Mogadishu, Somalia — Officials from the Embassy of Finland in Mogadishu met with representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Somalia on Thursday to explore new strategies for expanding access to quality education for all children across the country.
The meeting, held in the Somali capital, focused on strengthening cooperation between Finland and the UNICEF to address persistent challenges facing the education sector. These include limited school infrastructure, shortages of trained teachers, and the urgent need to reach children in rural and conflict-affected areas.
According to both parties, the discussions aimed to identify innovative, sustainable solutions that would ensure every Somali child — regardless of location, gender, or background — has the opportunity to receive a quality education.
Somalia continues to face one of the lowest school enrollment rates in the world, with millions of children out of school due to poverty, insecurity, and climate-related displacement. Finland has been a long-standing supporter of education initiatives in fragile contexts, while the UNICEF plays a leading role in delivering educational programs and resources in Somalia.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration and mobilize resources that would help build resilient, inclusive education systems capable of meeting the needs of Somalia’s next generation.
Officials said further consultations will be held in the coming months to translate Thursday’s discussions into concrete action plans and joint projects.