By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, July 19 2026 – Somalia's South West State on Sunday launched the Bulsho Project, a World Bank-backed initiative aimed at strengthening local governance and community resilience as the federal government seeks to expand decentralization and improve public services.
South West State leader Sheikh Aden Nur ‘Madobe’ inaugurated the programme in Baidoa, saying stronger local institutions were essential for sustainable development, effective public services and social cohesion.
Regional leader said the project aims to strengthen local government institutions, increase public participation in development planning and improve cooperation between communities and local authorities.
The launch was attended by regional ministers, the Director General of the Federal Ministry of Interior, governors, district commissioners and development partners, according to South West State.
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The project is part of the federal government's Bulsho Programme (2025–2030), led by the Ministry of Interior, with support from the World Bank. The programme aims to strengthen local institutions, improve social cohesion and expand local governance and services across Somalia.
The programme will be implemented across Somalia's federal member states and focuses on extending local governance and public services to underserved and hard-to-reach areas while strengthening trust between communities and government institutions.
The federal government launched the national Bulsho programme in April, describing it as a key pillar of Somalia's decentralization strategy and efforts to improve local service delivery.