A strategic intervention for Somali higher education
Strengthening higher education across Somalia
Somalia’s higher education system is undergoing significant reconstruction after decades of conflict, institutional fragmentation and underinvestment. The sector still faces limited institutional capacity, weak research ecosystems and a critical shortage of qualified academic staff — particularly in health-related disciplines.
CURIOUS is a strategic and timely intervention aimed at bridging these gaps, creating a platform for knowledge exchange, co-creation of academic programmes, and context-relevant solutions to Somalia’s most pressing health and education challenges.
Partner universities
Across Somalia, Sweden and the Netherlands.
Erasmus+ CBHE programme
Co-funded by the European Union.
Academic staff trained
In the first cascading programme at SNU.
Somali institutions
SNU and East Africa University.
Delivered by a four-university consortium
Maastricht University leads the consortium, with Karolinska Institutet, Somali National University and East Africa University. The Federal Ministry of Health Somalia has also taken part in project activities, keeping the work connected to national workforce planning.
The values behind CURIOUS
Capacity that stays in Somali institutions — in their curricula, their staff and their systems — long after the grant period closes.
Academic integrity
Evidence-based teaching and research, with quality assurance embedded from the start of every curriculum redesign.
Shared ownership
Curricula are co-created, not handed down. Every workstream pairs Somali and European institutions as equals.
Multiplying capacity
Staff trained abroad train colleagues at home. Two facilitators reached fifteen academics in Mogadishu.
What guides the work
CURIOUS is deliberately aligned with Somalia’s national health priorities — human resources for health, universal health coverage and the Essential Package of Health Services — rather than running parallel to them.
The key to sustainable capacity
Capacity that depends on a handful of individuals disappears when they do. CURIOUS multiplies knowledge deliberately: staff who complete the international Training of Trainers programme then train colleagues at home, who continue through a three-month blended programme and will train others in turn.
The same logic applies to systems — governance, quality assurance and research infrastructure are strengthened so improvements outlast the funding period.
Our vision
Somali universities as centres of excellence — producing skilled graduates, generating locally relevant knowledge, and engaging confidently in global academic networks.
Our mission
To strengthen Somali institutions so they can produce a competent, resilient and future-ready health workforce for the country’s evolving needs.
The people leading the work
Each partner institution nominates a key contact responsible for coordinating CURIOUS activities locally and liaising with the lead partner.
Dr Emmaline Brouwer
Dr Elin Larsson
Dr Abdulwahab Moalim