The Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland have domestic laws and policies in place to govern the recognition of foreign educational qualifications, with oversight provided by the respective ministries—Somalia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, and Higher Education and Somaliland’s Ministry of Education and Science. These institutions are responsible for evaluating foreign academic credentials, determining equivalency, and ensuring that certificates meet national education standards, particularly for secondary and tertiary levels.

For forcibly displaced persons, including refugee-returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), the recognition of qualifications is assessed on a case-by-case basis and depends on several factors. These include the country in which the education was obtained, the compatibility of the foreign curriculum with the national system, and the availability of authenticated documentation. Educational certificates from neighboring countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda are more commonly recognized due to regional cooperation and curriculum similarities, while qualifications from other countries may require further verification, certified translations, or supplementary examinations to establish equivalency.

The recognition process is often supported by regional frameworks such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Protocol on Education and regional mutual recognition agreements. In addition, NGOs and education partners assist returnee students and displaced populations in navigating these procedures by providing document tracing support, legal assistance, and referral services. Collectively, these mechanisms aim to promote educational continuity and inclusion for displaced learners, reflecting a commitment by both Somalia and Somaliland to facilitating the reintegration of FDPs into national education systems through structured and accessible credential recognition processes.