Strengthening Somalia’s minority rights organisations

Years of conflict in Somalia have left many communities facing prolonged instability. Among those most affected are minority and marginalised groups who are often excluded from humanitarian response efforts, public services and political decision-making.

While local minority rights organisations play a critical role in advocating for these communities, many of them face structural barriers that restrict their reach and impact. Limited funding, weak institutional systems and restricted access to training opportunities have constrained their ability to operate effectively.

The programme, entitled Strengthening Institutional and Governance Capacities of Minority Civil Society Organisations in Somalia, was launched in collaboration with the United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS), with funding from the UK government.

“This project was designed to address issues raised by local minority rights organisations,” said Ibrahim Ambar, Concern Worldwide’s Senior Partnership Advisor. 

“They face great difficulty in participating in humanitarian activities, whether that is new projects or training opportunities.”

For years, such groups have struggled to access funding and participate in humanitarian programming, often sidelined because donors perceive their institutional capacity as limited.

Mohamed Aweis, Executive Director of Jubba Valley Development Centre (JVDC), who took part in the programme, said the biggest obstacle facing organisations that advocate for marginalised groups was that “they were not given direct support themselves”.

“The excuse was that they lacked capacity and therefore were not given direct funding to implement work,” he said. 

“This led us to demand to be heard, and we said: give us that capacity. Since lack of capacity was the excuse used, we insisted that this capacity be built.”

Through the programme, Concern supported seven local organisations from across Somalia to strengthen their internal systems, governance structures and technical expertise.

Participants highlighted that the training led to practical, day-to-day improvements in how their organisations function, including governance, financial management, human rights and programme delivery – all of which are critical for donor partnerships.

Qamar Adam, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Initiatives for Development and Aid Advocacy (IDAA), said that before the training, her organisation’s financial system was manual. “After the training, we developed a fully documented and structured financial system which we now use,” she said.

Farhia Yusuf, Executive Director of Somali Minority Women and Child Development Organisation (SMWCDO), said she benefited from a better understanding of administrative structures, including “distinguishing between the board of directors and the executive team”.

Ugaas Mohamed, Chairman of Baydari Organisation for the protection of rights of minorities, said he had received “a wealth of lasting knowledge”. 

“The programme was beneficial and the knowledge shared by the NGOs was valuable to us, including how to manage an NGO, mobilise finances, and support vulnerable people,” he said.

Muhidin Daud, Programme Director at Save Somali Marginalised and Minorities Organisation (SASMO), said they had “benefited greatly” from advice around proposal writing and how to deal with international donors. 

A central component of the programme focused on rights-based approaches, ensuring organisations not only deliver services but do so ethically and safely. 

Abdinasir Moalim, Human Rights Officer at UNTMIS, said: “Among the major issues we discussed was documenting people, treating them with dignity, protecting their data and adhering to human rights.

“Organisations must also ensure their own safety while upholding human rights.”

Beyond technical skills, the programme has helped organisations build credibility, opening doors to new partnerships, according to Concern’s Ibrahim Ambar.

“This programme enables these national MROs to seek out other partners now that their capacity has increased,” he said. 

“Some now work with up to three or four other organisations. They are now able to access opportunities through their own efforts, building on the capacity strengthening and experience they gained from Concern.”

The programme concluded with an advocacy and donor networking event for donors and local NGOs, co-facilitated by Concern, UNTMIS and the Somali NGO Consortium. It was attended by Harriet Mathews, British Ambassador to Somalia; George Conway, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia; and Kirsten Young, Chief Human Rights and Protection Group, UN OHCHR.

Abdulkadir Ibrahim, Concern’s Programme Director in Somalia, said the programme will have a positive impact as organisations apply their new skills and expand their networks.

“It was designed to build their capacity so they can access opportunities to work with donors, the UN, and collaborate with other organisations in supporting their communities,” he said. 

“It has been a valuable project, and we have learned from it.”

Amplyfying voices, improving technical skills and increasing the visibility of local organisations, particularly those representing marginalised communities, is essential to building a more inclusive and effective humanitarian response in Somalia. With the right support, these organisations are not only better equipped to help their communities but to shape the systems that affect them.