Empowering Communities to Advance Justice, Rights, and Civic Participation
- Our Location
Mogadishu, Somalia
- contact us
info@jdisomalia.org
Learn about our mission
The Justice and Development Initiative (JDI) is a MoIFAR-registered, youth-founded and youth-led non-governmental organization working to strengthen the rule of law as a foundation for justice and inclusive development in Somalia. JDI brings together young leaders, legal professionals, and communities to advance legal empowerment, public service, and responsible leadership. Guided by principles of impartiality, equity, and human dignity, we work to ensure that the law is accessible, meaningful, and responsive to societal needs. Through this approach, JDI invests in empowered and capable young leadership, fostering a future in which the law serves as a tool for social transformation, accountable governance, and sustainable development.
Through education, advocacy, and direct action.
JDI seeks to foster a legally empowered society—one in which the law serves not only as a system of rules, but as a tool for social transformation and sustainable development.
Strategically, JDI advances its mission by promoting human rights, democratic values, and constitutionalism through legal research, policy engagement, and public education; expanding access to legal information and justice services; advocating for gender equity, climate justice, and social justice; and engaging constructively with national and international partners in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and Somalia’s National Development Plans.
Our Work Focuses on
Promoting and protecting human rights, democratic values, and constitutionalism through legal research, policy engagement, and public education.
Expanding access to legal information, civic education, and justice services, with particular attention to marginalized and underrepresented communities.
Advocating for social and environmental justice, including climate rights, gender equity, and legal protection for vulnerable populations.
Advancing public interest litigation to address systemic injustices and strengthen accountability under the law.
Providing pro bono legal support to marginalized and underrepresented individuals and communities facing barriers to justice.
Supporting the development of law students and young legal professionals through mentorship, training, and practical experience grounded in public service.
Promoting youth and women’s empowerment by investing in young, ambitious Somali leadership equipped with the skills, values, and capacity to lead positive change.
Our Priority Areas
Legal empowerment & Rights education
Delivering accessible legal knowledge through community workshops, civic education campaigns, school outreach, and legal literacy resources to empower individuals and communities.
Youth Development & Legal Training
Supporting the next generation of legal professionals by offering mentorship, practical legal experience, and professional development opportunities for law students and young practitioners.
Strategic Engagement & institutional partnerships
Collaborating with civil society, academia, government, and international bodies to influence public policy, contribute to development agendas, and strengthen rule of law frameworks.
Social and enviromental justice
Advocating for gender equity, climate justice, and the legal rights of vulnerable populations, while amplifying underrepresented voices in policy discourse and reform.
Human rights & constitutional advocacy
Promoting democratic values, constitutionalism, and the protection of fundamental rights through strategic litigation, legal research, and policy engagement.
Our first program
The JDI Associate Program is the first program launched by JDI in November 2025, marking an important milestone in our institutional growth and commitment to youth leadership development
3 months
Of Structured engagement
100+
Applications received
10+
Skills & Values offered