TASS in close collaboration with Samuel Hall, held Participatory Forum 1 in Bossaso, Puntland, Somalia, focusing on validating research findings and identifying priority (re)integration issues. This initiative was supported by the European Union through ICMPD.
The forum brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including officials from the Bossaso municipality, the Puntland Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Democratization. Additional Bari region representatives included members from other Puntland ministries, security personnel, civil society organizations, refugee- and returnee-led organizations, community representatives, youth, women, and private sector actors. The goal was to ensure that planning priorities and solutions reflected both research evidence and lived experiences.
As part of the Local Leadership East African Return and Reintegration Network (LLEARN), these forums aim to promote inclusive and coordinated (re)integration planning in target East African cities like Bossaso. Participatory Forums within the LLEARN project are designed to translate research findings into action, transitioning from understanding challenges to jointly defining priorities, solutions, and pathways for inclusion in local and national planning processes.
These forums emphasize inclusive facilitation, evidence-based discussions, and careful attention to power dynamics to ensure meaningful participation from displaced groups, women, youth, and local stakeholders.
