A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in August 2025
This is a monthly snapshot of the UN in Somalia activities in support of Somalia development priorities.
Security| UNSOS trains Somali Security Forces personnel on IT systems to enhance operational capabilities
The United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) has completed a six-week On-the-Job Training (OJT) programme for Somali Security Forces (SSF), equipping them with the skills to understand and operate emerging information technology solutions to enhance their operations.
Eight personnel from the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and the Somali Police Force (SPF) attended the training from 23 June to 7 August, conducted by UNSOS Field Technology Section (UNSOS-FTS).
UNSOS-FTS Chief of Service Management Unit, Paul Irefo, said the initiative is part of a strategic investment in Somalia’s security and operational resilience, executed under a tripartite memorandum of understanding signed with the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), United Nations (UN), and the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS).
Shelter| UNHCR hands over transitional shelters to IDPs
In August, UNHCR Somalia, in partnership with AVORD, handed over transitional shelters to displaced families at the Lawilley IDP site in Baidoa. These shelters provide safer living conditions and a renewed sense of stability for families who have been living in overcrowded and precarious environments.
Representing a vital step towards recovery and long-term solutions, the shelters support families in moving beyond temporary arrangements toward lasting security and dignity. Through such interventions, UNHCR continues to strengthen protection and resilience for displacement-affected communities in Baidoa, supporting their journey from emergency response to sustainable recovery.
Civil rights| Somalia expands birth registration
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child confers on every child the right to be registered 'immediately after birth'.The reality is that millions of children in Somalia have never been registered. According to the 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health Survey, only 3 per cent of children under the age of five have had their births registered, and only 0.3 per cent possess a birth certificate.
Without this legal proof of identity, these children, particularly those from internally displaced communities, face exclusions and higher risks of exploitation and abuse.
Yet Somalia is taking historic steps to modernize its Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) system - creating a clear pathway for every child to be seen, counted, and protected. Leading the charge is the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Federal Reconciliation, supported by UNICEF and collaborating with federal member states.
In 2024, a pilot digital CRVS system was launched in 19 districts covering 158 health facilities. In 2025, the system has been scaled up to 29 additional districts, an effort that has seen over 43,000 children registered.
Technology| UNIDO empowers Somali youth and women with transformative skills through technology training and mentoring
With support from the European Union, UNIDO has conducted intensive tech skills training in Mogadishu and Hargeisa for 54 participants in the second cohort of its BIC Somali Project, aimed at boosting business productivity, efficiency, and job creation.
Key training sessions covered post-harvest handling, drying and storage, and greenhouse farming; hybrid renewable energy systems (solar panels, wind, and diesel integration); practical applications of AI, web development, and digital marketing; as well as financial planning, budgeting, cost optimization and pricing, and customer care strategies. These initiatives promote innovative entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods across Somalia.
Youth| UNFPA Supports Somali Youth in Commemorating International Youth Day
Despite challenges like conflict, climate shocks, and unemployment, Somali youth are emerging as powerful agents of change. Rejecting violence, they are driving innovation, promoting peace, and tackling issues such as gender inequality and climate action.
On 12 August 2025, Somalia marked International Youth Day in Mogadishu, an event supported by KOICA and attended by senior government officials alongside UNFPA representatives. The celebration highlighted the essential role of young people’s voices and leadership in building an equitable, peaceful, and sustainable Somalia. UNFPA, in partnership with the Government, champions youth rights and empowerment by establishing Youth-Friendly Centres that provide sexual and reproductive health services, vocational training, and digital literacy programs. It also supports the development of policies to ensure young people have the tools, opportunities, and support systems needed to shape their futures and contribute meaningfully to peace and sustainable development across the country.
Health| WHO supported polio campaign reaches more than 1.5 million children in northern Somalia
More than 1.5 million children under 5 received the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in Somaliland and Puntland during the second round of a nationwide vaccination campaign. The campaign – part of Somalia’s ongoing efforts to end polio once and for all – launched on 24 August in Somaliland, where health teams successfully vaccinated 852,000 children – from urban and remote rural communities – with nOPV2. In Puntland, the campaign began on 26 August and protected 676,000 children across all districts, including in hard-to-reach areas where access to health care is limited. In both states, the campaign was led by the respective ministries of health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners.
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Goals we are supporting through this initiative
