ITP Success case - Somalia

Laying the foundations for national maritime spatial planning

By strengthening knowledge, coordination and dialogue across key ministries, Somalia has taken initial but concrete steps toward a nationally coordinated approach to MSP.

“Directors and senior managers in participating ministries have been briefed on MSP. This has increased appreciation of MSP as a tool to reduce conflicts among marine users, support sustainable blue economy investments and meet international commitments.”

Fragmented governance slowing progress

With the longest coastline on mainland Africa ranging over 3,300 km along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, Somalia’s marine space is central to its economic future, food security and climate resilience. Blue economy sectors such as fisheries, maritime transport and coastal tourism are growing in importance. Despite rising political attention to ocean governance, Somalia lacks a formal MSP policy or legislation. Responsibilities are spread across multiple ministries with overlapping mandates, while marine and coastal data remain fragmented and poorly standardised. Technical capacity in GIS, spatial analysis, stakeholder engagement and MSP design is still limited. These gaps create inefficiencies, increase the risk of user conflicts and slow blue economy development.

Building momentum through institutional change

The Somali MSP team adopted a shared vision to build a nationally coordinated, data-prepared and legally supported MSP process. To put the vision into practice, each participant designed a change project linked to their institutional mandate and areas of responsibility. The Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy established an MSP working group and initiated work on a national framework and policy for MSP. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change integrated ecosystem and climate perspectives into MSP discussions. The Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport addressed fragmented maritime data and spatial guidance needs. The Ministry of Telecommunications and Technology explored digital solutions for data sharing, while the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources examined MSP’s role in managing offshore activities.

Key outcomes: from awareness to practical coordination

• Participation in the ITP MSP programme strengthened understanding of spatial planning workflows, ecosystem-based tools and stakeholder mapping. Participants conducted internal briefings at their respective ministry that increased managerial awareness of MSP and its links to national reforms.
• An informal MSP working group was established, bringing together focal points from key institutions. The group agreed on shared priorities, including developing an MSP legal framework, creating a national overview of MSP-related data with minimum standards for data sharing and management, and clarifying institutional roles.
• Work also advanced the MSP Somali Forum, a broader platform for government, private sector, academia and community representatives. The forum has begun to strengthen dialogue, transparency and trust around marine governance.

Conditions that enabled the change

Collective learning

The ITP MSP programme strengthened technical knowledge of ecosystem-based management and spatial tools.

Institutional ownership

Participating ministries implemented change projects within their mandates while contributing to a shared direction.

Emerging coordination platforms

The MSP working group and MSP Somali Forum created practical spaces for cross-sector dialogue.

Strategic relevance

MSP was actively linked to biodiversity, blue economy and climate priorities.

From initiation to institutionalisation

Somalia has taken important early steps toward more coordinated maritime spatial planning. MSP is increasingly part of cross-sector dialogue, but the process remains in an early phase. Next steps include formalising the MSP legal framework, institutionalising data management, clarifying roles and securing sustained political and technical support. Individual change projects have catalysed progress, but long-term impact will depend on continued institutionalisation and follow-up.