GSEF Summit 2025 — Nairobi
Reflecting on East Africa's premier executive forum. In partnership with UNDP, we successfully united over 500 entrepreneurs, policy visionaries, and global Somali diaspora investors to build capital pipelines and drive climate-resilient economic growth.
Why GSEF 2025 Was Different
What Made Professionals Fly in From 15 Countries
GSEF 2025 raised the stakes. A UN co-organizer, a climate mandate, and a diaspora capital framework that finally had teeth. This is what brought serious people to Nairobi.
Operate at the Highest International Level
GSEF 2025 was co-organized by UNDP Somalia. That is not a sponsorship logo on a banner — it means the forum sat inside a UN-backed development framework. Participants engaged at a credibility level most business events simply cannot offer.
Turn Remittances into Real Investment
Somali diaspora remittances exceed $2 billion annually — most of it flowing into consumption with no return. GSEF 2025 built the structured frameworks to redirect that capital into venture-backed local enterprise. This is where that conversation started.
Lead on Climate Before Regulation Forces You To
Climate resilience is no longer a development topic — it is a business imperative in the Horn of Africa. GSEF 2025 placed green enterprise at the center, equipping founders with adaptation strategies before the pressure becomes unavoidable.
Plug Into the Youth Tech Wave
The demand from young Somali entrepreneurs for AI, fintech, and digital tools was so strong it spawned an entirely new follow-up event. GSEF 2025 is where that movement was named, funded, and pointed in a direction.
Influence Policy While It Is Still Being Written
Governments across East Africa are actively shaping investment policy, trade corridors, and digital regulation. GSEF 2025 gave business leaders a direct channel into those conversations — not after the fact, but while the ink was still wet.
Make Your Work Visible on a Global Stage
With delegates from 15+ countries, UNDP backing, and international media present, being in that room in 2025 was a statement. For Somali entrepreneurs building serious enterprises, visibility at this level opens doors that cold emails never will.
Official Co-Organizer
UNDP Somalia
"The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) co-organized the forum, enriching policy dialogue and providing crucial technical and convening support to ground entrepreneurship as a practical vehicle for long-term regional stability, climate adaptation, and alternative livelihoods."— Lionel Laurens, UNDP Somalia Resident Representative
Acknowledgement
GSEF further acknowledges the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its role as a co-organiser of the Forum and for providing in-kind technical and convening support that strengthened policy discussions, panel sessions, and thematic exchanges. The Forum also benefited from the active participation and continued commitment of local and regional leaders who have pledged to support and advance this youth-centred, inclusive, and climate-resilient entrepreneurship initiative beyond 2025.
Esteemed Speakers
Voices of GSEF 2025
Explore the profiles, full biographies, and specialized presentation topics of the leaders who shaped the day.
Summit Programme
Two Days of Dialogue, Collaboration & Impact
July 19–20, 2025 · Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi & Fiesta Farm, Karen
Farhiya Farah
Director — International Relations & Partnerships
GSEF
Farhiya delivered a powerful and inspiring welcome address that set the tone for the forum. She called on leaders and participants alike to rally behind GSEF's mission — to champion Somali entrepreneurship, unlock the potential of diaspora investment, and drive sustainable, inclusive growth across the region.
Panel Discussion 1
Harnessing Entrepreneurship & Diaspora Capital for Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Growth in East Africa
GSEF reaffirmed the critical role of the Somali diaspora not only as a source of remittances, but as a strategic development and investment partner. Flagship discussions explored how diaspora financial resources, professional expertise, networks, and global market access can be mobilised more effectively through structured investment vehicles, co-investment platforms, and blended finance approaches.
Ahmed Farah
Chairman & Co-founder
Halal Global Standard EA
H.E. Mohamed Ware
Deputy Executive Secretary
IGAD
Abdihakim Ainte
Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Somalia
Co-Founder, I-rise Hub
Jibril Adan Mohamed
Financial Sector Expert
Somali Development and Reconstruction Bank (SDRB)
Abdiwahab Ali
Senior Governance Specialist
African Development Bank Group
Session Photos
Panel Discussion 2
Enhancing Business Environment and Opportunities in Somalia
Prof. Eise M. Halane
Deputy Director
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Somalia
Ms. Bahja Shuriye
Director
SIMAD iLab
Ms. Phyllis Kamau
Representative
VISA Inc.
