The African country of Somalia has been ravaged by war for decades. Conflict began in the late 1980s and worsened after the fall of Siad Barre’s military government in 1991 at the hands of clan-based militant movements—the Somali National Movement (SNM) in the northwest, the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) in the northeast and the United Somali Congress (USC) around Mogadishu. Over the next 30 years, Somalia’s conflict would take many different forms, according to BBC News.

In August 2012, after years of clan violence and Islamist insurgency, Somalia’s first formal parliament in more than two decades was sworn in. The following month, Somalia’s parliament elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, marking the first presidential election since 1967, according to BBC News. Today, Somalia remains at war with Al-Shabab—an extremist Islamist group—yet the government has turned much of its focus toward reconstruction and long-term stability.

According to the United Nations (U.N.), 4.4 million Somalis are projected to face acute food insecurity through the end of 2025, and 1.85 million Somali children are likely to experience acute malnutrition. Somali government initiatives and nongovernmental organizations are working to support vulnerable populations, but shrinking international support threatens to stall progress.

Still, Somalia’s situation is not unsalvageable. The nation’s recovery depends not only on government institutions but also on its citizens’ resilience and commitment to rebuilding—a mission many Somali women have taken to heart. Women have become increasingly involved and influential in Somali politics, education, entrepreneurship and peacebuilding, according to the U.N.

Below is a closer look at how women across Somalia are leading the way toward a brighter and more stable future.

Driving Economic Recovery Through Entrepreneurship

For a nation rebuilding from decades of war, expanding economic opportunity is essential to reducing poverty and strengthening support for struggling citizens. In 2019, Somalia launched the Gargaara Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Financing Facility, designed to fund aspiring Somali entrepreneurs and small businesses.

According to the World Bank, by June 2024, Gargaara had lent more than $23 million to MSMEs across the country, with women-led businesses receiving half of all loans—at least 800 in total. Yet, despite this equal distribution by number, the total monetary value of loans to women was significantly lower than that of male-run enterprises, highlighting a persistent gender gap in capital access.

Even so, Gargaara and its partners at the World Bank have committed to expanding their reach—onboarding more Somali financial institutions, increasing available credit and building lending capacity—all with the goal of supporting a greater number of women-owned MSMEs. Their efforts underscore how vital women entrepreneurs are to rebuilding Somalia’s economy.

Expanding Women’s Political Influence and Representation

Women in Somalia are increasingly taking leadership roles in politics. In March 2025, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called on women to get involved in political and security work during a state iftar dinner with more than 100 women leaders, according to AllAfrica News. He praised the work women were already doing—supporting troops and caring for the wounded—and urged them to join political parties, run for office and organize beyond clan divisions.

At the local level, progress is already happening. In Hirshabelle State, women have been elected to district councils and trained in leadership, advocacy and peacebuilding through programs supported by Finn Church Aid (FCA) Somalia. FCA also works with “peace mothers” and female councilors to organize community forums where women, elders and local leaders discuss policy and inclusion. Women now hold roughly 23% of council seats in these areas.

Education for Somali Women

Education for Somali women has been a struggle for generations, but the script is finally starting to flip. “Historically, two groups of patriarchs denied Somali female children schooling—those were the Italian and British colonists,” said University of Minnesota Professor Abdi Ismail Samatar. “It’s really the liberation movement in the 1950s and then the country’s independence in 1960 and thereafter, where female children’s education was expanded. So those challenges still exist.”

Education has become one of the most powerful tools for Somali women to rebuild their lives and communities. According to the U.N., educator Amina Abdi Ali has helped more than 450 women in Kismayo learn to read, write and improve their math skills through a local adult literacy program. Larger initiatives like the Somalia Girls’ Education Programme, led by the U.N. Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) and CARE Somalia, have also focused on keeping marginalized girls in school by removing barriers that prevent them from learning—especially in rural areas. According to the World Bank, the Rajo Kaaba program recently awarded scholarships to more than 2,000 Somali girls, allowing them to study in fields such as teaching and nursing.

Peacebuilding and Social Healing

After decades of warfare, civilian bloodshed and displacement, women in Somalia are taking it upon themselves to advocate for peace. One way they have done this is by establishing the Joint Programme on Women, Peace and Protection (WPP) in May 2022. With support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), U.N. Women and the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia, the WPP has taken steps to localize peace and security for women in Somalia.

The WPP has already achieved major accomplishments, illustrating its importance as a program for sustained peace. These include the development and launch of a Local Action Plan (LAP) with presidential endorsement, the formation of a Peace Working Group bringing together diverse community leaders and the establishment of a One Stop Center that supports victims of sexual violence, according to the UNDP.

Looking Ahead

“Over the last 35 years, women really have been very crucial to keeping Somali society together—not only the family, but the whole society,” said Abdi Ismail Samatar. From running businesses and creating jobs to taking leadership roles in politics, expanding education for girls and young women and pushing for peace at the local level, women are at the heart of Somalia’s recovery. Their efforts show that rebuilding the nation is not just the work of governments or aid organizations—it is also the work of women who refuse to let their communities fall behind.

– Jordan Venell

Jordan is based in Edina, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr