In Somalia, the EU supports education reforms through its bilateral cooperation portfolio where education and training has been identified as a priority sector. The European Union is substantially involved in the positive education trends that have emerged in Somalia over the recent years.

The Somalia Education Systems Support Programme (SESSP), funded by the EU, aims to strengthen Somalia’s education sector by enhancing governance, policy implementation, and education quality across federal and state levels. The project supports education ministries in harmonising policies, implementing a national curriculum, improving quality assurance, and establishing a robust assessment framework. Key activities include capacity building, textbook development, strengthening financial management in education, and expanding national examinations. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders and ensuring transparency, the programme contributes to a more resilient and inclusive education system, ultimately improving access to quality education for Somali children, youth, and adults.

What the project has achieved so far:

Policy & Planning

• Established inter-ministerial education forums and policy coordination groups.
• Developed 17 key policy and planning documents, including the National Education Act and Gender Policy.
• Conducted a five-year Education Sector Analysis to identify sector-wide challenges.
• Improved education data collection and management systems for evidence-based policy-making.

Curriculum Development

• Developed 62 primary school textbooks across core subjects.
• Reviewed and aligned Grades 5–8 textbooks with the National Curriculum Framework.
• Supported curriculum alignment in Somaliland and Puntland.
• Created a Textbook Policy to guide the development, production, and distribution of learning materials.
• Trained 250 textbook writers and evaluators, ensuring gender-sensitive and inclusive content.

Quality Assurance

• Established Somalia’s first Quality Assurance Department within the Ministry of Education.
• Developed a national Quality Assurance Standards and Framework.
• Trained 300+ quality assurance officers in using assessment tools.
• Designed quality assurance tools, including Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments.
• National Examinations & Assessments
• Developed a National Assessment Framework for evaluating education outcomes.
• Expanded Grade 8 exams to all five federal member states, increasing participation from 7,000 to 54,000 students.
• Extended Grade 12 exams to additional states, leading to a 21% increase in candidates.
• Trained 140 item writers, 356 supervisors, 2,600 invigilators, and 400 markers, improving examination reliability.

Financial Management & Governance

• Strengthened financial transparency within education ministries.
• Trained officials in public financial management (PFM), budgeting, and internal auditing.
• Developed tools to monitor and improve financial decision-making in the education sector.
• Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
• Hosted a Lessons Learning Conference with government officials, development partners (e.g., UNICEF, USAID), and education stakeholders.
• Promoted awareness and visibility of EU support for Somalia’s education sector.