Mr. John Bellish
Executive Director
One Earth Future Foundation
Mr. Hassan Musa Osman
Chief Executive Officer
Somali Stock Exchange
Session Photos
Panel Discussion 3
Creating Alternatives to Irregular Migration: Youth Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship
A central theme of GSEF 2025 was the positioning of entrepreneurship as a credible, dignified, and preventive response to irregular migration. Discussions highlighted how limited economic opportunity, climate stress, and lack of access to capital continue to push youth toward risky migration pathways—and how entrepreneurship can create viable livelihoods and restore hope for young people across the region.
Farhiya Farah
Director — International Relations & Partnerships
GSEF
Abdinoor Maalim
Director — Strategic Operations & Communications
GSEF
Julia Smith-Omomo, Ph.D.
Livelihoods Programme Manager
IOM Somalia
Mr. Abdi Osman
Executive Director
Horn Africa Development Consultants
H.E. Fatuma Adan
Head of Mission to the Republic of Kenya
IGAD
Session Photos
Media Hub
GSEF 2025 Gallery
Moments of exchange, networking, and high-level collaboration captured across both summit days.
Day One · July 19 · Radisson Blu, Nairobi
GSEF 2025 Day One — Opening Session
GSEF 2025 Day One — High-Level Dialogue
GSEF 2025 Day One — Panel Discussion
GSEF 2025 Day One — Audience Engagement
GSEF 2025 Day One — Keynote Address
Day Two · July 20 · Fiesta Farm, Karen
GSEF 2025 Day Two — Fiesta Farm, Karen
GSEF 2025 Day Two — Storytelling Session
GSEF 2025 Day Two — Roundtable Discussion
GSEF 2025 Day Two — Partner Engagement
GSEF 2025 Day Two — B2B Networking
KEY OUTCOMES FROM GSEF 2025
GSEF 2025 generated meaningful outcomes that strengthened the entrepreneurship ecosystem across Somalia, the Horn of Africa, and the global Somali diaspora. The Forum deepened partnerships among development agencies, regional institutions, private sector actors, and diaspora investors, reinforcing collaboration beyond the event itself and opening pathways for sustained engagement.
Participation reflected the truly regional and global nature of the Forum, with entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, and ecosystem actors attending from Uganda, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates, Somalia, United States, and other parts of East Africa and the global diaspora. The Forum also enhanced the visibility and market access of Somali-led enterprises, connecting entrepreneurs to investors, mentors, policymakers, and ecosystem enablers.
These connections helped position enterprises for regional and international growth, while fostering peer learning, cross-border collaboration, and diaspora-to-local partnerships. GSEF 2025 further benefited from the support and participation of local and regional leaders, several of whom publicly expressed their commitment to continue backing the Forum and advancing its mission of youth-centred, inclusive, and climate-resilient entrepreneurship.
Policy & Investment Pipelines
In addition, GSEF 2025 produced policy-relevant insights and recommendations on critical issues including irregular migration, climate finance, youth employment, and small and medium enterprise (SME) development. These discussions contributed to a shared understanding of how entrepreneurship can address structural challenges facing young people and climate-vulnerable communities. Importantly, the Forum laid the foundations for an emerging pipeline of investment-ready opportunities, providing a practical base for more structured deal-making in the next phase.
Youth-Led Action & Innovation
A particularly strong outcome of GSEF 2025 was the clear call from youth participants themselves to sustain engagement beyond the main convening—especially around future-facing topics such as technology, digital innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Responding directly to this demand, GSEF convened a follow-up youth-focused dialogue in October 2025, centred on technology and innovation pathways for young entrepreneurs. The session was well attended and positively received, reinforcing both the relevance of these themes and the importance of continuous, youth-led engagement as part of the GSEF platform.
Looking Ahead: The Forum's outcomes and priorities will inform ongoing programme design, partnerships, and monitoring efforts as GSEF transitions into its 2026 implementation phase.
Accelerate into GSEF 2026
Be a part of East Africa's most influential business convening this year.