A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in July 2025
Highlights from some of the achievements in July
UN congratulates Somalia on 65th anniversary of independence
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Somalia’s independence, marked on 1 July, the United Nations congratulated the people and government of Somalia and commended the nation’s progress since 1960.
"Somalia has much to be rightfully proud of, including achievements in advancing peace, prosperity, and governance despite facing great challenges,” the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, said in a message.
“On behalf of the United Nations family in Somalia, I say ‘hambalyo,’ on this significant day, and reaffirm the UN’s commitment to supporting Somalia as it strives for even greater progress in the years to come,” he added.
UNICEF supports the installation of solar powered cold chains units
In a bid to strengthen Somalia’s health system, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, has installed 148 solar-powered cold chain units across the country, thanks to funding from the World Bank.
This investment is part of a broader cold chain rehabilitation plan, which will increase the number of health facilities with functional cold chain equipment from 959 in 2023 to 1,117 by the end of 2025, and raise immunisation coverage from 77% to 96%. These climate-sensitive units include cold rooms, dual-function refrigerators, and ultra-low temperature freezers.
To ensure sustainability, remote temperature monitoring devices have been deployed, and 89 regional cold chain managers have been trained, with additional capacity-building efforts underway. This initiative represents a significant step towards building robust and accessible health infrastructure in Somalia, ensuring life-saving vaccines reach every child, even in remote areas.
UNHCR champions refugee entrepreneurs at the 5th Entrepreneurship Summit
In July, UNHCR Somalia participated in and sponsored the 5th Entrepreneurship Summit under the theme “Investing in Human Capital Development.” The event provided a platform to spotlight refugee entrepreneurs who shared compelling stories of resilience, innovation, and talent. Their active participation emphasized the vital role refugees play in local economies and the importance of inclusive investment. By supporting such forums, UNHCR continues to promote refugee self-reliance, restore dignity, and build stronger, more inclusive communities. The summit also reinforced the value of private sector engagement in advancing durable solutions for displaced populations.
UNDP participates in the Global Somali Entrepreneurship summit
The Global Somali Entrepreneurship Forum (GSEF2025) kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together Somali entrepreneurs, investors, and international partners to shape a stronger, more inclusive business environment for Somalia’s future.
At GSEF2025, UNDP Somalia hosted a dedicated side event on "Enhancing the Business Environment and Opportunities in Somalia."
Panelists from Visa, the Somali Chamber of Commerce, the Somali Stock Exchange, SIMAD University, and One Earth Future shared powerful insights on how policy reforms, institutional development, and private sector engagement can drive sustainable economic transformation.
UNOPs supports construction of emergency health units
UNOPS and Somalia’s Ministry of Health have launched the construction of new emergency health units at Bay Regional Hospital in Baidoa, including an Accident and Emergency Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Minor Operation Theatre and X-ray Department.
These efforts are part of a World Bank-financed initiative to build emergency response capacity at six hospitals across Somalia and includes climate-smart features to enhance health system resilience.
UNOPS has also supported the construction a new Vaccine Storage Cold Chain Facility at Forlanini Hospital in Mogadishu. The facility is designed to improve vaccine storage and distribution during emergencies. Both projects demonstrate a coordinated effort to strengthen Somalia’s healthcare infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
Somalia Opens First Indigenous Seed Bank in Mogadishu
To strengthen Somalia’s climate resilience, preserve indigenous seeds, protect biodiversity and regenerate native plant species, the City University of Mogadishu, with support from IOM, has launched the country’s first indigenous seed bank. The seed bank helps to conserve indigenous knowledge and farming practices, supports women as key custodians of seeds, and enhances food security. It holds seeds contributed by members of the Balacad Community Seed Bank established by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), whose members are drawn from different, often conflicting, communities - fostering trust and promoting collaboration among the members of the communities, including women.
Somalia’s child immunization rates more than doubled in 2024, a new report finds
Somalia is closing the immunization gap with 70% of children now fully vaccinated—an increase of 28% from 2012 to 2024. This progress is driven by strong leadership from the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO Somalia, UNICEF Somalia, and global partners. The annual WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) released in July showcases improvements across all antigens since 2019. WUENIC provides country-level datasets on key infant and childhood vaccinations, highlighting areas of progress, opportunities for further enhancement, and any declines in coverage.
UNIDO Champions Public-Private Dialogue for Vision 2060
UNIDO Somalia, in collaboration with the National Economic Council (NEC), convened the Private Sector Development Pillar Workshop in Mogadishu as part of the national Centennial Vision 2060 (CV2060) implementation process. The workshop brought together over 60 participants from government institutions, financial bodies, private sector actors, innovation hubs, and diaspora representatives to assess policy priorities and structural challenges facing Somalia’s private sector.
Key discussions addressed regulatory and financial barriers impacting start-ups and SMEs, intellectual property protection, and Somalia’s readiness to compete in regional and international markets. UNIDO Somalia led two high-level panel sessions highlighting priority reforms and investments to unlock the full potential of start-ups and SMEs. Insights gathered during the workshop will contribute directly to the CV2060 implementation roadmap. UNIDO was recognized for its leadership and continued commitment to fostering an inclusive, innovation-driven private sector in Somalia.
UNMAS strengthens community awareness of explosive threats in Hirshabelle.
In collaboration with IOM, UNMAS Somalia has successfully conducted a two-day explosive ordnance (EO) and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) awareness course in Mogadishu under the Collaborative Safety and Security Framework project of IOM.
UNMAS trained 20 community representatives from Maqakori, Adan Yabaal, and Masjid Aligadud of Hirshabelle region to strengthen community knowledge on explosive threats, including landmines, IEDs, and explosive remnants of war. The representatives will pass on safety messages to their community members in hopes of identifying and reporting EO, promoting safe behaviour, reducing casualties, and enabling safer returns. As armed conflict continues to impact the civilian population in Hirshabelle, this training is a critical step towards reducing civilian casualties and fostering safer and more resilient communities.
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FAO launches Identification documents for fishermen
In a key step for fisheries information management, the FAO, the World Bank, and Jubaland's Ministry of Fisheries successfully launched identification document (ID), for fishermen across the state under the Somalia Crisis Recovery Project. This initiative is a crucial part of FAO’s BlueTransformation efforts, as it helps to formalize and better manage the fisheries sector. The new ID cards will provide accurate data, ensuring that policies and support programs effectively reach the right communities and contribute to the sustainable development of the sector.
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UNFPA and NHPC Lead Capacity-Building Workshop
UNFPA Somalia, in partnership with the Somalia National Health Professions Council (NHPC), co-hosted a transformative four-day workshop to strengthen NHPC staff’s capacity to roll out Somalia’s new Midwifery Regulatory Framework. Through interactive modules on educational accreditation, licensing procedures, continuous professional development (CPD), and ethical practice, participants gained hands-on tools and strategic insights to ensure that Somali midwives are rigorously trained, duly licensed, ethically accountable, and committed to lifelong learning in maternal and newborn care.
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