Elman Peace

LOC: 2.0469° N, 45.3182° E

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

EST. 1990

OP_STATUS: ACTIVE

[Elman Peace]

Our Work Get Involved

Elman Peace & Human Rights CentreSystem Online↓ Scroll for Intel

[ THE_STORY ]

Women-led. Somali-founded.
Thirty-five years.

Founded during civil war by Elman Ali Ahmed. Rebuilt by Fartuun Adan. Expanded by Ilwad Elman. Three generations of a family that chose peace when the world chose to look away.

The OriginMogadishu, 1990

The WomenCarried forward

The SystemEight branches. Still building.

You can't just take the gun. You have to replace it with something — a book, a skill, a reason to believe tomorrow is worth showing up for.
Ilwad Elman/ COO

[ THE_WORK ]

The Regenerative Economy of Peace

Peace & Security

Building Somalia's Workforce

[ RECOGNITION_LOGS ]

Recognised Globally. Rooted Locally.

Click any award to read the full announcement.

2022

Right Livelihood Award

Right Livelihood

“For promoting peace, demilitarisation and human rights in Somalia in the face of terrorism and gender-based violence.”

Known as the 'Alternative Nobel.' Awarded at a ceremony in Stockholm. The jury honored decades-long work leading community-based peacebuilding and supporting marginalised groups.

Announcement →

2020

Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity

Aurora Prize

“For protecting women's rights, promoting peacebuilding, and rehabilitating child soldiers.”

Laureates receive a US $1,000,000 award. Fartuun and Ilwad directed the prize to Love Does, Panzi Foundation, and Prajwala.

Announcement →

2015

Gleitsman International Activist Award

Harvard Kennedy School

“For leadership of Elman Peace and Sister Somalia — organisations tackling gender-based violence and rehabilitating child soldiers.”

A $125,000 prize given biennially to leaders who have improved the quality of life abroad and inspired others to do the same. Ceremony featured Eve Ensler.

Announcement →

2013

International Women of Courage Award

U.S. State Department

“For her work as a champion of human rights and the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia.”

Presented by First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry at the U.S. State Department.

Announcement →

2020

German Africa Prize

German Africa Foundation

“For being a leading voice in the Somali peace process and implementing projects for a better future for her country.”

Awarded to one of Africa's most inspiring young humanitarian leaders. Ilwad was 30 at the time of the award.

Announcement →

2016

Extremely Together — Youth Leadership

Kofi Annan Foundation

“Recognised as one of ten young leaders working to prevent violent extremism and promote peace.”

Kofi Annan's initiative on youth leadership. Ilwad later appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as Advisor to the UN Peacebuilding Fund (2018).

Announcement →

2014

All About Women Festival

Sydney Opera House

“Invited speaker on gender, justice and equality at the flagship International Women's Day festival.”

Sydney Opera House's centerpiece talks festival, held annually in the week of International Women's Day.

Announcement →

2025

Carol Bellamy Leadership Award

GCERF

“Recognising women working at the intersection of women's leadership and preventing violent extremism.”

GCERF's fellowship program for local and grassroots organisations led by women in P/CVE work.

Announcement →

2022

Right Livelihood Award

Right Livelihood

“For promoting peace, demilitarisation and human rights in Somalia in the face of terrorism and gender-based violence.”

Known as the 'Alternative Nobel.' Awarded at a ceremony in Stockholm. The jury honored decades-long work leading community-based peacebuilding and supporting marginalised groups.

Announcement →

2020

Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity

Aurora Prize

“For protecting women's rights, promoting peacebuilding, and rehabilitating child soldiers.”

Laureates receive a US $1,000,000 award. Fartuun and Ilwad directed the prize to Love Does, Panzi Foundation, and Prajwala.

Announcement →

2015

Gleitsman International Activist Award

Harvard Kennedy School

“For leadership of Elman Peace and Sister Somalia — organisations tackling gender-based violence and rehabilitating child soldiers.”

A $125,000 prize given biennially to leaders who have improved the quality of life abroad and inspired others to do the same. Ceremony featured Eve Ensler.

Announcement →

2013

International Women of Courage Award

U.S. State Department

“For her work as a champion of human rights and the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia.”

Presented by First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry at the U.S. State Department.

Announcement →

2020

German Africa Prize

German Africa Foundation

“For being a leading voice in the Somali peace process and implementing projects for a better future for her country.”

Awarded to one of Africa's most inspiring young humanitarian leaders. Ilwad was 30 at the time of the award.

Announcement →

2016

Extremely Together — Youth Leadership

Kofi Annan Foundation

“Recognised as one of ten young leaders working to prevent violent extremism and promote peace.”

Kofi Annan's initiative on youth leadership. Ilwad later appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as Advisor to the UN Peacebuilding Fund (2018).

Announcement →

2014

All About Women Festival

Sydney Opera House

“Invited speaker on gender, justice and equality at the flagship International Women's Day festival.”

Sydney Opera House's centerpiece talks festival, held annually in the week of International Women's Day.

Announcement →

2025

Carol Bellamy Leadership Award

GCERF

“Recognising women working at the intersection of women's leadership and preventing violent extremism.”

GCERF's fellowship program for local and grassroots organisations led by women in P/CVE work.

Announcement →

[ INSTITUTIONAL_TRUST ]

Trusted implementing & advocacy partners.

Research · policy · operations

UNDP

Field research partner — Journey to Extremism in Africa

UNICEF

5 Pillars expansion · mental health community of practice

Oxfam

Advocacy & lobbying partner · Horn of Africa

Amnesty International

Advocacy partner · human rights

Human Rights Watch

Advocacy partner · human rights

[ LIFESTYLE · COMMERCE · BRANDS ]

The brands that bet on Somalia.

Not sponsorship. Collaboration. Brands working with us on product, programme, and platform — using their reach to move peacebuilding from charity to culture.

fashion2019

Daily Paper

From Africa To The World — Capsule

Ten tees carrying artwork by youth aged 13–16 from the Art Therapy residence — each shirt named after the young artist who designed it. Daily Paper donated proceeds and committed to building a full-sized football pitch at the residence.

Read the story→

fashion2021

Christian Louboutin × Idris & Sabrina Elba

Walk A Mile In My Shoes — Season II

Co-designed by Sabrina and Idris Elba. 100% of proceeds directed to six organisations working on education, arts, and youth empowerment — Elman Peace among them, supporting young women and men disassociating from armed forces.

Read the story→

sportOngoing

Giants of Africa

The Court at Elman Peace

Masai Ujiri's Giants of Africa built a full basketball court at the Elman Peace residence in Mogadishu — part of the Built Within 100-court initiative across the continent. The same court where the girls' team was crowned Mogadishu Women's Basketball Champions in 2024.

Read the story→

industry2020

Audi × Seea × Suay × Global Surf

Share the Surf — A Container of Possibility

A 40-foot container shipped to Mogadishu: 100 rolls of swimwear fabric, 10 professional sewing machines, 50 soft boards. Seeded the Ocean Therapy programme and planted the first thread of a women-run sew shop on the coastline.

Read the story→

programme2019 — ongoing

Waves for Change

The 5 Pillars Methodology

Since 2019, co-developed and scaled the 5 Pillars surf-therapy methodology — now transferred across yoga, basketball, football, gardening, and art. Expanded with UNICEF into Dusmareb in 2021–22. A place-based youth-led mental health community of practice.

Read the story→

Interested in brand partnership? Explore partnership →

[ RECOGNITION ]