Towards inclusive governance: Civil society and the future of legislative participation in Somalia

Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Somalia play a critical role in bridging the gap between citizens and state institutions, particularly the legislature. However, their participation in legislative processes remains severely constrained by structural, legal and political limitations. Despite efforts to increase their involvement, CSOs remain largely excluded from meaningful engagement in lawmaking, policy reform and parliamentary oversight.

As part of the Gole-kaab project, NIMD is working alongside Somali NGOs to reverse this trend. We strive to help CSOs take up their rightful place in Somali democracy.

Limited access, limited Voice: Challenges hindering CSO participation

One of the most significant challenges in Somalia is the absence of a legal framework that defines or facilitates CSO participation in parliamentary processes. Although both houses of parliament have procedural rules encouraging sub-committees to engage stakeholders, these provisions are inconsistently applied. CSOs are occasionally invited to consultations on draft legislation, but their inputs are rarely reflected in final laws. This renders such engagement largely symbolic.

Compounding this, there is no formal mechanism through which CSOs can submit proposals, review drafts or track legislation. This has led to a widespread perception among CSOs that the legislative space is not only opaque but also inaccessible. In parallel, several ministries selectively implement laws or delay their enforcement altogether. This further undermines the relevance of CSO feedback and public accountability.

Budget processes are similarly closed off. CSOs have no role in budget formulation or expenditure tracking, and even parliamentary sub-committees often receive financial proposals at the last minute; limiting both review and debate. This further isolates civil society from one of the most critical areas of democratic accountability.

Strengthening the legislative process through civic oversight

That’s where Gole-kaab comes in. Loosely translated as “strengthening parliaments and local councils”, Gole-kaab is a 36-month EU-funded action. Through the project, we aim to build trust and establish strong relationships between the parliament, civil society and citizens of Somalia.

As part of the project, NIMD has been working to address the legislative process in Somalia. We strive to ensure a formal moment during the committee review stages in which CSOs contribute to draft laws.

Thanks to Gole-kaab, CSO working groups have recently gained access to draft legislation and contributed to its development before final readings. This has helped enhance the transparency of legislative procedures. With CSO input, the laws can be more reflective of public and local concerns.

What is Gole-kaab?

The Gole-Kaab project is implemented by NIMD Somali and three CSOs:

• Somalia Non-State Actors Association (SONSA): Leads engagement at the federal level with the Parliament.
• Puntland Non-State Actors Association (PUNSAA): Leads state-level engagement with the Puntland Parliament and amplifies the voice of non-state actors in Puntland.
• Center for Democracy and Sustainable Development (CDSD): Supports implementation at the state and district level in Puntland.

Together, we support civil society organizations to enhance citizen’s awareness and participation in parliamentary proceedings in Somalia. Our main objective is to ensure all groups are heard – amplifying the voices of citizens and enhancing the role of CSOs in advocating for citizen demands in the decision-making process. We also strive to improve civic oversight of parliaments at Somalia’s federal and state levels. We prioritize the interests of the people, and support state-building and peacebuilding through effective oversight of parliamentary proceedings. Ultimately, our project seeks to promote the enactment of laws and policies that protect citizens’ rights and address their needs.

This project is funded by the European Union.