Somalia Conferences Series
Conference purpose and background
We create opportunities for Somali women to connect, reflect and work together as they raise their voices in support of a secure and unified Somalia.
The recent establishment of a federal democratic republic in Somalia is a major transition from decades of conflict and humanitarian crisis. The peace process that resulted in the Transitional Federal Government and the Provisional Constitution was championed by Somali women at home and in the Diaspora. Today, the first democratic government in Somalia stands poised to implement the Constitution, as well as to begin drafting legislation and improving governance.
The evolution of the Somali peace process and the urgent need to build indigenous Somali support for a national development plan requires a new, vibrant and inclusive implementation strategy. However, throughout Somalia’s history, women have often been relegated to the shadows of power and excluded from political decision-making forums. This must change. Rebuilding Somalia requires the talent and engagement of all its citizens; it simply cannot move ahead if it leaves its women behind. Women’s voices must be heard as a counter-point to those with outdated views, particularly those who would single-mindedly advocate for aggressive security sector development rather than undertake more comprehensive human development. “Security first—development later” is not only outdated, it is outmoded. It fails to recognize that there can be no security without social and economic development. Somali women understand this—they know Somalia requires a government that emphasizes national reconciliation, sustainable livelihoods, access to education, health care, and food security. In short, Somali women know Somalia needs them.
Women’s contributions link in a critical component of the political process. Women are highly successful in developing civil societies. They create grass-roots civil society organizations and partner with organizers to provide integral humanitarian support and socioeconomic development. And, perhaps most importantly, women are responsible for raising and teaching the young generation—the future. Consequently, engaging this integral segment of society, helping them realize their dreams, and providing them with a platform for their voices to be heard, offers a powerful way to assist Somalia’s development during the new government’s early stages.
The first conference in the series entitled, The Chicago Conference on Somalia, was held in April 2012 at the Union League Club of Chicago. This event addressed the adoption of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and the establishment of a comprehensive strategic planning process for long-term social and economic development. A post-conference report is available at the Somalia Strategy Forum website.
Building on this foundation, the Somalia Strategy Forum, the World Engagement Institute, and the National Strategy Forum will host the United States’ first Somali Women’s Conference. The conference will be held in Chicago in February 2013. The conference, entitled “Voices of Somali Women,” will focus on local, national, and international themed topics. The goal is to build relationships within the Somali Diaspora and the international community, to connect the Diaspora with indigenous Somali civil society organizations, to provide platforms for creating women's legislative priorities, and to help Somali women rebuild their country.
Key topics to be covered include: gender justice; representation in government; micro-development; human security and gender violence; sustainable food security; women’s health issues; education development (primary and higher); the role of women under Sharia law; engaging and partnering with the international community; human rights; and leadership development. The conference will conclude with a Somali Women’s Declaration to the UN describing the substantive content of the event and outlining ideas for women’s-focused legislation to be put forward to the new Somali government.
This is a monumental undertaking. We invite you to join us in supporting the peace and stability of a new Somalia through one of its most important resources: Somali women.
The recent establishment of a federal democratic republic in Somalia is a major transition from decades of conflict and humanitarian crisis. The peace process that resulted in the Transitional Federal Government and the Provisional Constitution was championed by Somali women at home and in the Diaspora. Today, the first democratic government in Somalia stands poised to implement the Constitution, as well as to begin drafting legislation and improving governance.
The evolution of the Somali peace process and the urgent need to build indigenous Somali support for a national development plan requires a new, vibrant and inclusive implementation strategy. However, throughout Somalia’s history, women have often been relegated to the shadows of power and excluded from political decision-making forums. This must change. Rebuilding Somalia requires the talent and engagement of all its citizens; it simply cannot move ahead if it leaves its women behind. Women’s voices must be heard as a counter-point to those with outdated views, particularly those who would single-mindedly advocate for aggressive security sector development rather than undertake more comprehensive human development. “Security first—development later” is not only outdated, it is outmoded. It fails to recognize that there can be no security without social and economic development. Somali women understand this—they know Somalia requires a government that emphasizes national reconciliation, sustainable livelihoods, access to education, health care, and food security. In short, Somali women know Somalia needs them.
Women’s contributions link in a critical component of the political process. Women are highly successful in developing civil societies. They create grass-roots civil society organizations and partner with organizers to provide integral humanitarian support and socioeconomic development. And, perhaps most importantly, women are responsible for raising and teaching the young generation—the future. Consequently, engaging this integral segment of society, helping them realize their dreams, and providing them with a platform for their voices to be heard, offers a powerful way to assist Somalia’s development during the new government’s early stages.
