Nation-wide support
1. Peace-building initiativesPeace-building and Democratization - InterpeaceSida supports the Phase II of Interpeace’s Dialogue for Peace and Democratization Programmes with 10 MSEK over 2007-2009. Both programmes capitalize and build on Interpeace’s 11 year experience in peace-building in the Somali region. The key types of activities being carried out include: support to peacebuilding, electoral and parliamentary processes covering the three main administrative sub-regions of Somaliland, Puntland and South-central Somalia. To find out more on Interpeace’s action in the Somali region, click here.
Somalia Peace Project – Life and Peace InstituteSida supportred the Life and Peace Institute (LPI) up to 9,5 MSEK in 2003-2005 for the implementation of a peace programme in Somalia involving training and dialogue forums. To find out more about LPI’s Somalia peace project, click here.
2. Reconstruction and Institution strengtheningJoint Needs Assessment – United Nations/World BankThe Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) process carried out throughout Somalia under the leadership of the UN and the World Bank. This major exercise included extensive consultations of Somali stakeholders on Somalia’s reconstruction and development needs and led to the UN/World Bank Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). For more information on the JNA/RDP process, click here.
Rule of Law (ROLS)- UNDP The ROLS Programme aims to contribute to Somali efforts to restore a peaceful and secure environment that will promote social and economic recovery. Although the Programme does cover the entire region, there are widespread disparities and regional variations. The majority of the ROLS programme activities focus on Somaliland. ROLS initiatives are growing in Puntland, in particular through law enforcement and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) components. The engagement with the Transitional Federal Governement focuses on the preparation of further engagement. For more information on the Rule of Law Programme, click here.
3. Gender equality Celebration of the International Women’s Day by Somali women - UNDP’s Governance Programme. Sida provided support for an inclusive celebration of the International Women’s Day in Somalia by prominent Somali women, with a view to make Somali women’s commitment to peace and reconciliation visible. The initiative drew on the Somali Women’s Symposium held in Kampala in February 2007 to discuss the outcome of the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) process, which gathered women from South Central Somalia (TFG), Somaliland and Puntland.
Gender equality - UNIFEM Sida has supported UNIFEM under the 2005 UN Consolidated Appeal Process between 2002 and 2005 (1,5 MSEK in 2005) within the areas of gender justice and equality. Activities carried out with this support have involved studies on domestic violence and women’s treatment by the Somali legal system. To find more about UNIFEM’s activities, click here.
4. Humanitarian assistanceHealth - WHOWHO has received global funding from Sida for their WHO/HAC Performance Enhancement Programme. Sida also contributed 2 MSEK to WHO in 2006 to complement this global effort by backing field operations in Somalia, where the health sector was highly under funded. This involved support to polio vaccination and reproductive health programmes. To find out more about WHO’s activities in Somalia, click here.
Coordination of humanitarian response - OCHASida contributed 11 million SEK in 2006 to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), channelled to Coordination and Support services and to the Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF). this enabled OCHA to take the lead a series of initiatives in addition to its traditional coordination functions such as supporting local reconciliation efforts in Bay Bakol region, negotiating access with authorities, initiating a country IDP profiling exercise or organizing contingency planning and emergency preparedness. The HRF is a useful flexible funding mechanism that supports activities and agencies which would not otherwise be considered through other funding mechanisms. It has proved highly instrumental in supporting emergency livelihood activities.
In addition, Sida contributed 4 MSEK to OCHA´s regional drought appeal in 2006, part of which benefited Somalia. To find out more about OCHA’s action in Somalia, click here.
Improving children’s situation – UNICEFSida supported UNICEF’s programmes in Somalia in the areas of health, education, water & sanitation, HIV/AIDS & reproductive health and child protection (12 MSEK in 2006, 16 MSEK in 2007). Health activities focused on assisting health clinics with medicine and follow-up mechanisms as well as on building the capacity of local medical staff. In the field of education, UNICEF has produced school material which has been distributed to schools. UNICEF is implementing the HIV/AIDS strategy for Somalia jointly with UNAIDS. To find out more on UNICEF’s action in Somalia, click here.
Food security - FAOSida provided un-earmarked funding to FAO over recent years (7 MSEK in 2006, 12 MSEK in 2007). FAO has programmes to improve livestock production, agricultural production and market processes. The organization also provides reliable information on food security, nutrition, water and land issues through its Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU). To find out more about FAO’s activities in Somalia, click here.
Supporting IDPS – UNHCRin addition to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ contribution to UNHCR’s global budget, Sida provided specific additional funding to UNHCR for its support to IDPs in Somalia (5 MSEK in 2006 and 5 MSEK in 2007), a responsibility that UNHCR took up in 2006. UNHCR´s programme in Somalia builds on a holistic approach to refugees, internally displaced and returnees and is based on a joint UN-IDP strategy in Somalia and a “Protection Response Plan”. To find out more on UNHCR’s activities with IDPs in Somalia, click here.
Food, water and livelihoods support – International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has a large and growing programme in Somalia, to which Sida contributed 10 MSEK in 2006. ICRC adapts activities to emerging needs. In 2006, food, rehabilitation of water sources, health structures and livelihood constituted the main areas of focus. To find out more about ICRC’s action in Somalia, click here.
Health - International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent SocietyThe International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has received a regional allocation from Sida that includes activities in Somalia. ICRC is the leading agency from the Red Cross family in the conflict affected areas in south-central Somalia and IFRC has the lead in the north of Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland. IFRC works through the national Red Crescent society in Somalia which has a wide network all over the country. To find out more on IFRC’s and the Red Crescent’s activities in Somalia, click here.
