The question
How can reconciliation priorities be grounded in the experiences of Somali communities? The Heshiis Beeg pilot combined a household survey in six districts of Puntland and Southwest State with local consultation and validation. It connects measures of conciliation and stability with Somaliaโs National Reconciliation Framework.
Supported by Somalia Stability Fund III, the work brought together SeeD, Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC), DhaxalReeb, and BuildUp. Discussions with Somali government and civil-society stakeholders helped shape the questions, alongside focus groups, key-informant interviews, and participatory workshops. The framework covers trust, justice, inclusion, governance, and interclan relations, rather than treating reconciliation as a single score.
Research design and validation
The survey included 1,648 respondents. Statistical models translated the collected evidence into findings and practical entry points for peacebuilding.
Implementation and validation also involved coordination with federal and state-level ministries, UN agencies, and seven donor embassies, including UK/FCDO representatives. Political actors could be gatekeepers to research access and institutional cooperation, so the measurement framework and the way it was implemented had to respond to fragility rather than assuming a neutral setting.
What the research brings into view
Family cohesion and community cooperation are associated with interclan harmony and openness to reconciliation. The pilot also shows why inclusive leadership and local resource management belong in the conversation. These are findings from the sampled districts, not estimates for all of Somalia.
The report and public results provide a baseline for discussing local priorities and monitoring future change. They identify practical entry points for programming; they do not, on their own, demonstrate that a particular intervention has improved reconciliation.
Institutional project description and public SCORE results.