This brief examines meaningful participation in Somalia for marginalised groups, especially internally displaced people and minority clans. It proposes a model where meaningful participation in Somalia happens when inclusive forums exist, actors have incentives, and all sides hold enough resources to negotiate. The brief stresses that inclusion means practical access to 12 specific abilities, not just formal rights.
Somalia’s outcomes are shaped by multiple systems: clans, religious authorities, formal government, and the influence of Al‑Shabaab. Confidential elite bargaining forums often determine division of power and resources. These forums can be durable, but they rarely include marginalised voices. External actors struggle to influence these dynamics due to complexity and constant change. Therefore, expectations should be modest, and learning should be continuous.
Context matters. In Kismayo, preparedness and local tolerance improve results. In Mogadishu, insecurity is a major barrier, though urban settings offer some freedoms. In Baidoa, nominal inclusion is low, with limited access to rights and services, though some IDPs can be absorbed into the majority clan. Across locations, IDPs need targeted support in relief, land tenure, and jobs.
The brief recommends tracking inclusion over time, updating micro‑level clan analyses, and engaging power brokers with evidence on the costs of exclusion. It urges linking participation forums to tangible resource shifts, supporting collective bargaining for minority clans, recruiting staff from minority groups, simplifying CSO grants, and incentivizing government performance. Religious leaders and clan elders should be part of solutions.
Sustained progress on meaningful participation in Somalia requires incentives, resources, and trust. Aid actors should assume imperfect information, build representative teams, support employment, and reward measured improvements. By aligning incentives and resources, meaningful participation in Somalia can become inclusive enough to improve daily life for those most at risk.
