The Center for Inclusive and Accountable Governance (CIAG) is a nonpolitical, nonprofit organization founded by women activists. Its primary focus is on improving the leadership positions of women in Somaliland. The group consists of nine women with diverse backgrounds and professional statuses, all of whom ran for parliamentary and local elections in 2021.
Our main goal is to change the status quo and address the long-standing absence of significant progress in women’s political and decision-making roles. We aim to achieve 20% women’s representation in the parliamentary and local elections of 2026 and beyond. We also working an increase of women holding public office from the current 2% to 15%. CIAG aspires to become center of Excellence and a hub for discussions, dialogue, and understanding among women activists and male allies, tackling challenges that subjugate women under the guise of religion and tradition. Additionally, the will address issues of governance and accountability to ensure transparent and responsible leadership
CIAG envisions a Somaliland where women have equal opportunities and representation in all spheres of life, leading to a society that is inclusive, fair, just, and accountable.
To achieve women’s full potential in leadership and their capability to stand for and win public office, while advocating for transparent and accountable governance.
We focus on key areas to drive impactful change and sustainable development. Explore our priority themes
At CIAG, our approaches are carefully designed to be responsive to the specific challenges and issues facing our society and communities. To accomplish our envisioned objectives, we employ a diverse range of methods, emphasizing education and awareness programs that are specifically tailored to address these challenges.
Our focus is twofold: we aim to empower women directly while also fostering broader societal understanding and engagement. Another key aspect of our work involves establishing and advocating for the creation of robust networking and support systems.
At CIAG, we are committed to empowering women leaders and aspiring politicians by providing comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources. We recognize that women equipped with essential leadership knowledge, education, and mentorship have a greater capacity to navigate and overcome the challenges presented by social and cultural barriers.
Drawing from our experience and deep understanding of the issues faced by women, our leadership development approach encompasses a meticulously designed cycle.
Center of inclusive accountable and good governance CIAG organized a consultation meeting on February 23, 2025, in Burao, Togdheer region, inviting 40 women to enhance their participation in the upcoming 2026 elections. This gathering brought together female political aspirants, including
On December 24-25, 2024, under our Promoting Inclusive and Accountable Governance in Somaliland project, supported by Heinrich Boell Stiftung (HBS) International Programs, we conducted a two-day Leadership Training Workshop in Hargeisa. The workshop brought together 40 young women from various professional
Through our programs aimed at change and reform for improved governance and accountability, there are many ways for you to get involved. Even simply sharing our efforts can help or you can become an integral part of our teams in any functional area that aligns with your contributions or you donate our efforts. For more information, please feel free to contact us
The Center for Inclusive and Accountable Governance (CIAG) is a nonpolitical, nonprofit organization founded by women activists. Its primary focus is on improving the leadership positions of women in Somaliland.