustainably.
This transformed not just the campus—lowering tuition and boosting safety—but also delivered free clean water to locals and pastoralists. Their initiative inspired broader community-led projects across Somalia. By 2024, 42 CFS projects had benefited over 580,000 people, proving that collective action, transparency, and local ownership can rebuild trust, strengthen resilience, and create lasting change—even in fragile settings.
Climate action | OCHA -UNEP conduct training on environment and humanitarian action
The UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit (JEU) concluded a 7-day Localisation of Environment in Humanitarian Action (LEHA) training in Mogadishu between 15 and 21 June with 27 humanitarian professionals, and government representatives. JEU is partnering with the Somali NGOs Consortium (SNC) and has made the contextualized training materials open source for wider use.
Child protection | UNICEF supports Somaliland children conference
On 16th June 2025, on the Day of the African Child, with support from UNICEF, Somaliland government led by His Excellency, President Abdirahman Abdillahi held the first Somaliland Children’s Conference, that brought together senior government officials, policymakers, UN agencies, and international and national non-governmental organizations.
The conference ensured that children’s voices were heard and considered in shaping policies and practices. Three hundred and fifty children from all six regions of Somaliland participated. They showcased innovation, creativity, and solutions for climate change and agriculture.
In his speech, Somaliland president showed his commitment, by prioritizing education, health, and nutrition, alongside legal reforms including the Juvenile Justice Law (Art. 36, 2017) and full implementation of the Child Rights Law No. 102 (2022), which calls for the establishment of a dedicated Children’s Court.
Peacebuilding| UNDP supports youth dialogue to mark independence week
On 1 July 2025, UNDP supported the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Somalia during the celebration of Independence Week, which brought together over 15,000 young people from across the country for a week-long series of events centered on sports, culture, and dialogue. Held under the theme "Empowering Somali Youth for Peace and Unity Through Sports and Dialogue," the initiative aimed to foster national cohesion, amplify youth voices, and promote peacebuilding through inclusive and vibrant youth engagement.
UN entities involved in this initiative
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
