Governance and Accountability: An Assessment of the European Union's Role in Strengthening the Somali Education Sector's Institutional Capacity

Abstract

This article critically reviews the European Union’s (EU) role in strengthening governance and accountability in Somalia’s education sector, with a particular focus on building institutional capacity. Drawing on scholarly literature, donor reports, and international policy assessments, the study evaluates the EU’s contributions to policy harmonization, teacher training, curriculum reform, deployment of technical advisors, and institutional governance. A qualitative document-based review methodology is employed to synthesize evidence from academic and policy sources. Findings reveal that while the EU has made significant contributions to institutional strengthening and governance reforms, challenges persist regarding sustainability, donor dependency, and limited national ownership. The paper concludes with recommendations to enhance Somali-led accountability systems, strengthen federal–state collaboration, and ensure long-term capacity development.