ABISOM IP & Law Firm Successfully Completes HLP Needs Assessment with NRC in Puntland, Somalia

Garowe, Puntland – October 2025

ABISOM IP & Law Firm is proud to announce the successful completion of the Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) Needs Assessment conducted in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Puntland, Somalia. The assessment aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the key legal, institutional, and socio-economic challenges affecting displaced communities’ access to housing, land, and property rights across Puntland.

Led by Mr. Abdisalan Muse, Chief Executive Officer of ABISOM IP & Law Firm, the assignment was implemented across four major cities, Garowe, Galkacyo, Qardho, and Bosaso. The ABISOM team, comprising legal experts, field coordinators, and data analysts, worked closely with NRC’s Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) team leading by the ICLA Puntland Coordinator to ensure a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis.

The assessment combined quantitative surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and policy reviews to capture the perspectives of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, host communities, and government stakeholders. It also examined the implementation of HLP-related laws and policies, highlighting critical gaps between legislation and practice.

According to Mr. Abdisalan Muse, “This collaboration with NRC demonstrates ABISOM’s commitment to advancing access to justice and legal protection for vulnerable populations in Somalia. Our findings will help strengthen the humanitarian and legal frameworks that safeguard IDPs’ housing and property rights.”

The study identified key issues such as limited tenure security, weak law enforcement, customary and statutory law conflicts, and gender disparities in land ownership. It also provided actionable recommendations to improve coordination between government authorities, humanitarian agencies, and legal aid providers in Puntland.

The final report, shared with NRC and relevant stakeholders, will inform programmatic interventions and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting secure tenure, preventing forced evictions, and supporting durable solutions for displaced populations.

ABISOM IP & Law Firm extends its appreciation to the NRC team, led by Ms. Umusacdo Bashir Nour, ICLA and Protection Project Coordinator for Puntland, for their collaboration, professionalism, and support throughout the assignment.

This project reflects ABISOM’s growing leadership in humanitarian legal services, policy research, and access-to-justice programming in Somalia. The firm remains committed to partnering with international and national organizations to promote the rule of law, human rights, and equitable development.

About ABISOM IP & Law Firm  
ABISOM IP & Law Firm is a premier Somali legal and consultancy firm specializing in intellectual property, trade & business law, and humanitarian legal services. With a multidisciplinary team of qualified lawyers and policy experts, ABISOM provides tailored legal solutions to governments, NGOs, private sector actors, and development agencies across Somalia and East Africa.

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