The Horumar Project
The Horumar Project, funded by the Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) and implemented through a collaborative consortium where Horncenter (HC) Dialogue leads Galmudug implementation, is a transformative initiative designed to establish a broadly democratic framework while promoting balanced governance at both local and national levels. The project underscores the importance of inclusive political agreements, democratic processes, and robust local governance, with a focus on fostering accountability between citizens and their governments.
Empowering and amplifying Women as Leaders and Peacebuilders
The inaugural activity of the Horumar Project is dedicated to strengthening a safe and protected platform for women—specifically “Peace Mothers,” women in local governance, and female district councilors. This component seeks to amplify their leadership roles, ensuring their voices are integral to governance and peace-building processes. Through strategic interventions, the activity identifies gaps within communities and the councils through consultation and equips women leaders with the tools and skills needed to address these challenges effectively.
The overarching goal is to create a safe and inclusive platform that nurtures women’s leadership, strengthens their influence, and enhances their contributions to peace-building. By addressing systemic barriers and fostering capacity-building initiatives, the project envisions a future where women’s leadership becomes a cornerstone of sustainable governance.
Initial Consultation: Insights from Abudwaq District
The first consultation, held over two days in Abudwaq District, Galmudug, addressed the underrepresentation of women in governance and peace-building initiatives. With women holding 17% representation in Galmudug’s leadership, this event marked an important step toward building on existing progress and identifying pathways for further advancements.
Day 1: Identifying Barriers and Opportunities
The initial day of the consultation focused on understanding the challenges faced by women in leadership roles. Participants included female district councilors and Peace Mothers, who shared their insights, perspectives, and lived experiences. The discussions highlighted the following key challenges:
- Gender and Cultural Biases: Deeply rooted societal norms and traditional gender roles restrict women’s participation and decision-making power.
- Economic Constraints: Limited access to financial resources hinders women’s ability to pursue and sustain leadership roles or invest in their capacity development.
- Lack of Awareness and Civic Education: Many women are excluded from governance due to a lack of knowledge about their rights, civic duties, and opportunities.
- Insufficient Skills and Capacity: A lack of tailored training programs leaves many women without the skills needed for effective governance and peace-building.
- Lack of Inclusivity: Governance structures often fail to create spaces that are inclusive of women’s voices and perspectives.
Proposed Solutions
Participants emphasized the need for targeted interventions to address these barriers, including:
- Capacity Building: Tailored training in leadership, advocacy, and peace-building skills.
- Peer Support Networks: Establishing safe spaces for women to share experiences, collaborate, and support each other.
- Psychological Support: Offering resources to build resilience and manage the stress associated with leadership roles and how to balance the role they have in governance and peace building and the one they have in their houses.
- Educational Opportunities: Increasing access to education for women and girls to prepare the next generation of leaders.
Education was unanimously recognized as a transformative tool. Participants shared success stories from Abudwaq, where educated women have taken on influential roles in schools to later in governance and peace-building structures, demonstrating the potential of education to drive change.
Day 2: Building Alliances and Securing Support with Traditional Structures
The second day aimed to bridge the gap between traditional governance structures and women leaders. Traditional elders were introduced to the initiative, their input was sought, and their support was secured for integrating women into leadership and peace-building processes.
This collaborative approach is critical for:
- Improving Access to Opportunities: Ensuring women have equal access to leadership roles and resources.
- Strengthening Inclusivity: Promoting a culture of acceptance and support for women in governance.
- Reducing Gender Gaps: Narrowing the disparities that have persisted in leadership and decision-making processes.
Traditional leaders acknowledged the value women bring to governance and peace-building, agreeing to support efforts that promote education, training, and mentorship for women leaders.
Impact and Future Directions
The Horumar Project’s, initial activity which started with this consultation, represents a significant milestone in addressing the systemic barriers women face in governance and peace-building. By identifying challenges, fostering alliances, and laying the groundwork for targeted interventions, the project sets the stage for transformative change.
Planned Interventions
- Leadership Training: Tailored workshops to build leadership, advocacy, and negotiation skills.
- Support Networks: Establishing peer-to-peer mentorship programs for women in governance.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Raising awareness about the importance of women’s roles in governance and peace-building.
- Community Engagement: Encouraging local communities to support women’s participation in leadership roles.
Broader Goals
In the long term, the activity seeks to:
- Foster inclusive governance that reflects the diversity of communities.
- Create a sustainable framework for women’s participation in decision-making processes.
- Strengthen peace-building efforts by incorporating women’s unique perspectives and experiences.
By addressing these challenges and implementing strategic solutions, the activity aims to build a resilient and inclusive governance system that empowers women as leaders and peacebuilders. This initiative is not just about increasing representation—it’s about transforming systems, amplifying their women in leadership voices for influence, changing community mindsets positively, and creating lasting impact for future generations.
