“If money meant for the people is wasted, the people will waste away.”
A Call for Transparency and Accountability in Mudugh’s Mega Construction Projects
Mudugh, a region with immense potential yet burdened by decades of marginalization, insecurity, and crumbling infrastructure, now finds itself at a turning point. For the first time in years, there is renewed energy around development—fueled by the community’s resolve and increasing attention from the diaspora and international donors. Schools need rebuilding, roads remain unpaved, hospitals operate under candlelight, and cities like Gaalkacayo struggle to survive even moderate rainfalls.
Yet in a poverty-stricken region like Mudugh, where every dollar matters, the question is no longer if funds will be donated, but how they will be managed.
The Risk: Mismanagement, Erosion of Trust, and Donor Fatigue
The single greatest threat to sustainable development in Mudugh is not war or drought—it is mismanagement. In many regions of Somalia, too often we have seen donated funds disappear into black holes of corruption, nepotism, and bureaucratic inefficiency. The result? Donor fatigue. Projects stall. Trust evaporates. Communities are left betrayed and in worse conditions than before.
We cannot afford to let Mudugh go down this path.
Every penny donated must be tracked, managed, and distributed with laser-focused accountability. To do that, Mudugh needs more than good intentions; it needs systems.
The Solution: Establishing an Independent Accounting Firm
It is imperative that Mudugh immediately establishes an independent accounting firm—a transparent, apolitical, and professional institution dedicated solely to the safe-keeping and management of funds designated for mega construction projects and humanitarian development.
This firm must:
Be staffed by qualified professionals: Only experienced accountants, auditors, and financial controllers with proven integrity should be considered. Community connections alone are not qualifications.
Operate independently: It must not be beholden to political actors, clans, or government offices. Independence is the foundation of trust.
Be compensated fairly: We must abandon the outdated notion that “volunteers” will do serious work for free. If we want results, we must pay professionals what they’re worth.
Work hand-in-hand with the Mudugh Development Committee: Coordination is essential. The accounting firm must be in constant consultation with a representative community committee to ensure funds align with development priorities and reflect the actual needs on the ground.
Adopt international standards of financial reporting: Let audits be public. Let budgets be transparent. Let there be no mystery where the money went.
Use digital tools: In today’s world, there is no excuse for opaque ledgers. Every transaction, every disbursement, every contract should be digitized and accessible to stakeholders.
A Preventative Strategy, Not a Reactionary One
Critics may ask, “Isn’t this premature? We haven’t even received the funds yet.” That’s exactly the point. You don’t install a smoke detector after the fire. The accounting structure must be in place before a single dollar is received. Waiting until money arrives before putting safeguards in place is like building a dam after the flood.
A Message to the Diaspora and Donors
To the generous Mudugh diaspora who tirelessly raise funds for roads, hospitals, schools, and water wells: your efforts are not in vain—but your donations need protection.
To international partners and development organizations watching from afar: Mudugh’s people are ready to work. What they need is a system that ensures your contributions create change, not chaos.
Don’t just send the funds—demand the structure.
Building Trust: The First Brick in Any Project
Before cement is poured, before a road is leveled, before a school is rebuilt—the first and most important structure we must construct is trust. And that trust is built with accountability, transparency, and proper financial governance.
Let us not waste this critical moment. Mudugh has been waiting too long for progress. But progress without systems is failure in disguise.
Let us choose wisely. Let us build responsibly. Let us be the region that not only receives funds but honors them with results.
#MudughRising
#AccountabilityFirst
#TransparentDevelopment
#FromDonationsToDevelopment
Authored by Warsame Digital Media (WDM)
August 2, 2025
Warsame Policy & Media Network (WAPMEN) 