Hormuud Salaam Foundation Participates in African Displacement Forum in Nairobi, Kenya

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somalia’s Hormuud Salaam Foundation [HSF] joined government officials, international organizations, and private sector leaders at a three-day forum in Nairobi focused on improving conditions for Africa’s displaced and refugee populations.

The African Displacement and Refugee Forum, held April 28–30 and organized by the Amahoro Coalition with support from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), brought together delegates from across the continent to discuss sustainable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.

The Hormuud Salaam Foundation was praised during the forum for its continued efforts to support Somalia’s displaced communities, who are in dire need of support, including permanent housing.

In November 2024, at a forum in Geneva, co-hosted by the UN and Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, the CEO of Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF), Abdullahi Osman, unveiled a major initiative to tackle displacement in Somalia. Osman announced the donation of land valued at $7 million for the permanent resettlement of 10,000 families displaced by conflict, environmental degradation, and climate change.

This contribution was highlighted in the Nairobi conference as a model of private sector engagement during a video presentation that was well-received by attendees representing donors, aid agencies, and the private sector.

“Hormuud Salaam Foundation, as the largest humanitarian foundation in Somalia, plays a vital role in responding to displacement,” said Foundation Chairman Abdullahi Nur Osman. “In addition to land donations, our parent company, Hormuud Telecom, facilitates financial aid distribution through mobile money [EVCPlus], ensuring that displaced families receive timely support. This system has significantly improved their livelihoods and made a notable impact on Somalia's economy.”

Forum participants also visited Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp and reflected on field visits to Dadaab earlier this year, aiming to understand first-hand the needs of displaced populations.

For her part, Zahro Abdi, Director General of Somalia’s Center for Rural Development and Durable Solutions, speaking at the event, has emphasized the importance of private sector engagement in creating long-term solutions.

“Nearly 4 million people in Somalia live as internally displaced persons,” Abdi said. “At this forum, we discussed how private companies can be part of the solution — from supporting livelihoods to contributing land for resettlement. We also examined how to ensure the best way to resettle the IDPs at HSF-donated land and help them able to rebuild their lives and reach a point of self-sufficiency.”

The forum underscored the critical role of partnerships in tackling the growing displacement crisis in Africa, with Hormuud Salaam Foundation, the charity arm of Hormuud Telecom and Salaam Somali Bank reaffirming its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE