Baidoa, Southwest – Baidoa Municipality has unveiled a new digital citizen engagement platform, Fariin Maal (http://Fariin-Maal.so), designed to strengthen interaction and communication between government institutions and the public. The initiative, launched on Tuesday by Baidoa Mayor Abdullahi Ali Watiin, is expected to transform how citizens in Southwest State connect with their local administration.
According to Mayor Watiin, the platform provides a more transparent, faster, and user-friendly channel for residents to participate in decision-making processes, access municipal services, and share feedback with authorities.
“This is an important step in bringing government closer to the people,” the Mayor noted, emphasizing that citizen input is vital for building accountability and trust.
Fariin Maal allows residents to raise concerns, track service delivery, and contribute ideas on governance matters from their phones or computers. By bridging the gap between the community and municipal leadership, the platform aims to enhance collaboration, promote inclusive governance, and improve responsiveness to public needs.
The project was developed with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Somalia through the Saameynta Project, which focuses on strengthening governance and state-building initiatives across the country.
Local leaders and community members welcomed the launch, describing it as a milestone in modernizing governance in Baidoa, a city that has faced both rapid population growth and significant humanitarian challenges in recent years. The municipality hopes the platform will set an example for other Somali cities seeking to harness digital tools for more open and participatory governance.