Good morning, Your Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Excellencies, distinguished guests, partners, and colleagues.

It is an honour to welcome you all to this important occasion – the official signing of a transformative partnership between UNDP Somalia and the Hormuud Salaam Foundation. Today, we are not just launching a project – we are launching a partnership built on a shared vision for Somalia’s future – one that is inclusive, resilient, and driven by the energy and innovation of all its people.

This initiative is a landmark in public–private collaboration in Somalia. With the Hormuud Salaam Foundation providing financial backing, Hormuud Telecom driving digital innovation, and Salaam Somali Bank facilitating Islamic finance for young entrepreneurs, this partnership is a powerful example of Somali-led development. 

The project, titled ‘Accelerating Socio-Economic Development in Somalia’, is a comprehensive response to the country’s most urgent development needs, and it is fully aligned with the National Transformation Plan (NTP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It focuses on three strategic pillars:

• Improving the business environment – empowering local businesses and entrepreneurs, and introducing digital investment tools to spur inclusive growth.
• Enhancing youth employability – emphasising tailored, localised TVET and digital skills programmes for Somali youth, and advancing job matching through digital platforms.
• Empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering green and blue economy innovation – providing access to finance, innovation labs, and market linkages to drive entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

This year, the Government launched its National Transformation Plan 2025–2029 – a bold, inspiring, and ambitious roadmap that places socio-economic development, including economic growth, job creation, and private sector development, at its heart, aiming for a vision of a stable and prosperous Somalia with a thriving, sustainable economy. 

At UNDP, we are committed to supporting Somalia’s sustainable development, and we have been a long-term partner to Somalia since 1977. Our work is fully aligned with the NTP and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

We also place gender equality and women’s empowerment at the heart of everything we do, as part of our mandate to ensure no one is left behind.

For instance, we supported the development of Somalia’s first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report, which offers a comprehensive assessment of the country’s progress in key human development areas – considering multiple dimensions such as education, health, and well-being. This holistic analysis provides policymakers with valuable insights to design effective policies and highlights which groups are being left behind to ensure we reach those who need most.

Another key workstream, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Finance, is the development of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). Through the INFF, we help Somalia develop strategies to increase investment, manage risk, and achieve its development priorities by aligning all financing flows – public, private, domestic, and international – with national goals. In Somalia, under the Ministry’s leadership, a Development Finance Assessment and a financing strategy for the NTP will be finalised in the coming weeks. 

UNDP, together with a range of partners, is also supporting local MSMEs and entrepreneurs through various projects – improving access to finance, launching innovative investment schemes, building business management capacity, and offering incubation and acceleration programmes that foster innovation, digitalisation, and financial inclusion. In doing so, we place special focus on including women-owned enterprises, recognising their vital role in Somalia’s economy and making sure female entrepreneurs have equal access to opportunities and resources.

Our joint efforts on youth empowerment with the Government are also crucial, given that 75% of Somalia’s population is under 30 years old. We recognise that Somali youth – young women and men alike – have consistently demonstrated resilience, creativity, and a commitment to leading change, from driving technological innovation to playing key roles in peacebuilding across the country. 

In partnership with key government institutions – such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports – we support several youth-focused initiatives to promote economic opportunities and digital innovation. This ranges from backing youth-led platforms (for example, the Somalia Youth Climate Platform) to enhancing digital skills, vocational training, and enterprise development. 

The initiative we launch today is not a one-off intervention – it is laying the foundation for a larger, scalable programme that can be expanded across Somalia. It shows how combining development finance, digital innovation, and local ownership can create powerful synergies for sustainable impact. Crucially, it demonstrates that when we unlock the potential of all Somalis.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Hormuud Salaam Foundation, Hormuud Telecom, and Salaam Somali Bank for their leadership, vision, and commitment to Somalia’s future, and for their trust in UNDP. Your engagement is not only a financial contribution; it is a vote of confidence in Somalia’s people and a commitment to an inclusive future.

To our partners in government, civil society, and the private sector – let us continue to work together to build a Somalia where every young person – every young woman and every young man – has a chance to succeed, every entrepreneur has equal access to opportunities, and no one is left behind. Thank you. (Mahadsanid.)