“Wadajir Nabadeed” project launched to build peace and justice in Somalia

The Federal Government of Somalia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has launched a new $5 million peacebuilding initiative titled “Wadajir Nabadeed: Trust, Justice, and Security in Newly Recovered Areas.”

Held in Mogadishu, the inception workshop brought together senior technical representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), Federal Member States (FMS), and key international partners. The event aimed to align all stakeholders around the project’s objectives and initiate implementation across selected areas.

“Peace cannot be imposed — it must be built, community by community,” said Dr. Christopher Laker, UNDP Somalia’s Deputy Resident Representative. “This project is more than an intervention; it is a Somali-led, Somali-owned effort to restore trust, deliver justice, and anchor peace through accountable and inclusive local governance.”

The Wadajir Nabadeed project, funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, aims to promote peacebuilding, strengthen the rule of law, and support inclusive governance in areas recently recovered from Al-Shabaab in Galmudug and Hirshabelle states. Over the next 36 months, the project will support the Somali Government and communities to build sustainable peace by establishing inclusive local security committees, fostering collaboration between communities, authorities, and security providers, and implementing over 200 restorative justice dialogues to address grievances and rebuild trust. Grounded in Somalia’s National Reconciliation Framework and Stabilization Strategy, the project uses government-led, community-driven approaches that prioritize the participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups to ensure that justice, security, and governance reflect the needs of the people.

“This project is a vital step forward in translating national peace priorities into local action. Our people in newly recovered areas deserve institutions they can trust and security they can count on,” said Aidarus Moallim Hassan, Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MOIFAR).

Representing the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Permanent Secretary Feisal Adan Hassan emphasized the importance of justice sector reform. “Justice must be visible, accessible, and fair. Wadajir Nabadeed offers us a unique opportunity to rebuild judicial trust in places that have long lived in insecurity,” he said.

During the workshop, participants reviewed and validated the project’s integrated work plan and Terms of Reference and agreed to commission a rapid assessment of the targeted locations.

This initiative forms part of Somalia’s broader efforts to strengthen local governance, foster reconciliation, and build institutions that are accountable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all Somalis.