The first conference in the series entitled, The Chicago Conference on Somalia, was held in April 2012 at the Union League Club of Chicago. This event addressed the adoption of Somalia’s Provisional Constitution and the establishment of a comprehensive strategic planning process for long-term social and economic development. A post-conference report is available at the Somalia Strategy Forum website.
Building on this foundation, the Somalia Strategy Forum, the World Engagement Institute, and the National Strategy Forum will host the United States’ first Somali Women’s Conference. The conference will be held in Chicago in February 2013. The conference, entitled “Voices of Somali Women,” will focus on local, national, and international themed topics. The goal is to build relationships within the Somali Diaspora and the international community, to connect the Diaspora with indigenous Somali civil society organizations, to provide platforms for creating women's legislative priorities, and to help Somali women rebuild their country.
Key topics to be covered include: gender justice; representation in government; micro-development; human security and gender violence; sustainable food security; women’s health issues; education development (primary and higher); the role of women under Sharia law; engaging and partnering with the international community; human rights; and leadership development. The conference will conclude with a Somali Women’s Declaration to the UN describing the substantive content of the event and outlining ideas for women’s-focused legislation to be put forward to the new Somali government.
This is a monumental undertaking. We invite you to join us in supporting the peace and stability of a new Somalia through one of its most important resources: Somali women.
Somali Women Conference Outcomes
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The Somali Women's Conference discussed plans to educate, inspire and empower Somali women. It provided a powerful platform needed in establishing the hope, change and equality sought by all Somali women. The “Voices of Somali Women” conference held on February 23, 2013 laid the foundation for an ongoing discussion regarding the many important roles of Somali women and the struggles they endure to have their voices heard. Honored guests spoke on sensitive topics such as gender equality, political inclusion, clan power sharing, single motherhood, rape, suppressed media coverage and the importance of sound Islamic doctrine. The conference, led by the Somalia Strategy Forum (SSF) consisted of 4 keynote speakers, three of whom were Somali-born women.
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Somali Women in Leadership (WiL) e-library
The Somali Women in Leadership (WiL) e-Library is an electronic collection of information and resources on issues and essential documents in relation to Somalia and women, governance, health, education and peace building.
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The Chicago Conference on Somalia - A Call to Engage
Somalia is at a crossroads. Decades of war, famine and neglect have left it bereft of focused development and visionary leadership. Meanwhile, the International Community has too often approached Somalia with a state-centric, top-down, and often overly kinetic approach to peace and institution building. What has been missing is concerted outreach to, and utilization of, grass-roots - Somali-led - civil society organizations to help foster the long-term social and economic security of Somalia. Therefore, the Somali Diaspora, facilitated by the Somalia Strategy Forum and supported by the WEInstitute, is organizing a forum to initiate the process of developing a long-term - Somali focused/Somali-led - strategic planning mechanism for building a prosperous and peaceful future in Somalia. The conference is designed to enlist and empower grass-roots support for a comprehensive strategic planning process. The conference is open to Somalis and others concerned with sustainable development and human security in the Horn of Africa. The Chicago forum will serve as a catalyst for developing comprehensive, long-term, "bottom-up," strategies for sustainable agricultural development, food security, rule of law, economic development, inclusive education, health care and governance capacity. The outcome will be to create the necessary pre-conditions for enhancing sustainable capacity development in Somalia, as well as extending the conversations that began at the London Conference. Please engage with your fellow Somalis in this historic peace development process.
The Chicago Conference on Somalia - A Comprehensive Strategic Plan
The Chicago Conference on Somalia held on April 14, 2012 called for a comprehensive strategic plan for Somalia. Through the coordination of Somalia Strategy Forum (SSF), the support of The National Strategy Forum (NSF), the World Engagement Institute (WEI) and the Sustainable Capacity International Institute (SCII), the conference laid the foundation for the Somali Diaspora to make a positive and constructive engagement for the rebuilding of Somalia. Mr. Yusuf Maalin, SSF Executive Director, Mr. Richard Friedman, NSF President, and Gen. Charles Tucker, WEI Executive Director introduced the purpose and methods of the forum. Mr. Arnold Romeo, Director of African Affairs for the City of Chicago, presented a letter of greetings and support from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel who expressed his firm commitment to the purpose of the conference. Dr. Marco Tavanti, representing SCII, spoke of the international community (re)engagement and ongoing concerns for Somalia. He said: "We are here because, we want to enhance the commitment expressed last February at the London Conference on Somalia. We are here because we can no longer remain indifferent to famine, bloodshed and some of the worst poverty on earth. We are here because we believe that the negative effects of brain drain can become brain gain with the engagement of the Somalian diaspora. We are conscious that Somalia is a challenging context, but it also holds some fundamental lessons in humanitarian aid, international development and human security. We are committed to accompany this process; we are engaged to make the world a better place with our Somali brothers and sisters. We know there are no single magic solution and that a long-term strategic plan is necessary to help the Somali people rebuild their country from the bottom up. And most importantly, we recognize that ultimately it will be only Somalis that will find solutions to Somalia. The international community is here with you, to accompany these collective efforts for building human and institutional capacity for the generations to come."
