Somali women are crucial contributors to the economy but are often still overlooked and undervalued. Despite their pivotal role in micro and small enterprises, they are frequently marginalised in formal sectors. Their historical resilience as breadwinners, especially during economic crises, has not received due recognition. Priority issues that have surged to the forefront, gathering momentum and emerging as priorities for Somali women in recent years have largely and haphazardly been shaped by and around, national and international events. A dominating and negative narrative of gender related issues as being externally imposed and incompatible with cultural and religious norms has regrettably resulted in a rejection of projects and initiative aimed at strengthening the role of women in Somali society. To work around negative stigmas and fears of externally imposed values, a critical mass of diverse voices and strategic partnerships are needed to lend their credibility and shore up support for efforts to strengthen the role of women.

About the Initiative 

Ardaa is a Somali-led initiative that Re-imagines the Female Economy, with a vision of expanding women’s economic opportunities through exchanges of working solutions and creative strategies. Ardaa establishes new partnerships between gender advocates, policymakers, large companies and sector experts, which is critical to disrupting old ways of thinking and creating a society that recognizes, respects and harnesses the economic power and potential of women all while addressing economic and market disparities. Ardaa was started in 2016 however is a timeless initiative that continues to create and use openings to organise actions by maintaining flexibility and recognising the need for a step change when there is insufficient movement in efforts to promote women’s role in the economy.

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Outcomes

Asal mobilised the largest Somali corporations, prominent media outlets and influential civil society organisations to sponsors, partner and promote Ardaa, making it the largest partnership of diverse actors coming together for a single campaign.

• Asal conducted research focusing on women’s experiences in enterprise development, interviewing 950 women in the market in three major cities: Hargeisa, Garowe and Mogadishu. Therefore the study captured the voices and documented the experiences of businesswomen to contribute to generate wider dialogue on women’s economic inclusion by government, public institutions, private sector leaders, civil society organisations, and international donors.
• Asal also organised women’s economic summits in Hargeisa, Garowe, and Mogadishu in August 2016 with each summit attracting between 100-150 participants consisting of businesswomen, government ministers, corporations, Ardaa sponsors, supporters and media partners. Learning and research data on women’s economic participation helped advance discussions around workable solutions to enhance women’s access to financial services, enterprise development and microfinance. Businesswoman mogul Amina Hersi Mogeh, the wealthiest and most successful businesswoman in Uganda and the wealthiest Somali businesswomen became the official champion of Ardaa and attended the Hargeisa symposium.
• The de-politicization of efforts to expand women’s access to greater economic opportunities has been a significant win for women and for this initiative. This came as a result of extensive relationship building with key stakeholders and dialogue to create common ground and commitment to the shared objective of promoting women’s role in the economy across the entire Somali peninsula.

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