About Our
Organisation
SATISFACTION
EXPERTS
AWARDS
Tropical Agenda for the Minorities and Marginalized (TAMM) is a non-profit and non-political charity organization in East Africa that advocates for the rights of minorities and marginalized communities and aims to improve their welfare through targeted support/interventions. TAMM focuses on addressing deep-rooted inequalities and injustice against minorities and marginalized groups across the social, economic, political, and environmental spheres. The organization currently operates in Somalia and Kenya but has plans to extend its services to the minorities and marginalized communities in Ethiopia soon.
The organization actively works to combat exclusion and discrimination in society based on social identities such as ethnicity, disability, gender, language, age, and race. Through advocacy, capacity-building, research, and collaborative partnerships, we aim to create conditions that enable full and active participation of minorities and marginalized groups in all aspects of life.
TAMM places particular emphasis on gender and disability inclusion. It recognizes that women and people with disabilities, especially those from minority and marginalized groups/communities, face more significant disadvantages in terms of accessing essential social services, livelihood means, community leadership, and justice. TAMM aims to empower and uplift these individuals and communities, addressing their unique needs and advocating for their rights.
Our
Vision
A just and equal society where every individual, irrespective of their background or identity, enjoys equal opportunities and has their rights fully recognized.
Our
Mission
To empower minorities and marginalized communities in East Africa through direct and targeted support and advocating for their inclusion and participation in humanitarian, development, and political governance activities.
THE SITUATION FOR MINORITIES & MARGINALIZED GROUPS IN SOMALIA
In Kenya and Somalia, minorities and marginalized communities face significant exclusion from humanitarian and development programs, as well as political processes. These groups often lack representation and access to resources, leading to persistent disempowerment, poverty, and low socio-economic status. In Kenya, for instance, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has documented that marginalized groups frequently experience systemic discrimination, limiting their access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. In Somalia, minority clans are often sidelined in political decisions and aid distribution, resulting in chronic poverty and lack of development. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reports that poverty rates among these communities are significantly higher than the national averages, with limited access to basic services. Conflicts exacerbate these vulnerabilities, as marginalized groups are often caught in the crossfire and lack the means to protect themselves or recover. Climate change-related disasters, such as droughts and floods, disproportionately affect these communities due to their limited adaptive capacity and reliance on climate-sensitive livelihoods like agriculture and fishing. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) indicates that climate-induced displacement is more prevalent among these vulnerable populations, further straining their already fragile socio-economic conditions.
Women in Somalia make up more than 50 % of the population. Cultural limitations affect their role in the society especially in participating in socio-economic spaces. Women are often excluded from the processes of formal decision making, ownership of assets, access to financial services and education. In Somalia, illiteracy rate for females stands at 75% whereas that of males is at 50.3%, further, only 21% of females attend school. In 2017, the adolescent (aged 15-19) birth rate was 118 per 1,000 births. Women and girls face high rates of maternal mortality, are more likely to experience sexual and gender-based violence and in some communities, are exposed to harmful cultural practices like female genital mutilation. Despite these challenges, Somali federal government has made progress in passing legislation within which the rights of women are enshrined. However, there remains a huge gap between legal provisions and realization of these rights.
People with disabilities are an overwhelming majority who face immense barriers to participation in the society. The number of people with disabilities in Somalia is slightly above 15% of the population, because of the long period of conflict and limited access to quality healthcare. They face negative attitudes and experience stigma in their communities. Disability is a sensitive topic and is generally often associated with visible disabilities. Some disabilities, eg intellectual disabilities are taboo. People with disabilities are particularly a vulnerable group as they are subjected to abuse, including killings, SGBV, forced chaining, forced marriage, and forced evictions. People living disabilities who are in internally displacement camps are at a greater risk.
Many people view Somalia as a homogenous country, however, there is significant diversity. Approximately a third of the population is composed of ethnic minorities drawn from 7 ethnic groups. These minorities are perceived as inferior, without full rights and hence with lower socio-economic and political status. The cultural values of major clans, undermine those of minority clans and greatly influence the socio-economic and political spheres in Somalia.
Some of the challenges that ethnic minorities face include loss of land and assets due to confiscation by ethnic majorities, systemic exclusion from mainstream government opportunities and political manipulation among the ethnic minorities. These clans often lack international support and because of their vulnerability, are more likely to be displaced. Insecurities further deepen the divide in accessing services.