Security of humanitarian personnel - Somalia NGO Consortium Through the Danish Refugee Council, Sida supports the Somalia NGO Consortium’s NGO Security Preparedness and Support (NGO-SPAS) aiming to reduce the risks posed to the programme personnel and assets of NGOs operating in Somalia. The project provides them with specialised, coordinated and focused security management support: all member NGOs receive regular information updates on the security situation as well as training, technical advice and security support if needed. To find out more about the NGO consortium, click here.
Security of humanitarian personnel - UNDSSSida has contributed 2 MSEK to the UN Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) in 2006 to ensure continued humanitarian access and better security for humanitarian actors. UNDSS is responsible for the security of humanitarian staff.
Support to South Central SomaliaSomali Institutional Support Project (SISP) - UNDPUNDP’s Somali Institutional Support Project (SISP) is the continuation of its previous Somalia Emergency Budgetary Support Project (SEBSP). Sida’s support to the TFIs through UNDP’s SEBSP and SISP amounts some 8,5 MSEK since 2005. The SISP aims to consolidate peace through implementing the Transitional Federal Charter. This involves financial support to the new institutions, which, with a low level of revenues collected in-country have been dependent on donor support to carry out their basic functions of policy and law making, strategy setting, oversight, reconciliation as well as security and law enforcement. To find out more about the SISP, click here.
Support to the Mudug and Galgaduud local peace-building process - Interpeace“Ensuring peace in Mudug is crucial to the stability of the rest of Somalia” (Peace Activist). Interpeace played a key role in mediation efforts to end the long-running conflict between two wings of one of Somalia’s main clans – the Hawiye - over land and water rights in the arid central Mudug and Galgudud regions, bordering Ethiopia. The Interpeace supported activities have significantly contributed to a more stable situation in the areas of Mudug and Galgudud. Recently, the successful reconciliation process has enabled people from Mogadishu to seek refuge in these previously highly insecure areas and, despite the extraordinary pressures, to date it appears that the peace accord is holding. To find out more about Interpeace’s action in Somalia, click here. A final report on the Mudug-Galgaduud peace process can be downloaded from the Interpeace website.
Improving IDPs’ living conditions - Danish Refugee Council Sida supports the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in its assistance to returned refugees and their host communities in Belet Weyne, Central Somalia, through income-generating and water and sanitation projects. It also supports traditional leaders to strengthen their roles as conflict mediators and peace builders. To find out more on DRC and its work in Africa, click here.
Response to 2006 Droughts - Oxfam UKIn 2006 Sida decided to fund a new initiative to assist drought affected populations in Gedo and Lower Juba regions of south Somalia through the Oxfam UK and Horn Relief’s Consortium. Sida´s funds amounted to 4 MSEK in 2006. The focus of the programme is to enhance affected people’s livelihood by cash interventions. To find out more, click here.
Support to SomalilandSomaliland benefits from support to nation-wide programmes such as Interpeace’s peace-building and democratization programme or the Joint Needs Assessment process. Please consult the section on nation-wide support for further detail (Insert link). It also receives specifically targeted support in addition to nation-wide programmes, as described below:
Demining - Danish Demining Group (DDG)Sida supports DDG in its demining work in Somaliland. This involves a Village by Village Clearance Project whereby communities are visited in order to remove and destroy all immediately available landmines, ammunition and unexploded ordnance and to provide mine risk education, with particular emphasis on children and elders. During 2006 Sida disbursed 5,5 MSEK to this project. DDG also carries out its Village Stockpile Disposal Initiative (VSDI) together with the Danish Refugee Council and the local NGO Haqsoor. Close links with clan and village leaders are developed in order to try and convince villagers to give up their stock of ERW. To find out more about DDG’s activities, click here.
Education/IDP protection – Norwegian Refugee CouncilThe Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) carries out education and IDP protection activities with a support from Sida amounting 7 MSEK for 2007-2008. The education component of the programme consists in a one-year non-formal education project combining literacy skills, life skills and vocational training in a “Youth Education Pack”. It is implemented in Awal and Hargeysa in Somaliland, and benefits both IDPs and the local community. The protection component of the programme comprises protection and advocacy as well as information, counselling and legal assistance. To find out more on NRC and its work, click here.
Support to PuntlandPuntland benefits from support to nation-wide programmes such as Interpeace’s peace-building and democratization programme or the Joint Needs Assessment process. Please consult the section on nation-wide support for further detail (Insert link). It also receives specifically targeted support in addition to nation-wide programmes, as described below:
Education - Diakonia Sida supports Diakonia in its work aiming to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations involved in the promotion of education in Puntland. The support provided to Diakonia amounts in 2005-2006 amounts 30 MSEK. In addition to supporting the training of teachers in Garowe’s Teacher College, Diakonia also works on improving access and quality of education through the development of infrastructure, literacy and vocational skills for women and youth, promotion of socio-cultural awareness in education and democracy, promotion of civic education, democratic governance and peace education and strengthening the institutional and technical capacities of partners. To find out more on Diakonia and its work in Africa, click here.
IDP protection – Norwegian Refugee CouncilThe Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) carries out IDP protection activities in Puntland (Bossasso). NRC provides protection and advocacy as well as information, counselling and legal assistance for IDPs. To find out more on NRC and its work, click here.