Agriculture in Somalia is more than a source of income; it is a way of life. Women play an important role in farming, livestock management, and food production throughout rural Puntland and other Somali regions. Nonetheless, they are underrepresented in decision-making and underserved by programs that provide access to markets, digital tools, and financial products.
Through our past projects at PUSAN, we’ve observed that Somali women, who are responsible for approximately 65% of the country’s agricultural production, face significant challenges in agribusiness. Cultural norms often restrict their access to land and decision-making roles, limiting their ability to expand their farming activities. Financial barriers are also prevalent; only 0.8% of women have received loans from formal financial institutions, compared to 2.3% of men, highlighting a substantial gender gap in financial inclusion. Additionally, environmental challenges such as recurrent droughts have led to a 70% reduction in crop yields in some regions, disproportionately affecting women who rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods.
At PUSAN (Puntland Sustainable Agri-livestock Network), we’ve spent years working hand-in-hand with Somali women farmers, especially those in rural and marginalized communities. Through our beekeeping and sustainable farming programs, we’ve trained over 1,000 women in honey production, beeswax processing, and climate-smart agricultural practices. Many of these women have turned their new skills into income-generating opportunities, providing for their families and contributing to local food systems.
While the women’s technical and production skills have grown, many still face significant challenges in accessing wider markets, growing their agribusinesses, and making the digital leap necessary for today’s economy. They often lack the digital tools, business training, and market networks needed to scale up beyond the local level.
That’s where BeeRISE comes in.
🐝What is the BeeRISE Project?
The BeeRISE Project is an innovative initiative led by the PUSAN, aimed at transforming the lives of Somali women farmers, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, through sustainable beekeeping and digital empowerment.
Building on our successful training of over 1,000 women in climate-smart beekeeping, BeeRISE integrates digital innovation, financial literacy, and e-commerce tools into traditional farming practices. The project directly addresses the barriers that rural women face, such as limited access to technology, markets, and business mentorship.
BeeRISE supports women’s transition from subsistence production to market-oriented entrepreneurship by providing them with the digital skills and platforms they need to manage and grow their businesses, thereby strengthening their livelihoods and resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges.
🎯 Project Objectives
- To enhance digital literacy by providing tailored training in smartphone use, mobile apps, and online tools that enable women to track production, manage finances, and access information and markets.
- To promote sustainable Income Generation through increasing household incomes by supporting women-led beekeeping enterprises with tools, skills, and access to local and regional markets.
- To develop a Somali Honey E-commerce platform by creating an accessible online marketplace where women can showcase and sell honey and beeswax products directly to consumers and retailers.
- To Support Inclusive Participation, ensuring women with disabilities, internally displaced women, and young women are actively included in all stages of the project, with adaptive training methods and resources.
- To strengthen climate and economic resilience by integrating climate-smart practices into beekeeping and enabling women to build more resilient and environmentally sustainable businesses.
🌾 Our Impact So Far
- We have trained over 1,000 women, including women with disabilities and those from displaced communities, in beekeeping, honey harvesting, beeswax processing, and climate-resilient farming.
- These women are now producing quality honey and beeswax products, many of them for the first time in their lives.
- Income from honey sales has helped women support their families, send their children to school, and contribute to their local economies.
- Community members have reported improved nutrition and livelihoods thanks to increased access to honey and agricultural resources.
- We’ve seen the rise of small-scale women-led beekeeping cooperatives that are now working together, sharing knowledge, and exploring ways to scale.
While the focus so far has been largely hands-on and local, the success of these programs has shown us the potential for something bigger. These women have the skills, the motivation, and the resilience, they now need the tools and access to take the next step. That’s why we’re launching BeeRISE, to help transform grassroots efforts into growing agribusinesses powered by digital innovation, capacity building, and opportunity.
🔭 Looking Ahead: Our 2025–2026 Vision
We believe that real change starts with women, especially when they are given the tools and trust to lead. Through this project, we’re laying the groundwork for a future where Somali women are not just producers but powerful drivers of rural economies and environmental sustainability.
By the end of 2026, BeeRISE aims to:
- ✅ Train an additional 1,500 women in climate-smart beekeeping, financial literacy, and digital basics—building on our current momentum.
- ✅ Establish 5 women-led honey cooperatives across Puntland and beyond, creating networks for shared learning, production, and advocacy.
- ✅ Launch and grow the BeeRISE online marketplace, giving at least 400 women direct access to wider markets for their honey and beeswax products.
- ✅ Integrate digital record-keeping and mobile finance tools into the daily practices of 800 rural women to improve business transparency and income management.
- ✅ Engage women with disabilities and young women leaders, ensuring at least 25% of BeeRISE participants represent these groups.
- ✅ Increase household incomes by at least 30% among active participants, contributing to food security, education, and community well-being.
- ✅ Strengthen environmental protection by promoting pollinator-friendly practices and raising awareness about the link between bees, food systems, and climate adaptation.
🤝 How You Can Support BeeRISE
We can’t do it alone.
You can be part of this transformation.
Here’s how you can support:
- Donate
Your contribution helps us provide training kits, protective gear, smartphones, and other vital resources for rural women entering beekeeping and agribusiness. - Partner With Us
Are you an organization, tech company, NGO, or government institution? Let’s collaborate on shared goals in climate resilience, digital empowerment, and rural livelihoods. - Sponsor a Beekeeper
Directly support a woman’s journey from beginner to business owner. We’ll connect you with her story and keep you updated on her progress. - Share Our Story
Follow us on social media, talk about BeeRISE in your networks, or feature our work. Your voice helps us grow. - Volunteer Your Skills
Are you a trainer, web designer, agribusiness mentor, or storyteller? Let’s explore how your skills can support the women behind BeeRISE.
📬 Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you — whether you’re interested in partnering, supporting, learning more, or sharing ideas.
For general inquiries about BeeRISE or our work at PUSAN (Puntland Sustainable Agri-livestock Network), please reach out to us at:
Project Contacts:
👤 Project Lead:
Abdirabi Mohamed
📩 abdirabi@punsan.org
👩💼 Project Coordinator:
Nimo Mohamed Abdi
📩 nimo@punsan.org