South West State Launches Community Development Project to Strengthen Local Governance

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia’s South West State has launched a new community development programme aimed at strengthening local governance, improving public services and increasing community participation in development planning, officials said on Saturday.

South West State President Sheikh Nur Madobe officially launched the Bulsho Project at a ceremony attended by senior officials from the Federal Government, the South West administration, international development partners and representatives of local communities.

Speaking at the event, Madobe said the project would help improve service delivery, enhance the resilience of local communities and support the development of districts across the state. He also pledged to ensure transparency and accountability in the project’s implementation, calling on government ministries and local authorities to deliver its benefits effectively.

Abdulqadir Elmi, Director General at Somalia’s Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, described the initiative as part of a broader national effort to strengthen decentralisation, empower local governments and improve the quality of public services.

He said the project’s success would depend on close cooperation between the federal government, federal member states, local authorities, communities and international development partners to ensure effective implementation and sustainable results.

Officials said the programme is designed to connect local development priorities with Somalia’s national planning framework, enabling communities to play a greater role in identifying and implementing projects that address their needs.

The launch comes as Somalia continues to advance decentralisation reforms under its National Transformation Plan (2025–2029), with support from international partners seeking to strengthen local government institutions, improve public service delivery and promote inclusive development across the country.

Strengthening local governance and increasing community participation are central to Somalia’s state-building efforts as the country works to expand government institutions beyond major urban centres while supporting long-term stability and economic development.