Somalia and Somaliland

Our work in Somalia and Somaliland

Somalia and Somaliland have endured decades of civil war and unparalleled state collapse. Frequent droughts and resource shortages have led to devastating famines. But optimism about Somalia’s political future has been widely felt since the election of a new president in February 2017 – the result of a marginally more inclusive electoral process than in previous years. Somaliland, while enjoying greater stability, also faces political challenges.

Our work

Saferworld has been working in Somalia and Somaliland since 2004. We promote democratisation and improve governance. We support local civil society organisations, particularly women’s groups and youth groups, to get involved in important decision-making processes on peace, security and development. We help community groups identify and address their own safety concerns, while working with partners to improve police services and make recommendations on security policy.

In Somalia and Somaliland we are working on:

Governance and democratisation – we support civil society’s crucial role in observing elections, increasing civic engagement and improving voter education.