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MOGADISHU – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched, yesterday Monday, in the Somali capital Mogadishu, the “Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment for Sustainable Peace” project, in a regional step aimed at strengthening Somali women’s participation in peacebuilding processes and supporting their role as active partners in stability, development, and social cohesion efforts. The launch event brought together representatives from government institutions, women’s peace committees, civil society organizations, community leaders, international partners, and stakeholders involved in peace and development initiatives.
Discussions during the launch event focused on the importance of economically and socially empowering women and developing their leadership capacities to enable more effective participation in national reconciliation processes and decision-making. Participants emphasized that broad community inclusion represents a fundamental pillar for building comprehensive and sustainable peace. They also highlighted the importance of supporting women-led local initiatives across Somalia and expanding opportunities for women to contribute to addressing social, humanitarian, and developmental challenges.
The event was opened by Mohamed Bashir, Director General of the Somali Ministry of Family Development and Human Rights, who emphasized the importance of cooperation between national and regional institutions in supporting women’s issues and strengthening their role in peace efforts. Meanwhile, the Head of the IGAD Mission to Somalia, Dr. Mohamed Abdi Ahmed, delivering remarks on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, stressed that investing in women represents a strategic investment in Somalia’s future, noting that women’s empowerment is a key factor in promoting stability and sustainable development.
The IGAD Mission Head explained that strengthening women’s participation goes beyond social empowerment and is directly linked to communities’ ability to overcome the impacts of conflict and build more inclusive institutions. He noted that Somali women have played important roles in humanitarian work, community mediation, and supporting families affected by crises, making greater involvement in peace processes a national and regional necessity.
The “Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment for Sustainable Peace” project receives financial support from the African Development Bank Group through the Transition Support Facility. The initiative focuses on developing women’s leadership skills, strengthening women-led peace structures, and creating a supportive environment that enables women to move from being recipients of assistance to becoming key partners in policymaking and decision-making processes.
The project also aims to establish cooperation networks among women leaders, community organizations, and government institutions, contributing to new approaches for conflict prevention and promoting a culture of dialogue and peace. It further supports the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Somalia by developing practical mechanisms to integrate women’s perspectives into national and regional peacebuilding and reconstruction strategies.
This regional initiative comes amid growing international recognition that women’s participation in peace processes contributes to more inclusive and sustainable solutions, particularly in societies emerging from prolonged conflicts. Somalia is currently working to strengthen women’s participation in public life and national reconciliation efforts, recognizing their growing contribution to community stability, humanitarian action, and social cohesion.
Observers consider the launch of the IGAD project an important step toward strengthening partnerships between regional and Somali institutions in peacebuilding, particularly as economic empowerment and leadership development for women can contribute to addressing poverty, social vulnerability, and limited community participation. They emphasize that the success of the initiative will depend on transforming its objectives into practical programs reaching women across different regions, rather than remaining limited to training activities.
Analysts also highlight that enhancing women’s role in peacebuilding is an essential component of building a more stable and resilient state. They point out that international experiences demonstrate that societies providing women with greater opportunities to participate in decision-making are more capable of achieving long-term reconciliation and sustainable stability. Somali women, they argue, possess extensive community experience that can be better utilized in supporting peace and development efforts.
Women’s empowerment remains one of the central pillars of peacebuilding and development efforts in Somalia. Over recent decades, Somali women have demonstrated an influential role in addressing the consequences of conflict, supporting local communities, and contributing to humanitarian and social initiatives. The “Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment for Sustainable Peace” project reflects IGAD’s regional vision of strengthening women’s role as essential partners in achieving security and stability, rather than merely beneficiaries of development programs. Experts believe that investing in Somali women’s capacities represents a strategic pathway toward building a more resilient society, advancing national reconciliation, and consolidating sustainable peace, especially at a time when Somalia needs broader community participation and the contribution of all national capacities capable of shaping a more stable and prosperous future.
