In Somalia, persons with disabilities face immense challenges, including limited mobility support, stigma, and exclusion. With over 11% of the adult population living with disabilities in a country emerging from years of conflict and fragility, the need for inclusion and empowerment has never been greater.

As part of efforts to address this need, UNDP, in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), launched the Capacity Development and Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities Project in March 2024. Joined by the National Disability Agency as the main local partner, this initiative has been providing policy and advocacy support as well as training and assistive tools and infrastructure to advance the rights of PWDs in Somalia. 

A year into its implementation, some important milestones have been reached, bringing real changes to the lives of hundreds of affected people, while also highlighting the sheer scale of need on the ground. 

To date, with KSrelief’s support, the project has distributed over 1,240 wheelchairs, 750 white canes, and 750 crutches, as well as a customized 15-seat vehicle--providing mobility and independence to thousands. Fifty individuals have been trained in sign language, three psycho social centers have been refurbished, and a toll-free hotline (9944) has been established, ensuring timely support for PWDs across the country.

“I received a wheelchair recently, and I am extremely grateful. Today, I feel fortunate to be one of the recipients of this life-changing wheelchair. Words cannot express my happiness. I have never had a wheelchair before, and it is something we truly needed. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who worked hard to make this possible,” Subaw Ibrahim Cadow, who lives in the Lawrar IDP camp in Baidoa district, Southwest Somalia. 

Besides providing assistive tools, the project implemented a series of advocacy and awareness campaigns, including a regular radio program, and partnerships with community influencers. These campaigns have helped the National Disability Agency expand its reach to thousands of Somalis, challenging stigma and promoting disability rights. 

The radio show launched by Kalamaan -- a group of poets and community influencers -- has become a platform for advocacy. Broadcast through Radio Kulmiye, the show is run by Somali Visually Impaired Youth Organization (UDHAN). 

These campaigns and initiatives have begun shifting the mindset of the people, according to Ahmed Mohamed Jamal, an ardent advocate of disability rights in Somalia. He is one of the community leaders trained through the project on national and international disability rights, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and practical steps that can be taken to defend and promote these rights.

One of his most impactful initiatives under the project, he recalls, has been leading joint awareness sessions at Ablaal and Gurmad Schools in Dhusamareeb. “Over 80 students and 350 community members participated, learning about the rights of children with disabilities and the importance of inclusive education.”

That session alone, he says, helped several families decide to send their children with disabilities to Ablaal School, where specialized support for children with disabilities was available.

“This was a breakthrough,” Ahmed says. “It showed me that change is possible, one family at a time.” Through these awareness sessions and door-to-door outreach, the project engaged over 60,000 people in 2024.

The partnerships that made it all possible 

One of the driving forces behind these campaigns and advocacy across the country has been Mohamed Abdul Jama, Chairperson of the National Disability Agency, a tireless and passionate advocate of disability rights in Somalia. The Agency is an umbrella body for the civil society organizations advocating for the rights of PWDs in Somalia and it has been the key partner in the implementation of the project. 

“Together, we’re building a more inclusive Somalia--where every individual, regardless of ability, can thrive. This is just the beginning,” says Mohamed Abdul Jama reflecting on the milestones achieved in 2024. “We are thankful to KSrelief and UNDP for the support and call on other international development partners to join us in empowering lives of a section of people who are probably among the most marginalized,” adds Jama. 

This initiative has been made possible through the support of KSrelif, a close prater in Somalia’s journey to inclusive development. “Saudi Arabia takes great pride in its humanitarian efforts, particularly the Capacity Development and Empowerment Project for Persons with Disabilities, implemented with UNDP,” says H.E. Mohamed Al Bediri Chargé d'Affaires, Saudi Embassy in Somalia. 

“This initiative reflects our commitment to empowering persons with disabilities through education, vocational training, and employment, fostering their active integration into Somali society.” 

To further advance this cause, another initiative funded through UNDP’s core resources has established the first Digital Disability Lab in Garowe, Puntland. Launched as part of a digital inclusion pilot designed by the UNDP Accelerator Lab, this facility serves as an access point to digital resources, including a braille printer and computers with text-to-speech software. It also provides free connectivity to disability-focused schools, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and the wider community of individuals with disabilities. 

“While the principle of leaving no one behind guides all our initiatives, ensuring that all our programs mainstream disability and inclusion as core principles, this particular initiative, supported by KSrelief, is entirely focused on benefiting persons with disabilities," said Christopher Laker, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Somalia. "We are happy to see the project making a real difference on the ground. Going forward, UNDP will continue collaborating with organizations of persons with disabilities in Somalia to explore new opportunities that support the realization of their rights.”