Challenges and Reforms in Public Sector Recruitment in Somalia

Abstract

This study examines recruitment approaches, civil servant perspectives, and diaspora engagement challenges in Somalia’s public sector. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through document review of policies, laws, and reports, alongside semi-structured interviews with civil servants, HR officers, ministry officials, and diaspora professionals. The findings indicate that merit-based recruitment is often undermined by political interference, clan dynamics, and limited institutional capacity, which negatively affect transparency, fairness, and public trust. Civil servants highlight gaps in career progression, training, and human resource management, while diaspora professionals encounter barriers including reintegration difficulties, contractual instability, and mismatched expectations. Comparative insights from African contexts emphasize the importance of independent public service commissions, standardized selection procedures, and structured diaspora engagement frameworks to strengthen institutional effectiveness. The study concludes that coordinated reforms involving the National Civil Service Commission, Ministry of Labor and Social Services, and strategic diaspora initiatives are essential to enhancing recruitment integrity, professional development, and diaspora contributions, ultimately improving public sector performance in post-conflict Somalia.