By Zamzam Daqarre - Reporter
MOGADISHU, 7 October 2026 The International Organization for Migration, the Federal Government of Somalia and the Government of the Netherlands launched a new programme on Monday to strengthen migration management in Somalia, IOM Somalia said.
The programme, part of the IOM-Netherlands strategic partnership known as COMPASS, will focus on access to legal identity, protection services and economic opportunities for vulnerable migrants, returnees and at-risk groups.
Somalia faces complex migration challenges as a country of origin, transit and destination. IOM said thousands of Somalis and other migrants travelling through the country face risks including human trafficking, family separation, lack of documentation and limited access to basic services.
It said the programme will also address factors driving dangerous migration journeys, particularly youth unemployment, the effects of climate change and economic pressures, with a particular focus on the Eastern Route connecting the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Under the programme, IOM plans to strengthen Migration Resource Centres, mobile outreach teams and referral mechanisms. Services to be expanded include healthcare, psychosocial support, protection and reintegration assistance.
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The programme will also support Somalis returning from countries including Saudi Arabia and Yemen by providing dignified reception, protection services and opportunities for reintegration.
It will support government institutions in strengthening civil registration and legal identity systems, expanding registration services in underserved areas and improving coordination among national institutions responsible for identity management.
On the economic front, the programme will fund skills development, employment services and labour migration management, while strengthening cooperation with technical and vocational education and training institutions.
IOM and the Somali government also plan for the programme to contribute to the development of migration data and legal identity systems, data protection and information-sharing mechanisms, enabling government institutions to access accurate information to inform migration-related policies and decisions.
The programme will also emphasise locally tailored solutions that take into account conflict-affected settings and strengthen social cohesion, ensuring that returnees and the communities to which they return can benefit from development opportunities.