The Somalia inclusivity index is a qualitative, longitudinal framework to measure and strengthen inclusion of marginalized groups within Somalia’s overlapping governance systems of clan, religion, formal government, and de facto authorities. The Somalia inclusivity index operationalizes inclusion through 12 community‑ranked rights and freedoms, including the right to reside anywhere in the city, free movement, equal protection under local laws, fair competition for employment, participation in governance planning, access to information on services, security at parity with dominant groups, access to justice, eligibility for civil service and political office, recognition as residents, and the right to hold aid agencies to account. By repeatedly applying the Somalia inclusivity index, aid actors can identify barriers that affected populations prioritize most, especially economic exclusion, discrimination, and restrictive cultural norms.
The guide synthesizes key insights: inclusion challenges differ by group and intersect, access to economic resources is a prerequisite for negotiated inclusion, and progress requires flexible, long-term engagement. It emphasizes discreet engagement with informal forums, incentives for participation, and empowering trusted local intermediaries to bring out‑group voices into negotiations. A detailed rollout playbook covers six steps: partner mapping, sampling and stratification by age, gender, location, displacement, disability, and clan type; partner training; integrated Kobo‑based data collection; centralized analysis using an analytical framework; and joint validation plus tailored dissemination. Commissioned by ReDSS and developed with Meraki Labs from consultations with 263 participants across Mogadishu, Kismayo, and Baidoa, the tool is designed to integrate with durable solutions dashboards and proposal indicators to track change over time.
