From October 5–6, 2025, EMPHNET hosted senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Human Services of the Federal Republic of Somalia, led by H.E. Dr. Ali Haji Adam, Minister of Health. The delegation included the Head of Educational Training, the Senior Advisor, the Head of the Vaccines and Immunization Unit, and EMPHNET’s Nomadic Project Coordinator. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration, discuss priority public health areas, and advance joint initiatives. It builds on the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to improve health services, enhance disease surveillance, and foster partnerships to reinforce the health system despite existing challenges.

The two-day visit set the stage for in-depth discussions on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EMPHNET and the Ministry. Dialogues also focused on future public health initiatives for collaboration and resource mobilization, revisiting priorities and scope, expanding EMPHNET’s physical presence in Somalia, and advancing public health emergency management, and capacity-building initiatives.

Highlighting the importance of this renewed collaboration, H.E. Dr. Ali Haji Adam, Minister of Health, stated: “Somalia has been facing numerous challenges and conflicts, and we remain committed to serving our communities. Partnerships like this renewed agreement with EMPHNET demonstrate our dedication to building a stronger, more resilient health system in Somalia. Through this collaboration, we aim to enhance our capacity to respond to public health challenges and expand essential services, such as immunization, for our people. EMPHNET has been a trusted partner, and this renewed partnership opens new opportunities for impactful initiatives that will contribute to the health and well-being of Somali communities.”

A key milestone of the visit was the re-signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), finalized following extensive discussions that reinforced the shared commitment to advancing public health in Somalia. Commenting on this milestone, Dr. Mohannad Al Nsour, EMPHNET’s Executive Director, said: “Our partnership with the Somalia Ministry of Health and Human Services is grounded in a shared vision of resilient and sustainable health systems. By renewing this MoU, we are not only strengthening our collaboration but also paving the way for new opportunities to support Somalia’s health priorities, and build capacities.”

The discussions concluded with a set of recommendations, including the establishment of a joint communication platform, conducting a joint needs assessment on workforce training and laboratory capacities, initiating One Health activities such as joint training and epidemic intelligence pilots, and supporting Somalia in developing the concept and framework for its National Institute of Health.

Over the past fifteen years, the partnership between Somalia and EMPHNET has evolved through distinct phases, each characterized by an expanding scope of collaboration. It began with knowledge exchange, progressed through critical emergency response efforts during COVID-19, and expanded to support the immunization program. Today, it emphasizes institutionalized support focused on technical capacity building, workforce development, and addressing communicable and non-communicable disease threats.