UN Action’s Impact
Somalia continues to face a dire humanitarian situation, with a wide array of factors exacerbating local tensions, insecurity, and displacement. UN Action has implemented two projects in Somalia since 2016. Read about one of our most innovative, impactful projects to-date, using culturally-grounded approaches to help survivors in their healing journey.
Photos from our Activities
In-Country Operational Support
UN Action’s latest project “Leveraging Women’s Strength to Mitigate CRSV and Prevent Violent Extremism”, implemented by IOM and UNSOM between April 2020 and March 2021, delivered a transformative contribution to the rehabilitation, reintegration, and economic empowerment of women formerly associated with Al-Shabaab in Somalia, many of whom were survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and faced heightened risks of stigma and reprisals.
Through UN Action’s strategic support, the project reached approximately 230 women in Baidoa (Southwest State) and Kismayo (Jubaland State), adopting culturally grounded and survivor-centred approaches to address trauma while promoting long-term resilience. By combining psychosocial recovery with economic empowerment, the initiative enabled women to regain agency and rebuild their lives as active contributors to peace and stability within their communities.
The project was implemented in close partnership with Disengagement, Disassociation, Reintegration and Reconciliation (DDRR) rehabilitation centres and women-led organisations, ensuring a holistic and gender-sensitive response. Survivors accessed individualized services, including medical support and referrals, specialised counselling, dignity kits, and basic education. In parallel, women participated in business development and livelihood skills training, alongside agricultural support, to strengthen income-generating opportunities.
Innovative therapeutic activities, such as arts and crafts, poetry-based expression, sports, and the use of traditional rituals, played a key role in breaking stigma, fostering social acceptance, and supporting emotional healing at both individual and community levels. As a result of UN Action’s intervention, access to loans among participating women increased by 93%, satisfaction with their economic status rose from 35% to 96%, and reliable income access expanded from 24% to 92%.
Overall, UN Action’s was instrumental in linking CRSV recovery with economic reintegration and prevention of violent extremism, demonstrating how survivor-centred, culturally responsive interventions can advance sustainable peacebuilding and social cohesion in fragile contexts such as Somalia.
