By Zakaria Hassan - Reporter
Somalia, 11 May 2026 Somalia’s Public Works and Housing Ministry plans a housing policy to improve standards and provide durable homes for vulnerable families, it said.
The policy seeks to improve the quality and design of homes built for communities across the country, particularly displaced families living in temporary shelters.
A final meeting to review and approve the policy framework was held on Monday in Mogadishu, attended by government officials and representatives from partner institutions.
The Director General of Public Works and Housing, Farah Abdinur Ahmed, said the government wanted to establish unified housing standards for projects implemented by aid agencies and other organizations supporting displaced communities.
“We are working toward quality housing with at least two rooms and a veranda, where people can live with dignity,” Ahmed said.
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“We are moving away from shelters made of plastic and corrugated metal toward durable housing,” he added.
He also said the policy was intended to standardize housing development across Somalia’s federal member states to ensure displaced and vulnerable families receive housing that meets minimum quality standards.
Officials said the policy is expected to be submitted to Somalia’s cabinet for approval before being signed by the prime minister.
The ministry officials said the drafting which began in late 2025 had reached its final stages.
Somalia faces significant housing challenges linked to conflict, displacement, drought and rapid urbanization, with thousands of families living in temporary settlements across major cities.