A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in November 2025
Highlights from some of the activities of the United Nations in Somalia
Economy |UNIDO Empowers Somali Medium Small Enterprises Beyond Borders
Somali entrepreneurs showcased the nation’s creativity and business potential on the international stage for the first time at the 25th East African Community (EAC) MSMEs Trade Fair in Nairobi, Kenya.
Supported by the European Union, the delegation—led by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture & Irrigation—presented Made-in-Somalia products during the trade fair, symposium, and Somalia Day celebration, highlighting the country’s growing entrepreneurial talent.
This initiative expanded regional market access, strengthened business networks, and elevated the visibility of Somali MSMEs across East Africa.
Shelter| Advancing durable solutions through permanent shelter assistance in Baidoa and Dollow.
In November, UNHCR advanced its durable solutions efforts through the construction and handover of permanent shelters for displaced and returning families in Baidoa and Dollow. These solid, climate-appropriate shelters provide safer and more dignified living conditions, replacing temporary structures that offer limited protection.
Implemented in close coordination with government counterparts and humanitarian partners, the shelter support enhances housing security, promotes stability, and enables families to rebuild their lives with greater confidence. This work reflects UNHCR’s continued commitment to sustainable, long-term solutions that strengthen community resilience and improve the overall well-being of displacement-affected populations across Somalia.
Youth| UNTMIS supports youth dialogue
The important contribution that Somali youth can make to their country’s future was highlighted in early November at a gathering of young people from civil society and representatives from the Somali government and the United Nations.
“When we talk about what Somalis want, what the people want, what the future holds, it's very much a conversation that involves the youth. You are the most significant demographic cohort in the country,” UN Special Representative James Swan told the gathering in Mogadishu.
“For the United Nations, in virtually all of our programming across the education sector, across the development sector, humanitarian response, there is always an emphasis and a concern on what this will mean for youth and how it will impact youth,” he added.
The Youth Dialogue was organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports with UN support and brought together 40 young people from civil society groups.
Environment| IOM supported Earth-Based Shelters Redefine Climate-Resilient Shelters
After years of displacement driven by drought and conflict, many families in Doolow’s Ladan IDP site are finally accessing climate-adaptive, earth-based shelters that offer safety and comfort. Through training delivered with International Centre for Earth Construction (CRAteree) and local authorities, IOM has equipped masons and community members with mudbrick construction skills and supported families through a cash-for-shelter approach.
Since 2022, dozens of shelters have been upgraded using local materials, creating jobs and strengthening community resilience. For families like Hawo’s, culturally familiar shelters are restoring dignity, stability, and a sense of home.
Health| WHO supports sustainable health services in Somalia amid unprecedented funding challenges
Decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and widespread displacement have left millions of Somalis without access to basic health and nutrition care. Somalia has some of the worst health indicators globally, including high maternal and child mortality rates and widespread malnutrition.
The country’s health infrastructure is heavily reliant on international aid. Currently, 95% of Somalia’s health care funding is supported by external donors, leaving the entire health system vulnerable to shifts in global financing. Recent funding cuts have placed immense pressure on essential health and nutrition services. In this challenging context, the World Health Organization (WHO) plays a central role in supporting health and nutrition services and protecting vulnerable populations.
Protection| UNICEF Somalia marks10 years since ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child
On this year's World Children's Day on 20th November, Somalia commemorated the 10th anniversary of the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. At an event in Mogadishu attended by several cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, the UN, civil society, and hundreds of children, the Prime Minister H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre called for collective efforts to combat threats to children, such as irregular migration, violent extremism, and drugs and substance abuse. "If the children's future is not well protected and their rights not addressed, our country will still be in the same situation." He committed to ensuring that all outstanding child legislation was passed.
Representatives of the children called for expanded access to education and opportunities for children with disability, saying time for action was now. The UNICEF Representative Sandra Lattouf called for stronger public, private and community partnerships to address the barriers to progress.
Stabilization| Somalia and partners chart a joint path for stronger peacebuilding and stability efforts.
More than 40 different entities, including the government, civil society, and development partners have agreed to develop a coordinated framework for stabilization in Somalia — bringing all efforts on stabilization, peacebuilding, reconciliation, and the prevention of violent extremism under one national framework as envisioned in the National Transformation Plan (NTP).
This consensus emerged from a high-level workshop organized by the Government of Somalia and UNDP in Nairobi, bringing together senior representatives from the key ministries and government institutions, representatives of the embassies and international organizations, civil society and think tank community. The actors agreed to harmonize all existing approaches into a single realistic framework aligned with the national priorities (the NTP) that is responsive to shifting political and institutional dynamics.
UN entities involved in this initiative
Goals we are supporting through this initiative