The speakers introduced the current constitutional reforms and the Somalia challenges in relation to economic development, human security, governance capacity, education, health, poverty and food security. Mr. Sumit Bisarya, Lead Legal Officer for the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) explained how the constitutional process does not end with its promulgation and invited the Somali Diaspora to actively contribute to the successful implementation of the constitution, including providing input into policy, legislation and strategic planning. Drawing upon lessons from other constitutional processes in the region, Mr. Bisarya made concrete recommendations to make the process more transparent and participatory. Prof. Tom Ginsburg, Leo Spitz Professor of International Law at the University of Chicago, made focused remarks on the strengths and weaknesses of the current constitution-making efforts in Somalia. In her intervention regarding economic development in Somalia, Dr. Hodan Said Isse challenged the international community to rethink the engagement in Somalia as a positive, constructive and long-term engagement. She mentioned how youth and women, who bear the brunt of war, are at the heart of nation building. The 21 years of war have destroyed Somalia's institutions. Somalia needs rehabilitation, healing and support to go from problems to promise. The blunt reality of Somalia is that its productive capacity of limited resources is many times less than Somalia's needs and wants. The incentives made available to the Somali people by the international community play an important role in either promoting clan division and hatred or clan harmony and peaceful coexistence. Ms. Fowsia Abdulkadir offered some provocative remarks regarding human security and the current constitutional process. "We know the process, but we need to focus on the context"... "People identity has been politicized"... "Religion cannot be discriminatory" ... We risk "constitutionalizing apartheid." Security is essential for governance capacity development and critical for building the justice sector but the concept needs to be broadened into ‘human security’, which encompasses economic, health, physical, political and social security for any member of the population. Somalia represents a complex and instructive case study for the area of human security as freedom from fear and want. Mr. Ibrahim Ayeh discussed literacy and education in Somalia. He offered some analyses and solutions on the education crises in Somalia. Dr. Fozia Abrar presented a view on the limited health services in Somalia. She observed how the Somali women and children have a very limited access to basic health care/primary care and basic secondary health services and made some practical suggestions for community maternal, child health centers and training community health care workers in every village. Dr. Mohamed Ali Abukar, Founder and President of Somali American United Council of Arizona, concluded the Somalia panel by re-centering our efforts on agricultural development and poverty reduction. Poverty, he said, is a fuel for terror and is a threat to human rights, democracy and peace. Peace, stability and democracy cannot be achieved when there is a hunger and poverty. Our focus, then, must be to fight hunger and eradicate poverty, and if we succeed, this will certainly lead to the creation of peace, democracy and good will among all people and nations.
The breakout sessions included groups of participants reflecting on strategic plans on 22 topics. Some of these topics included the constitution, democracy, government capacity, finance, parliament, independent judiciary and the rule of law, law enforcement, the role of military and Somali Diaspora. They also discussed and reported back to the group about plans for infrastructure, agriculture, health and education including the role of women, youth, seniors and began conceptualizing an effective social welfare system for the vulnerable Somali population. Attendees also discussed the role of religion in relation to education, the country welfare and counter-terrorism. They presented some suggestions regarding communication and the media, along with economic development by attracting foreign investment, improving international relations, increasing local government capacity and overcoming the culture of corruption. Mr. Yusuf Maalin, during his concluding remarks of the conference observed how crucial it will be to work cooperatively in solving the issues the country has before it - constitutional reform, economic development, women empowerment, security. "These are issues vital to Somalia and the international community. The international community has too often approached Somalia with a state-centric top-down model. But what has been missing is a concerted bottom-up outreach effort to utilize a grass-root Somali-led civil society to help foster long-term social and economic development for Somalia. The conference and the SSF mission offer an alternative process for substantially improving internal Somali governance capacity. With the assistance and support of WEI, NSF, SCII and the Somali diaspora, we have reached an important milestone towards rebuilding our nation."
