Distinguished guests, partners, dear colleagues. Good morning!

It is my great honour to join you today at this important training on negotiation and mediation for Somali women peace networks. On behalf of the Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development of Southwest State Somalia, I am Madina Ahmed Nur, the Director General of the Ministry, Southwest State Somalia, — a state that, like much of Somalia, has endured years of conflict, displacement, and instability. But with all that, a State filled with messages of hope and a testament to the remarkable resilience, leadership, and impact of Somali women.

Before the Joint Programme on Women, Peace and Protection (WPP) began in May 2022, women in our communities faced immense challenges. Conflict, insecurity, and systemic inequalities excluded women from decision-making and peace processes. The lack of structures, policies, and coordinated platforms left many women on the margins of political and community life — even though they were among the first to respond to crises and mediate local tensions.

Since the launch of the Joint Programme on Women, Peace and Protection in 2022, in collaboration with UNDP, UN Women, the then UNSOM, now UNTMIS, and other committed partners, our Ministry has taken deliberate and bold steps to localize the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda across Southwest State.

Some of our major accomplishments include:

• The development and official launch of the Local Action Plan (LAP) on UNSCR 1325, which was endorsed at the highest level by the President of Southwest State.
• A legislative gap mapping exercise and delivery of comprehensive policy orientation workshops to key stakeholders, including civil society organizations and members of parliament, to support gender-responsive legal reforms.
• The formation of a Peace Working Group, bringing together diverse community leaders to drive reconciliation and promote social cohesion.
• The establishment of a One Stop Center equipped with a digital case management system, which has supported over 200 GBV/SGBV survivors with medical, legal, psychosocial, and referral services.
• Delivery of transformative leadership and reconciliation trainings for women, including facilitation of state-level discussions through the first-ever women-led reconciliation conference.

Last but not least, one of the most significant accomplishments of this project is the establishment of Women Peace Networks in 17 districts across Somalia, including three vibrant and active networks in Baidoa, Hudur, and Barawe within Southwest State. These networks are not symbolic — they are functional, visible, and impactful. Their members are here today, ready to share their experiences.

Some of their contributions include:

• Conducting awareness sessions on harmful practices and promoting women’s leadership.
• Organizing and participating in quarterly planning meetings and capacity-building workshops, furthering peace initiatives at the grassroots level.
• Facilitating dialogues that unite diverse actors to promote social cohesion and address root causes of conflict.
• Playing a visible role in advocacy and outreach through media and public events to advance women’s rights and amplify the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

These efforts have contributed to shifting social norms, strengthening women’s leadership, and fostering greater trust in women’s role in peacebuilding.

Their presence has become a force of stability and dialogue at a time when Somalia needs both. These women are no longer bystanders in peacebuilding — they are at the centre of it.

As we begin this training on negotiation and mediation, I want to underscore that these are not just tools — they are essential instruments for transforming conflict, building consensus, and protecting the progress we have made. I have no doubt that the women gathered here today will take these skills back to their communities and continue to be catalysts for peace and justice.

I would like to conclude with a heartfelt appeal to our donors and development partners: your support over the past years has enabled us to lay a strong foundation — through policies, networks, leadership development, and tangible results. But this is just the beginning. To sustain and scale this progress, we need your continued partnership and commitment.

Let us continue walking this journey together — toward a peaceful Somalia where women are not only heard, but lead.

These remarks were delivered by Madina Ahmed Nur, who is a member of the Somali Women’s Peace Network and the current Director General of the Ministry of Women, Family Affairs and Human Rights Development, Southwest State of Somalia at the opening of the Somali Women’s Peace Network Workshop on Mediation and Negotiation, held in Nairobi on 29 July 2025, organized by UNDP Somalia and the Clingendael Institute with the support of Denmark, the Republic of Korea, and Luxembourg through the UNDP Funding Windows.

Read more about the joint UN WPP programme