Masaf Spaces Launches Operations in Somalia as Part of Its Pan-African Expansion Strategy

MASAF has launched operations in Somalia, marking the organization's first expansion beyond Ethiopia and a concrete step toward its Pan-African vision. The Somalia office will adapt the MASAF Spaces model to local realities, offering skills training, entrepreneurship support, and community programming to Somali youth.

"Our expansion into Somalia is a natural extension of who we are," said Ahmed Taman Hasen, MASAF's Founder and Executive Director. "The communities we serve don't stop at national borders. Somali youth in Mogadishu face the same barriers as Somali youth in Jigjiga — and they deserve the same pathways to opportunity."

The Somalia operation will begin with digital skills programming and entrepreneurship training, leveraging MASAF's existing curricula and partner network while building new relationships with local employers, civil society organizations, and government agencies. A dedicated Somalia office has been established with a local coordinator and contact email (somaliaoffice@masaf.co).

This expansion is the first test of MASAF's repeatable model — proving that the approach developed in Jigjiga can be adapted to new contexts without losing its core commitment to inclusive, youth-led development. Future expansion plans include additional locations across the Horn of Africa.