The speakers introduced the current constitutional reforms and the Somalia challenges in relation to economic development, human security, governance capacity, education, health, poverty and food security. Mr. Sumit Bisarya, Lead Legal Officer for the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) explained how the constitutional process does not end with its promulgation and invited the Somali Diaspora to actively contribute to the successful implementation of the constitution, including providing input into policy, legislation and strategic planning. Drawing upon lessons from other constitutional processes in the region, Mr. Bisarya made concrete recommendations to make the process more transparent and participatory. Prof. Tom Ginsburg, Leo Spitz Professor of International Law at the University of Chicago, made focused remarks on the strengths and weaknesses of the current constitution-making efforts in Somalia. In her intervention regarding economic development in Somalia, Dr. Hodan Said Isse challenged the international community to rethink the engagement in Somalia as a positive, constructive and long-term engagement. She mentioned how youth and women, who bear the brunt of war, are at the heart of nation building. The 21 years of war have destroyed Somalia's institutions. Somalia needs rehabilitation, healing and support to go from problems to promise. The blunt reality of Somalia is that its productive capacity of limited resources is many times less than Somalia's needs and wants. The incentives made available to the Somali people by the international community play an important role in either promoting clan division and hatred or clan harmony and peaceful coexistence. Ms. Fowsia Abdulkadir offered some provocative remarks regarding human security and the current constitutional process. "We know the process, but we need to focus on the context"... "People identity has been politicized"... "Religion cannot be discriminatory" ... We risk "constitutionalizing apartheid." Security is essential for governance capacity development and critical for building the justice sector but the concept needs to be broadened into ‘human security’, which encompasses economic, health, physical, political and social security for any member of the population. Somalia represents a complex and instructive case study for the area of human security as freedom from fear and want. Mr. Ibrahim Ayeh discussed literacy and education in Somalia. He offered some analyses and solutions on the education crises in Somalia. Dr. Fozia Abrar presented a view on the limited health services in Somalia. She observed how the Somali women and children have a very limited access to basic health care/primary care and basic secondary health services and made some practical suggestions for community maternal, child health centers and training community health care workers in every village. Dr. Mohamed Ali Abukar, Founder and President of Somali American United Council of Arizona, concluded the Somalia panel by re-centering our efforts on agricultural development and poverty reduction. Poverty, he said, is a fuel for terror and is a threat to human rights, democracy and peace. Peace, stability and democracy cannot be achieved when there is a hunger and poverty. Our focus, then, must be to fight hunger and eradicate poverty, and if we succeed, this will certainly lead to the creation of peace, democracy and good will among all people and nations.
The breakout sessions included groups of participants reflecting on strategic plans on 22 topics. Some of these topics included the constitution, democracy, government capacity, finance, parliament, independent judiciary and the rule of law, law enforcement, the role of military and Somali Diaspora. They also discussed and reported back to the group about plans for infrastructure, agriculture, health and education including the role of women, youth, seniors and began conceptualizing an effective social welfare system for the vulnerable Somali population. Attendees also discussed the role of religion in relation to education, the country welfare and counter-terrorism. They presented some suggestions regarding communication and the media, along with economic development by attracting foreign investment, improving international relations, increasing local government capacity and overcoming the culture of corruption. Mr. Yusuf Maalin, during his concluding remarks of the conference observed how crucial it will be to work cooperatively in solving the issues the country has before it - constitutional reform, economic development, women empowerment, security. "These are issues vital to Somalia and the international community. The international community has too often approached Somalia with a state-centric top-down model. But what has been missing is a concerted bottom-up outreach effort to utilize a grass-root Somali-led civil society to help foster long-term social and economic development for Somalia. The conference and the SSF mission offer an alternative process for substantially improving internal Somali governance capacity. With the assistance and support of WEI, NSF, SCII and the Somali diaspora, we have reached an important milestone towards rebuilding our nation."
