EMPHNET’s engagement with Somalia dates back to the early years of the network and has expanded significantly over time. What began with knowledge exchange and collaboration with Somali public health professionals has grown into broader support for immunization, emergency preparedness and response, workforce development, community engagement, and evidence generation.

Today, EMPHNET is registered as an operating entity in Somalia and works with health authorities, partners, consultants, experts, and communities across multiple regions and levels of the health system.

Our Work in Somalia

Strengthening the Public Health Workforce

EMPHNET supports public health workforce development in Somalia through capacity building, knowledge exchange, and opportunities for public health professionals and emerging talent. Somali experts have contributed to regional Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs), EMPHNET conferences, and initiatives of the International Academy of Public Health (IAPH), while Somali professionals have participated in learning opportunities, research mini-grants, and the EMPHNET Engage Internship Program.

Strengthening Immunization Systems

EMPHNET works with Somalia’s health authorities to strengthen routine immunization, particularly in underserved and remote communities. Support has included strengthening routine immunization microplanning, training EPI staff, validating health facility microplans, conducting field assessments, and identifying barriers affecting implementation and service delivery.

EMPHNET has also strengthened supportive supervision across health facilities and supported immunization governance and evidence-based decision-making, including support for the functionality of Somalia’s National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG). In addition, logistical support has been provided for polio eradication and measles surveillance, with a focus on strengthening surveillance data management and routine immunization.

Enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response

EMPHNET has supported Somalia in strengthening capacities to detect and respond to public health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, EMPHNET worked with Africa CDC through the PACT initiative to strengthen community-based surveillance, train supervisors and community health workers, and support household-level identification of suspected cases. Community health workers and volunteers reached 20,432 households during a three-month deployment.

EMPHNET has also supported preparedness and response to polio and other vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks through the development of standard operating procedures and customized Rapid Response Team training. Through this support, 140 EPI and RRT district officers were trained.

Empowering Communities

Community engagement plays an important role in EMPHNET’s work to improve immunization access in Somalia, particularly among nomadic and underserved populations. Community mobilizers and community health volunteers have supported outreach sessions, household visits, social mobilization, community dialogue, and engagement with community elders and care group mothers to promote immunization and health-seeking behaviors.

In 2025, these efforts helped vaccinate 5,327 children, including 4,381 zero-dose children, while more than 41,000 people from nomadic communities were reached through door-to-door social mobilization. A community-based surveillance manual was also developed and distributed to community health volunteers to support their work.

Advancing Disease Prevention

EMPHNET supports disease prevention in Somalia through immunization, surveillance, outbreak preparedness, and efforts to reach populations with limited access to health services. This has included support for polio eradication and measles surveillance, active case searches for polio and zoonotic diseases, and community-based activities aimed at identifying unreached children and strengthening vaccination uptake.

Through outreach and supplementary immunization activities, EMPHNET-supported community teams have also helped identify and vaccinate zero-dose children while strengthening awareness of immunization and disease prevention among nomadic communities.

Check out EMPHNET’s Presence in Somalia.