About
NAFIS Network is a national, non-political, non-governmental, and humanitarian civil society network established in November 2006 in Hargeisa, Somaliland. NAFIS brings together 25 member organizations working across Somaliland, providing a platform for coordination, collective action, advocacy, knowledge sharing, and partnership around issues affecting women, girls and communities.
Our Background
NAFIS Network is a national, non-political, non-governmental and humanitarian civil society network established in November 2006 in Hargeisa, Somaliland. NAFIS brings together 25 member organizations working across Somaliland, providing a platform for coordination, collective action, advocacy, knowledge sharing, and partnership around issues affecting women, girls and communities.
NAFIS Network was established in 2006 by local civil society organizations committed to advancing women’s rights, gender equality, and the prevention and response to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG); and the eradication of harmful practices, including FGM. Since its founding, NAFIS has grown into a national civil society network that strengthens the protection, participation, and empowerment of women and girls, enhances safeguarding and access to essential health services, and promotes inclusive and sustainable social development across Somaliland.
lEADERSHIP
NAFIS NETWORK is women-led in its governance and organizational leadership. Women hold key decision-making and senior leadership positions within the Network, including leadership within its governance structures and senior management. This means that NAFIS’s strategic direction, programs, advocacy, and partnerships directly reflect women’s experiences, priorities, and perspectives.
While NAFIS is a network of diverse civil society organizations, its collective work is strongly grounded in advancing the rights, protection, participation, and empowerment of women and girls.
Our Approach
NAFIS works through its 25 member organizations, community structures, women’s groups, and civic actors to strengthen locally led solutions and collective action. We connect community‑level realities with national advocacy, policy engagement, research, capacity building, and dialogue with government and civil society. Our approach integrates women’s rights, VAWG prevention, community mobilization, empowerment, policy advocacy, and civil society coordination. We also support community‑based models, such as Self‑Help Groups (SHGs), as hosting organizations of People’s institutions in Somaliland that enable women and communities to organize, build capacity, mobilize resources, and participate meaningfully in decisions that shape their lives.
Our Goal
To strengthen the protection, participation, and empowerment of women and girls in Somaliland through gender‑responsive services, community‑driven action, and inclusive development.
Specific Objectives
- Strengthen governance, accountability, and coordination across NAFIS and its 25 member organizations.
- Enhance safeguarding, protection, and access to essential health and SRH services for women and girls.
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Expand resource mobilization, partnerships, and visibility to sustain impactful programming.
- Empower women’s leadership and climate resilience through skills development and community engagement.
- Advance rights‑based policy reforms through evidence generation, advocacy, and inclusive decision‑making.
A Somaliland where women and girls live empowered lives,free from violence, discrimination, and exclusion, and actively contribute to social, economic, and environmental resilience.
To drive systemic social change by strengthening governance, advancing gender equality, and empowering women and girls through rights‑based, inclusive, and community‑led development. NAFIS works collaboratively with its 25 member organizations and partners to expand protection and health services, promote women’s leadership, influence policy reform, and build resilient communities across Somaliland.
- Women and girls are safeguarded, empowered, and actively shaping inclusive protection and health services.
- Member organizations operate with transparent, accountable, and collaborative governance systems.
- NAFIS and its members are better resourced, more visible, and equipped to mobilize partnerships and funding.
- Women lead climate action and strengthen community resilience through practical, locally driven solutions.
- Policies and laws become more inclusive, gender‑responsive, and evidence‑based, shaped by empowered citizens and advocacy coalitions.
- Accountability: We uphold transparent, ethical, and responsible governance across all member organizations.
- Collaboration: We work collectively with communities, partners, and institutions to drive shared impact.
- Inclusivity: We ensure equitable participation and access for women, girls, and marginalized groups.
- Integrity: We maintain honesty, professionalism, and respect in all our engagements.
- Empowerment: We strengthen women’s leadership, agency, and community-driven solutions.
- Evidence-Based Action: We rely on research, learning, and data to inform decisions and influence policy.
- Resilience : We support adaptive, sustainable approaches that strengthen communities against social and climate-related challenges.