The Chicago Conference on Somalia Outcomes
| REPORT Chicago Conference on Somalia |
| PROGRAM Chicago Conference on Somalia |
| POSTER Chicago Conference on Somalia |
Beyond the Conference - Somalia Strategy Forum
The Somalia Strategy Forum (SSF) continues heading the strategic planning process began in the Chicago Conference on Somalia. SSF is both a research institute and a “hands-on” institutional capacity-development organization that promotes the full spectrum human security development of the Somali people. SSF believes that in order to help develop the foundational conditions necessary for the Somali people to ultimately secure communal self-actualization, there must be a collective intellectual commitment to academic excellence, pragmatic problem solving, and enlightened governance. Thus, SSF actively support non-partisan research designed to help elucidate the role that could – and should - be played by the International Community in general - and the Somali people in particular – in helping normalize, de-stigmatize, institutionalize and democratize the social, political, economic and security fabric of Somalia and the Horn of Africa. SSF seek to enhance nuanced understanding of how the situation in Somali has evolved, as well as provide doctrinally sound, academically informed, and pragmatically realized prescriptions for how we – as an International Community - can help Somalia and the Somali people improve their situation at home and abroad. Further, SSF seeks to serve as an arena for civil dialogue and debate. Human history reveals that when people of good faith work together for the common good, there is virtually no social problem that cannot be resolved. SSF, as people of good faith seeks to help foster the inclusive preconditions that will eventually eliminate the adverse social, political, economic, religious, ethnic, and environmental conditions plaguing Somalia. In the meantime, SSF will continue to support the “hands-on” effort necessary to create viable governance institutions that will eventually serve as the vehicles of success in Somalia. This will be an evolving and continuous process. Thus, we will require the assistance of all those in the International Community – including our Somali brothers and sisters living in the diaspora - who would give of their time, their talent and their treasure to help us secure peace in the Horn of Africa and enhance the prosperity of all those living in the region. The “bottom line” is that the Somalia Strategy Forum – formed by people of good will – appeal to the force of logic, not the logic of force. We appeal to an understanding of lack, not a lack of understanding. We appeal to a faith in dreams, not dreams of faith. We appeal to you.
For more information contact
somaliastrategyforum.org
For more information contact
somaliastrategyforum.org
Eastern Africa
Somalia Strategy Forum
WEInstitute proudly supports the efforts of the Somalia Strategy Forum and the Somali Diaspora to foster Democracy Building in Somalia. The Somalia Strategy Forum (SSF) is both a research institute and a “hands-on” institutional capacity-development organization that promotes the full spectrum human security development of the Somali people. We believe that in order to help develop the foundational conditions necessary for the Somali people to ultimately secure communal self-actualization, there must be a collective intellectual commitment to academic excellence, pragmatic problem solving, and enlightened governance. Thus, WEInstitute and the SSF actively support non-partisan research designed to help elucidate the role that could – and should - be played by the International Community in general - and the Somali people in particular – in helping normalize, de-stigmatize, institutionalize and democratize the social, political, economic and security fabric of Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
In short, we seek to enhance nuanced understanding of how the situation in Somali has evolved, as well as provide doctrinally sound, academically informed, and pragmatically realized prescriptions for how we – as an International Community - can help Somalia and the Somali people improve their situation at home and abroad. Further, we seek to serve as an arena for civil dialogue and debate. Human history reveals that when people of good faith work together for the common good, there is virtually no social problem that cannot be resolved. Thus, we as people of good faith seek to help foster the inclusive preconditions that will eventually eliminate the adverse social, political, economic, religious, ethnic, and environmental conditions plaguing Somalia. In the meantime, we will continue to support the “hands-on” effort necessary to create viable governance institutions that will eventually serve as the vehicles of success in Somalia.
This will be an evolving and continuous process. Thus, we will require the assistance of all those in the International Community – including our Somali brothers and sisters living in the diaspora - who would give of their time, their talent and their treasure to help us secure peace in the Horn of Africa and enhance the prosperity of all those living in the region.
The “bottom line” is that the Somalia Strategy Forum – formed by people of good will – appeal to the force of logic, not the logic of force. We appeal to an understanding of lack, not a lack of understanding. We appeal to a faith in dreams, not dreams of faith. We appeal to you.
In short, we seek to enhance nuanced understanding of how the situation in Somali has evolved, as well as provide doctrinally sound, academically informed, and pragmatically realized prescriptions for how we – as an International Community - can help Somalia and the Somali people improve their situation at home and abroad. Further, we seek to serve as an arena for civil dialogue and debate. Human history reveals that when people of good faith work together for the common good, there is virtually no social problem that cannot be resolved. Thus, we as people of good faith seek to help foster the inclusive preconditions that will eventually eliminate the adverse social, political, economic, religious, ethnic, and environmental conditions plaguing Somalia. In the meantime, we will continue to support the “hands-on” effort necessary to create viable governance institutions that will eventually serve as the vehicles of success in Somalia.
This will be an evolving and continuous process. Thus, we will require the assistance of all those in the International Community – including our Somali brothers and sisters living in the diaspora - who would give of their time, their talent and their treasure to help us secure peace in the Horn of Africa and enhance the prosperity of all those living in the region.
The “bottom line” is that the Somalia Strategy Forum – formed by people of good will – appeal to the force of logic, not the logic of force. We appeal to an understanding of lack, not a lack of understanding. We appeal to a faith in dreams, not dreams of faith. We appeal to you.
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