Major challenges

DFID: Working to reduce poverty in Somalia

Somalia has received on average $200 million a year since 2000 from the international community. DFID’s contribution has increased from £3.1 million in 2002/03 to over £34 million in 2008/09.

Our programme for 2009/10 was agreed by Secretary of State Douglas Alexander in March this year and is focused on delivering humanitarian relief to the most vulnerable, improving health and education through better service delivery, support to governance and security (including wider reconciliation), and promotion of sustainable enterprise and livelihoods.

We aim to announce our programme of support for 2010/11 in early 2010.

Making aid effective

The UK is responding to humanitarian and development needs in Somalia by working together with other international donors under the auspices of the UN. We are trying to improve the coordination of all development assistance to Somalia through the Somali Support Secretariat and other joint mechanisms, and ensure that all assistance adheres to the OECD/DAC Principles for Good International Engagement in Fragile States.

DFID has played an important part in developing the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) for Somalia, led by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. We have also taken a leading role in the European Union/Norway 2008–13 Country Strategy Paper for Somalia, which takes the RDP as its starting point.

Governance, security and peace building

The UK, together with the international community, believes the best chance for the future of Somalia will come from inclusive and peaceful reconciliation.

We believe that security is crucial to create conditions for development and a better future for Somali people and are committed to work with the Somali authorities, the UN and AMISOM to help build a stronger and more accountable security sector, as long as a coherent plan is in place.

In March 2010, we announced £5.8 million for a new governance and peace building programme in 2010/2011 aimed at improving national, regional and local governance institutions and peace building mechanisms in Somalia.

Mostly by improving security at the local level by supporting reconciliation and local peace building initiatives between clans and communities, as well as between local authorities and communities.

It will also support civil servant salaries to ensure that government institutions have the necessary capacity to serve the Somali people. Local authorities will be supported to work with their communities to identify their needs.

These include providing basic services such as construction of water wells, roads, markets, health posts and toilets.

In addition, DFID is helping civil society organisations (CSOs) work more closely with government in Somalia. Over 1,000 CSOs are being supported in all three zones of Somalia.

They include non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, youth and women’s groups and professional associations.

Health

Although DFID continues to support emergency services to the most vulnerable in Somalia through such organisations as the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Medical Corps and UNICEF, we are currently shifting towards a more strategic, sector-wide approach to health issues.

DFID is channelling funds into strengthening regional health systems in Somaliland, as a pilot for the rest of Somalia. Through this work, vaccination rates in Amoud village, for example, have increased from 10% coverage to 87%.
Also in Somaliland, we are working to combat malaria through the distribution of 120,000 insecticide-treated bed nets.
In South-West Somalia support to the Gedo Regional Health Programme has led to a tripling of the number of people visiting clinics as outpatients. This has been made possible through the rehabilitation of three hospitals, four health centres and 52 health posts.

HIV/AIDS and other diseases

HIV/AIDS activities are integrated into our broader service delivery programmes. As a result of DFID support, AIDS commissions have been established in Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia. DFID central funding is also provided to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation and to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Education

DFID’s support is focused strongly on girls’ education and is channelled through UN and international NGO partners:

DFID is funding a three-year £6 million partnership agreement with UNESCO and UNICEF which has trained over 500 teachers and 900 community education committees and benefited 23,500 children in South Central Somalia. The partnership is working to strengthen education systems and increase access and enrolment to schools countrywide.
As part of DFID’s support to the ‘Go To School’ campaign we are funding primary education through UNICEF to increase enrolment and retention in 1,484 primary schools, covering Somaliland, Puntland and South Central. This includes printing and distribution of new text books and teachers guides to benefit an estimated 307,200 students and 10,400 teachers.
Support to Africa Education Trust helped 9,600 students enrol for examinations in April 2008 in Somaliland and 2,629 enrol in South Central Somalia. Some school leavers have qualified for undergraduate study outside of Somalia, e.g. Kenya, Yemen and India.

Humanitarian assistance

DFID is funding emergency humanitarian interventions in the worst-affected areas of Somalia targeting the most vulnerable populations in regions, large numbers of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and those with severe malnutrition.

As at March 2010 it is estimated that 3.2 million people are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia.

In 2009/10 DFID had committed £19 milion to support the people most affected by conflict and drought.

DFID’s funds are currently supporting emergency nutrition/medical services through UNICEF and NGOs ACF, MDM, IMC; victims of conflict through ICRC and the UN Humanitarian Response Fund; and provision of clean water and sanitation through NGOs Oxfam and Solidarités reaching about 1.2 people in Somalia.

Livelihoods and recovery

The Somalian economy is surprisingly robust, with strong exports of live animals (to Kenya and the Gulf) and the growth of new economic activities (e.g. telecoms). The US$1 billion sent back to the country every year by Somalis living abroad is also an important part of the economy.

DFID is working with partners to help create sustainable, equitable employment across Somalia, particularly in areas emerging from conflict and violence. We are hopeful that this support will help to create alternative livelihoods for those otherwise susceptible to illegal activities such as kidnapping, insurgency and piracy.

DFID has committed £3 million to the 2006–09 Somalia Employment, Enterprise and Livelihoods programme, which is contributing to peace and economic development through creation of sustainable equitable employment. Since 2006 ILO has created 43,200 working days and provided improved livelihoods for over 39,550 beneficiaries.
We have also committed £750,000 to the UNDP for Employment Generation for Early Recovery in South Central Somalia. DFID’s allocation will contribute to the creation of 500,000 working days reaching some 18,000 direct beneficiaries and 120,000 indirect beneficiaries.

Bookmark with:

What are Bookmarks?