The strength of a nation is often measured by the resilience of its women. In Somalia, where drought, floods, and conflict frequently displace families, women are the silent anchors of survival. During the International Women’s Day 2026, the CaafimaadPlus Consortium stood with them to celebrate the theme “Give to Gain.”
Across 30 districts, we gathered community leaders and families to reflect on a simple truth: when we provide women with safety and support, the entire society gains. We operate in some of the country’s most hard-to-reach locations, ensuring that when crisis strikes, no woman is left to face the aftermath alone.
“We must give unwavering support to our women,” shared Maalim Abdi, a community leader from a local camp in Kahda district, Mogadishu. “During the darkest times of conflict, they have stood for our children and our homes. They have been the most vocal advocates for the peace we all enjoy today.”
At CaafimaadPlus, we translate this respect into action through our Child-Friendly Spaces (CFS), supported by the British Embassy Mogadishu and European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). To date, these spaces have provided a haven for over 20 thousand children across the region, offering them a place to learn and play in safety.
Amina Abdullahi, who lives near the Wabiyow CFS in Baidoa, knows the value of this support firsthand. With her three children safely engaged, she has the vital time needed to fetch water, attend the market, and work as a breadwinner for her household.
Beyond childcare, these hubs facilitate parenting sessions and household dialogues that bring women into the heart of community decision-making. We integrate these efforts with nutrition programs, including Mother-Led MUAC initiatives, which empower mothers to screen their own children for malnutrition.
“When we provide a woman with the tools to monitor her child’s health, we give her the agency to lead her family out of the cycle of crisis,” says Faduma, a frontline health worker in Baidoa. “Her knowledge becomes the community’s collective strength.”
However, empowerment cannot exist without the fundamental right to safety. In a context where Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence remain significant challenges, we create safe environments where survivors can access dedicated psychosocial support and begin the journey of rebuilding their lives.
Our One-Stop Centers, also funded by the British Embassy Mogadishu and EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), serve as a critical lifeline. These facilities prioritize the 72-hour window for Clinical Management of Rape (CMR), providing Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and emergency contraception to ensure dignity and confidentiality at every step.
We do this because sustainable change is only possible through coordinated, systemic advocacy. We work closely with diverse partners, led by the government across various states, to ensure our interventions align with a lasting national framework for justice and equality.
We also recognize that a single day of celebration is not enough; continuous effort is critical because the challenges women face do not disappear when the headlines fade. Resilience is built through consistency, and ongoing support ensures that progress becomes a permanent foundation rather than a temporary relief.
By staying present in these hard-to-reach areas year-round, we ensure that the “gain” we speak of is sustainable and that every woman has a reliable partner in her journey toward leadership. When women are safe and supported, the entire nation gains the stability it needs to thrive.
