This report is the result of a two-year collaborative project aimed at assessing the state of human capital development in Somalia and creating an inclusive, indigenous and sustainable national human capital development strategy.

A consortium comprising the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS) and City University of Mogadishu (CU) produced five baseline studies (education, health, labour,agriculture/livestock and fisheries) and developed strategies to improve the state of human capital development in the country. Key ministries of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) assisted us by granting our researchers unfettered access to their data, particularly the ministries of planning, labor, education and health. Other national and regional government entities, education sector stakeholders, major employers and chambers of commerce at the FGS and FMS level also supported the research by providing data and participating in interviews and focus group discussions.

Research objectives

The research sought to accomplish the following four key objectives:

(a) Conduct comprehensive baseline studies on education, labor, health, and productive sectors (agriculture, fisheries and livestock)
(b) Develop a Somali-led national human capital development strategy
(c) Propose ways to synchronize the efforts of human capital stakeholders to ensure the success of the human capital development strategy
(d) Secure endorsement and support from key stakeholders for the development of a human capital strategy, its inclusion in the National Development Plan (NDP-9), and the adoption of human capital development as a national priority.