Project Description:

The Biadoa Rehabilitation pilot project is entering its second phase during which it will continue to test a rehabilitation programme for convicted Al Shabaab prisoners in Baidoa prison. The project will build on lessons learnt from the phase I to review and device appropriate approaches to counter violent extremism among convicted offenders. The proposed project approach will target the underlying causes of Al Shabaab extremism through religious counselling in order to provide more positive understanding of Islam, civic education, and psychosocial healing in order to enhance a sense of citizenship, generate a greater understanding of Federal Government of Somalia state building processes, and address feelings such as low self-esteem that may have contributed to violent extremism among offenders. An evaluation of the project will be done to assess the scope for scaling-up as a national rehabilitation programme for Somalia.