In southern Somalia, a short yet perilous seven-kilometre road connects the towns of Buufow and Shalanbood. Historically, the area was an agricultural hub, but decades of conflict, destabilization, and severe drought have drastically changed the landscape. The two neighbouring communities have been left to face a rising scarcity of natural resources and a lack of basic services¡ªcreating fertile ground for division and desperation.
As resources dwindle, livelihoods are threatened. Tensions over water resources, irrigation canals, and farming access have driven a wedge between Buufow and Shalanbood, fraying the social fabric that once tied them together.
Photo above: Young people take part in a collaborative game, Play for Peace. Credit: FAOQuresho Abdirizak, a youth leader from ShalanboodTwo children from the different villages might grow up playing football together, but then due to the situation, as adults, they would clash.¡±
Building a shared future
Despite the tensions, a new generation is refusing to inherit the conflict. Quresho Abdirizak is part of an emerging movement of young people from both towns who believe in coming together to foster a shared future of peace¡ªone that is built with sustainable solutions that can help their communities thrive together.
Playing for peace
A peacebuilding initiative supported by UN agencies, including the (FAO), and local partners helped to turn this vision into reality. Known as Game Day, the initiative served as a call to action for the young neighbours to unite and find solutions to their shared challenges.
On Game Day, youth from Shalanbood and Buufow formed mixed teams to compete using Play for Peace, an app developed by FAO partner Shaqodoon. While designed for fun, healthy competition, the game's true goal was community integration¡ªrequiring players to collaborate on critical infrastructure priorities that promote both productivity and peace.
Ahlam Mohammed, Technology for Development Coordinator, ShaqodoonThe beauty of using games is that it brings together elements such as teamwork and competition that work well with peacebuilding.¡±
Through the app, the winning team earned the right to nominate real-world locations to be repaired through the joint project. Because water is a primary source of contention between the two towns, the rehabilitation of irrigation canals quickly emerged as one of the youths¡¯ top priorities, turning digital wins into vital community infrastructure.
Quresho Abdirizak, a youth leader from ShalanboodOn Game Day, we worked in groups to promote interaction between communities, finding solutions to the problems of moving safely and freely between the two towns.¡±
Bridging the divide
Beyond infrastructure, the communication and collaboration enabled by the game proved transformative. Youth from the divided towns discovered common ground, taking a massive step toward understanding and reconciliation.
Through the game, young people forged new connections, realizing that crossing into each other¡¯s towns no longer meant walking into hostile territory, but rather visiting new friends.
Game Day also served as a powerful gender equalizer. Women, who were often excluded from political decision-making and faced limited access to resources, took charge¡ªleading teams, making decisions, and organizing across dividing lines.
Dimah Abdulkarim, Resilience Project Officer, FAOWomen in these communities have been historically disadvantaged and excluded, but they¡¯ve also organized themselves across clan lines into groups to advocate for the needs of their families.¡±
From games to reality
The gamification project led to tangible outcomes, allowing the peacebuilding efforts of the young leaders to materialize and improve the quality of life in their towns. Connecting roads that people once avoided were busy again, cross-town trade resumed, and a shared medical facility now caters to both communities. As a result, a vast majority of residents reported reduced tensions between the communities.
Our partners in peacebuilding in Somalia
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General¡¯s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The Game Day peacebuilding initiative in Somalia was implemented by and the in partnership with local authorities and organizations.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.