Baidoa, SONNA – The Somalia Humanitarian Forum 2025 (CHF 2025), hosted by the Somali Disaster Management Authority (SoDMA), officially opened today in Baidoa, the interim capital of South West State. The multi-stakeholder conference brings together national and international actors to address Somalia’s pressing humanitarian challenges through a unified, inclusive, and coordinated response.
The Somalia Humanitarian Forum 2025 serves as a vital platform to reassess, align, and reinforce humanitarian interventions across the country. Convened by SoDMA, the conference has drawn participation from federal and state institutions, United Nations agencies, international and local NGOs, civil society actors, and donor representatives.
The central theme of the forum is enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of humanitarian efforts in Somalia, particularly in the face of ongoing climate-induced shocks, displacement, food insecurity, and limited access to basic services.
Participants are engaging in high-level discussions on key priorities, including:
- Strengthening coordination mechanisms between federal, state, and humanitarian partners;
- Improving the flow and management of humanitarian financing;
- Promoting local leadership in disaster response;
- Enhancing resilience-building in drought and flood-affected communities; and
- Fostering transparent and inclusive decision-making across sectors.
Opening remarks by officials emphasized the importance of building a collective humanitarian architecture that is responsive to local needs and rooted in sustainable solutions. The forum also provides an opportunity to review the current humanitarian response plans and to identify gaps in delivery, accountability, and partnership frameworks.
In his address, the Commissioner of SoDMA reiterated Somalia’s commitment to leading its humanitarian agenda and called for stronger alignment between international support and nationally driven strategies.
As the conference continues over the coming days, CHF 2025 is expected to culminate in concrete recommendations, joint action points, and renewed commitments that will guide the country’s humanitarian roadmap for the years ahead.
The choice of Baidoa as the venue reflects the region’s critical role in humanitarian operations, as well as the South West State’s experience in managing complex emergencies and hosting displaced populations.
