From the sidelines to the frontlines: How Somali women secured their space in peacebuilding

August 4, 2025

By Madina Ahmed Nur

For decades, Somalia has been defined in the eyes of the world by stories of conflict, displacement, and instability. Yet beneath those headlines lies stories of resilience, courage, and women quietly holding together the fragile threads of our society.

As the Director General of the Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development in Southwest State, I have seen firsthand how women — once excluded from decision-making and sidelined in peace processes — are now stepping forward as leaders, negotiators, and change-makers. They are no longer bystanders in peacebuilding; they are at the centre of it.

Only a few years ago, women had little access to formal decision-making spaces. They were the first to respond when communities were displaced or when local disputes erupted, yet their voices were absent in the rooms where real power was exercised. There were no coordinated networks, no enabling policies, and few structures to support their participation.

That began to change in May 2022 with the launch of the Women, Peace and Protection (WPP) Programme [a joint initiative of the Government of Somalia, UNDP, UN Women and UNTMIS, funded by Canada, Germany and Sweden through the Somalia Joint Fund]. Together, we have worked to localize the Women, Peace, and Security agenda in Southwest State, turning aspiration into action.

One of our proudest milestones was the adoption of our Local Action Plan for U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325 — endorsed at the highest level by our state’s President. This was a declaration that women would be at the heart of peace and security. We also undertook legal gap mapping and policy workshops to drive gender-responsive reforms, because true participation must be anchored in law.

We knew change required more than policy — it required action on the ground. We established a Peace Working Group to unite community leaders for reconciliation. We opened a One-Stop Centre for survivors of gender-based violence, offering medical, legal, and psychosocial support. In under two years, over 200 survivors have found help there, a lifeline where silence and stigma once prevailed.

Perhaps the most transformative achievement has been the creation of Women Peace Networks in 17 districts, including Baidoa, Huddur, and Barawe. These networks are not symbolic — they mediate disputes, lead dialogues to prevent violence, challenge harmful practices, and amplify women’s voices in public forums and the media on a daily basis.

I see them as Somalia’s quiet force for stability. When they sit with elders, militia leaders, or local authorities, they bring new perspectives, new solutions and a vision of a reconciled, peaceful future.

As I write this, I am reflecting on the advanced negotiation and mediation training we just completed with 25 Somali women in Nairobi. This training has added another layer to their already proven skills and expertise, while further strengthening the trust and credibility they hold within their communities as members of the Somali Women’s Peace Network. The skills we are learning are not theoretical — they are practical tools to identify, negotiate and resolve conflicts. Each of us are now equipped with tools knowledge and confidence to bridge divides and protect the fragile progress we have made. Special thanks to the Ministry team — Asma M. Issak, the Project Coordinator, and Nur A. Nur, the MEAL Officer — who worked tirelessly to make sure the project ran smoothly.

But this progress is fragile. International partners have helped us lay the foundations — through reforms, leadership development, and community networks — but we must keep building. Sustained investment is essential to scaling up this transformation and ensuring its permanence.

I dream of a Somalia where girls grow up knowing they can be peacebuilders, decision-makers, and leaders. A Somalia where women are not only present but leading in shaping our nation’s future. That dream is within reach — if we continue to invest in the women already doing the hard work of holding this country together.

(The author, Madina Ahmed Nur, is the Director General of the Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development, Southwest State of Somalia. She was one of the 25 women who participated in the advanced three-day training on mediation and negotiation organized by UNDP in Nairobi on 28–31 July 2025, with the support from Denmark, the Republic of Korea, and Luxembourg through the UNDP Funding Windows. The Somali Women Peace Network was established in 2022 with the support of the Women, Peace and Protection Programme (WPP), a joint initiative of UNDP, UN Women and UNTMIS, funded by Canada, Germany and Sweden through the Somalia Joint Fund (SJF))