In a country recovering from a 25-year civil war, there are very limited opportunities for advancement, especially for women. In Somalia, men hold most government and civil service positions. As a result, the government and civil society have made a concerted effort to establish educational and employment opportunities to empower Somali women and girls.

In recent years, Somalia has made significant strides in improving its education system. Since the inauguration of the new federal government, both primary and secondary school enrollment rates have increased across almost all regions of the country. This, however, has had little impact on the vast number of youth who have had no access to formal schooling during the 25 years of civil war. The challenges have been even more extreme for young women who are much less likely to be enrolled in any schooling due to cultural practices, such as early marriage.