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“Empowerment should not be measured by promises or participation alone, but by the power people gain to shape their futures.” Zamzam Daqare
Few words in modern development discourse have travelled as widely as empowerment. It appears in government speeches, NGO reports and donor strategies — a term associated with progress and the promise of change. Yet in Somalia, empowerment too often remains an aspiration rather than a reality.
Young people are encouraged to become leaders, communities are promised greater participation, and citizens are told that development programmes will help them shape their futures. But how much power has actually reached the people these initiatives are intended to empower?
As a young Somali journalist observing the country’s political and development landscape, I have become increasingly interested in the difference between what institutions promise and what citizens experience.
For me, empowerment is not simply about being included in a programme, invited to a conference or recognised in a political speech. It is about having the freedom, resources and influence to make decisions that shape one’s life and surroundings.
In Somalia’s post-conflict reconstruction, international development programmes helped popularise the language of empowerment, particularly around youth participation, gender inclusion and community development.
Governments, development partners and civil society organisations have embraced these priorities through policies and programmes, some of which have expanded access to education, skills and opportunities.
However, empowerment has also acquired political value. Promising inclusion can help institutions demonstrate progress and strengthen public credibility, even when practical results remain limited.
A youth conference may bring hundreds of participants together without giving them influence over public policy. A community consultation may collect opinions without explaining how they will shape decisions. A training programme may provide certificates without creating a realistic pathway to employment.
These activities can be valuable, but attendance and participation figures alone cannot establish whether meaningful empowerment has occurred.
The same challenge appears in political representation.
Young Somalis are regularly described as the country’s future. Their energy and potential are celebrated in speeches and national forums, yet being recognised as the future means little if opportunities to influence the present remain limited.
Similar concerns affect women, marginalised communities and other citizens whose voices may be absent from important decisions.
Empowerment should not become representation without power — a photo opportunity rather than a genuine shift in decision-making authority.
One of Somalia’s continuing governance challenges is translating public commitments into sustainable policies.
Empowerment cannot depend entirely on individual political leaders, temporary development projects or external funding. It requires functioning institutions and opportunities that remain after programmes end.
Consider youth employment.
An entrepreneurship initiative may offer training, mentorship and certificates. But what happens afterward? Can participants access financing? Are there markets for their businesses? Do public institutions provide the support needed to operate and expand?
These are questions of policy, not merely project implementation.
For many Somalis, empowerment means earning a living, supporting a family, establishing a business or pursuing an education that leads to employment.
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Somalia’s entrepreneurial culture demonstrates considerable initiative, but limited financing, inadequate infrastructure and skills gaps can prevent people from turning ambition into sustainable livelihoods.
For a university graduate, empowerment is not simply receiving a certificate. It is having an opportunity to apply acquired knowledge. For a small-business owner, it means accessing finance, markets and legal protections that support growth.
The same principle applies to community development. Encouraging citizens to participate in planning has limited meaning if their priorities cannot influence budgets, public services or local decisions.
Development initiatives should therefore be judged by whether they create lasting opportunities, rather than how many activities they organise.
Perhaps the most important dimension of empowerment is the relationship between citizens and the institutions governing them.
An empowered citizen should be able to seek justice, question public spending, demand accountability and participate in decisions affecting their community.
Yet weak institutions, unequal access to resources, political connections and social expectations can restrict these opportunities.
For empowerment to become meaningful, citizens need practical ways to exercise their rights, including access to information, responsive public institutions and fair administrative procedures.
This also requires a change in how leadership and participation are understood. Experience deserves respect, but age, status and established connections should not become barriers to new ideas or younger voices.
As a young Somali, I do not believe empowerment should mean replacing one group of decision-makers with another. It should mean expanding citizens’ ability to participate and exercise influence, regardless of their background.
Somalia does not lack discussions about empowerment. What remains necessary is a stronger connection between public commitments and everyday realities.
Government institutions should translate promises into measurable policies, development partners should prioritise lasting outcomes, and citizens should have a meaningful role in defining the priorities intended to benefit them.
For my generation, empowerment means contributing to Somalia’s future rather than merely being told that we represent it.
It should not depend on proximity to political power or temporary assistance. It should allow people to exercise their rights, pursue opportunities and shape their futures with independence and dignity.
Empowerment must evolve from a borrowed slogan into a social contract — one where power is shared, rights are protected and every citizen has a voice in shaping the nation’s path.
Only then will a word that travels so well finally begin to change something.
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Zamzam Daqare is a Somali political journalist and editor whose work focuses on politics, governance and development.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Dawan Africa.