Benderqasim: A citizen engagement platform in Bosaso

For the first time, the citizens in the port city of Bossaso can directly influence local governance through Benderqasim, a new citizen engagement platform. This platform gives Bosaso’s residents — including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and displacement-affected communities — a voice in shaping their city’s future.

Based on CONSUL, an open-source software deployed in over 250 cities worldwide, the platform fosters engagement between the municipality and its citizens, including internally displaced populations and displacement-affected communities.

Developed in 2024 with support from the Saameynta programme, the Benderqasim platform enables citizens to actively participate in the municipality’s decision-making processes through key functions such as project proposals, discussions, and voting. In 2025, the local government plans to carry out offline community outreach activities to introduce and engage citizens with the platform.

Somalia has been characterized by fragility since the collapse of its central government in 1991, which triggered a prolonged civil war and the breakdown of government institutions, leaving the country without the institutional capacity to deliver basic services to its population. In this context, Bosaso — a key port city in Puntland State — is striving to rebuild its governance system and enhance community engagement.

The Saameynta programme has been working with the local government in Bosaso since July 2023 to provide durable solutions for internally displaced persons and displacement-affected communities. The programme integrates services such as tenure security, climate resilient public spaces, livelihoods, public-private partnership and capacity building for local government to improve land governance and urban planning. One of its key priorities is promoting accountability, which is crucial for effective governance.

Mayor of Bosaso Municipality, Abdifatah Mohamed Hassan, highlighted the significance of the platform, stating: “Benderqasim arrived at the right time in the right place. For the first time, the Bosaso local council was elected directly by the community, moving away from previous nominations by the president or community elders.”

In May 2023, the people of Bosaso elected 33 council members, with high expectations for improved service delivery and genuine representation.

Mayor Abdifatah thanked the Saameynta programme, particularly for its support in enhancing the capacity of the municipality. He emphasized the importance of both upward and downward accountability, ensuring that local authorities are responsive to the needs of the community while maintaining transparency in service delivery.

About the project
Saameynta is a joint programme implemented by UNDP, IOM, and UN-Habitat, and funded by Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway through the Somalia Joint Fund. Learn more: https://www.undp.org/somalia/projects/saameynta-scaling-solutions-displacement-somalia