Saturday, 19th September 2026 – Mogadishu: The Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank (SDRB) held the Somalia Development Financing Forum, bringing together senior government leaders, development partners, financial institutions and private-sector representatives to discuss the financing needed to support Somalia’s next phase of economic development.

Held under the theme “Financing Somalia’s Next Chapter: From Recovery to Sustainable Development,” the Forum was attended by H.E. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia and keynote speaker, alongside H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama, Deputy Prime Minister; Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia; representatives of development finance institutions and international partners; and leaders from Somalia’s financial and private sectors.

The Forum focused on a central challenge facing Somalia’s economy: how to expand access to the patient and appropriately structured capital required for businesses, productive sectors and major investments to grow over the long term.

At the start, SDRB Director General Adam Roble presented the Bank’s institutional reform journey and the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan before the program moved into a high-level panel moderated by Bloomberg’s African and Middle East correspondent, Peter Martin. The panel brought together SDRB President Hodan Osman, Minister of Finance H.E. Bihi Iman Egeh, IBS Chairman Mr. Abdirisak Warsame, EU Head of Cooperation Ms. Caroline Adriaenssen, and African Development Bank Director General for East Africa Dr. Alex Mubiru.

Discussions examined the limited availability of long-term finance, the preparation of bankable projects, infrastructure constraints and the role that government, development finance institutions, commercial banks and international partners can play in sharing risk and mobilizing greater private investment.

In his keynote address, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted the significance of SDRB beginning to translate its institutional rebuilding into investment.

“Today marks a historic moment. A public development bank in Somalia making its first investment is a clear sign of the progress our country is making in rebuilding its institutions and advancing its economic development.” H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President, FGS.

The President also commended the Bank’s management and highlighted the importance of development finance in creating sustainable markets and supporting the growth of Somalia’s productive sectors.

Building a New Development Financing Model

The Forum took place as Somalia continues to adjust to a changing international financing environment in which traditional aid and grant resources are becoming more constrained. Speaking during the event, Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Salah Ahmed Jama emphasized the importance of building national institutions capable of mobilizing and managing a wider range of financing sources.

“Somalia’s transition is not about replacing aid with one new source of financing. It is about building the institutions and financing system that will allow us to increasingly finance our own development.” – H.E. Salah Jama, Deputy Prime Minister, FGS.

For SDRB, this means working alongside government, development partners and Somalia’s existing financial institutions to address areas of the economy where conventional commercial financing remains limited.

SDRB President Hodan Osman highlighted the opportunity this creates for a national development finance institution.

“Somalia does not lack entrepreneurs or opportunity; what is missing is the patient, structured capital that can help successful businesses grow into larger companies and industries. SDRB’s role is to bridge that gap by working with government, development partners and commercial banks to prepare investments, share risk and expand long-term finance to Somalia’s productive sectors.”

Moving from Strategy to Delivery – Launching the Ramad Microfinance Program

The Forum also marked an early implementation milestone for SDRB through the formalization of partnerships under the Bank’s Ramad Microfinance Program.

During the signing ceremony, SDRB President Hodan Osman joined the leaders of Asal, Maal and Himilo microfinance institutions in formalizing their participation in the program.

Ramad is SDRB’s wholesale microfinance initiative, through which the Bank works with accredited microfinance institutions to expand access to affordable and Shariah-compliant financing for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The model allows SDRB to provide capital and institutional support through existing financial institutions, extending development finance to underserved businesses and productive sectors.