When the Somali Bureau of Standards (SOBS) was formally established five years ago under the Standards and Quality Control Act (Law No. 27), Somalia lacked the foundational quality infrastructure needed to compete in regional and global markets. The absence of national standards, certification systems, accredited laboratories, and metrology services had long constrained the ability of Somali products—especially livestock, fisheries, and agricultural goods to access high-value export markets.
Today, five years later, SOBS has emerged as a cornerstone institution in Somalia’s economic transformation. Through relentless effort, visionary leadership, and strategic partnerships, the Bureau has laid down the building blocks of a modern National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) that is directly contributing to trade facilitation, consumer protection, and industrial competitiveness.
Building the Foundation of Quality Infrastructure
SOBS has developed and published Somalia’s first-ever National Quality Policy and accompanying Implementation Roadmap, a milestone that aligns the country with regional and global quality frameworks. Technical Committees have been established in priority sectors—livestock, food safety, fisheries, construction, and energy bringing together government, academia, private sector, and civil society to shape Somali standards.
The Bureau has also initiated a Product Conformity Assessment (PCA) program, which outsources testing to accredited private laboratories, ensuring that Somali exports are verified against international requirements. At the same time, SOBS is advancing work on establishing a National Quality Control Reference Laboratory, a critical step toward domestic testing capacity and traceability systems.
Regional and International Integration
Under SOBS, Somalia has joined and maintained active membership in leading global and regional standardization organizations, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO), and the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC). These memberships have unlocked capacity-building opportunities, enabled Somalia to harmonize standards with trading partners, and amplified the country’s voice in shaping global norms.
Through the Horn of Africa DRIVE Project, SOBS has played a leading role in regional cooperation with Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya, focusing on harmonized standards, conformity assessment, and market surveillance to remove barriers to cross-border trade.
Driving Innovation: Halal, Awards, and Trade Facilitation
Recognizing the strategic importance of the Halal economy, SOBS has led the development of Somalia’s first National Halal Strategy, which aims to position Somali livestock, fisheries, and food products in Gulf and Asian markets.
SOBS also pioneered the National Quality Awards (NQA), celebrating excellence among Somali enterprises and promoting a culture of quality. Winners such as Hormuud Telecom and Somali-owned SMEs like SOMFERSH demonstrate how Somali companies can thrive when guided by standards and international best practices.
The Role of Leadership: DG Hawo Ahmed Hassan
At the heart of this transformation is Director General Hawo Ahmed Hassan, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping SOBS into a credible, forward-looking institution. Her vision has consistently emphasized that “Our dream never stops, our journey never ends,guided by vision and purpose, we strive to make the name Somalia synonymous with Quality.”
DG Hawo has worked tirelessly to anchor SOBS in national development frameworks such as the National Transformation Plan (2025–2029) and the Centennial Vision 2060. She has built partnerships with international organizations (ISO, ARSO, SMIIC, EAC), mobilized resources through the World Bank’s DRIVE Project and GIZ-SPQA, and inspired a new generation of Somali professionals in quality infrastructure.
Her ability to connect technical reforms with Somalia’s economic priorities—exports, job creation, and private-sector growth—has given SOBS legitimacy and visibility at the national and international levels.
Looking Ahead
As SOBS marks its fifth year, the Bureau stands as a symbol of resilience and progress. From a country with no national standards framework to an emerging regional player in quality infrastructure, Somalia is demonstrating how institutional vision, technical rigor, and determined leadership can open pathways to prosperity.
The journey is far from over, but thanks to the foundation laid under DG Hawo’s stewardship, SOBS is well positioned to lead Somalia into its next phase of integration—into the East African Community (EAC), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the global economy.
Inside Somalia
