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Women in Somalia face many challenges when it comes to securing paid work and bear the brunt of hardships resulting from poverty, conflict, and a clan-based culture which promotes strict male hierarchy and authority. Social norms determine women’s participation in all levels of public life and largely exclude them from formal decision-making and asset ownership.

Making Waves

Our new weekly national radio magazine programme, Making Waves, aims to support women in Somalia to develop the knowledge, confidence, and financial literacy to exercise full economic rights and enjoy equal financial opportunities as men.

Broadcast via the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Somali Service, as well as via five local broadcasters, the show features engaging drama and discussion content to positively influence the value placed on women’s economic role in society – both at the household and community level – and challenge the harmful stigma holding them back. It also provides women with practical information on business opportunities and available financial services, such as grants and loans, to help kick-start their careers.

Training and mentoring

In addition to the radio show, we’re delivering specialised business skills training to 400 Somali women, including 180 women from marginalised backgrounds. This training will cover financial and business management, marketing, customer relations, business leadership and problem solving.

Once participants have completed the training, we will link them with financial services opportunities, business networks and mentors so they can continue to develop their skills and explore work opportunities.

Capacity strengthening

Through the project, we’re also providing capacity strengthening to the five broadcast partner stations – covering topics ranging from editorial policy, ethics, and gender equality in the media sector – to support the production of high-quality, locally relevant multimedia content that resonates with female and male audiences alike.

Recent evaluation research found females listeners were inspired from hearing various women in business explain their business journey and how they succeeded through patience and persistence. They learnt ways to improve their business including saving and documenting their finances and understanding profit and loss. Male listeners understood more about the role that women could play in business. It helped them feel more confident in women’s ability to succeed, and it had encouraged some to support their wives in business more.

Project information