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SOMALI WOMENAWARDS
The awards

Recognition, not popularity

Somali Women Awards recognizes Somali women whose work demonstrates substantive professional achievement and contribution. The 2026 edition uses confidential referrals from industry and professional networks; it does not conduct public nominations or public voting.

Public nominations are not open. Candidates are identified through confidential professional referrals.

How recognition works

The recognition model

How Somali Women Awards recognizes

Current edition

Somali Women Awards 2026

Beyond Borders: Somali Women Shaping the Future

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania · Mid-November to early December 2026. Final date and venue pending.

The 2026 editionThe forum
A guest at the Somali Women Awards 2025 photo wall

Fifth edition

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Ten fields of recognition

The categories

Categories in detail

Forms of merit

What counts as significant achievement

A candidate need not demonstrate all three.

Assessment criteria
  • 01

    Pioneering achievement

    Breaking credible professional barriers or holding substantive, historically rare positions.

  • 02

    Professional excellence

    Distinguished expertise, sustained achievement and responsibility in a demanding field.

  • 03

    Transformational contribution

    Meaningful improvements in institutions, services, knowledge, communities or opportunities.

How nominees are identified

A confidential industry-referral process

The full process
  1. 01

    Recommend

    The referring organization identifies the candidate, relevant category, key achievements and reliable sources.

  2. 02

    Verify

    SWA reviews eligibility and seeks reasonable evidence before preparing a standard nominee profile.

  3. 03

    Assess

    Approved nominee dossiers are assessed independently by assigned judges using category-authorized criteria.

  4. 04

    Confirm

    Results and final recognition follow the controlled institutional confirmation procedure.

Referrals are leads for verification, not nominations approved for judging. Referral links are shared privately with authorized participants.

Editions

Editions of Somali Women Awards

The current edition and the archive of previous years, each with its own programme, honorees and photography.

All editions

Institutions and professional bodies

Know an accomplished Somali woman whose work deserves recognition?

Organizations with relevant knowledge may contact SWA directly. Public nominations are not open.

Contact SWARecognition process