UN
A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in December 2021
 |
Cash transfers | WFP supports top-up cash transfers to 17,000 households in Galmudug WFP supported the Federal Government of Somalia to provide extra top-up cash transfers, backed by the European Union and United Kingdom, to more than 17,000 vulnerable households in Galmudug. The top-ups go through the Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital Project – known locally as Baxnaano – using the transfer mechanisms set up by WFP, and complement regular transfers to further strengthen families against shocks. The programme is government-owned, and funded by the World Bank. It provides predictable, unconditional cash transfers to 200,000 households across Somalia, building their resilience against shocks like drought and flooding. WFP implements these transfers, supporting the longer-term development of a government-owned delivery system. |
|
 |
Food | FAO helps families stay food secure through locusts, drought and COVID-19 Both livestock and agriculture play an important role in Somalia’s economy – but drought, desert locusts and the COVID-19 pandemic have had a huge impact on the country’s agri-food systems with farmers and pastoralists facing significant threats to their ability to provide for their families. Now, through an anticipatory action project, FAO is supporting communities in the Laasqoray and Dolow districts to stay afloat during these simultaneous crises with cash transfers and livelihoods-related support such as seeds, tools, animal feed blocks and training. The project aims to address acute food insecurity in these areas and help those affected to get back to work, providing for their families and better equipped to face the future. https://www.fao.org/emergencies/fao-in-action/stories/stories-detail/en/... |
|
 |
Female Genital Mutilation | UNFPA and Ifrah Foundation launch ‘Dear Daughter Campaign’ in Jubaland With support from with the Federal Member State’s Minister of Women and other frontline anti-Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) campaigners, UNFPA and the Ifrah Foundation launched the ‘Dear Daughter Campaign’ in Kismayo, Jubaland. The campaign brings a radically different approach to end FGM in Somalia. Built on research and experience, it subscribes to the three-pillar policy of addressing FGM: behaviour change, community engagement and intervention evaluation. In addition, advocacy, awareness-raising, community engagement and empowerment programmess are undertaken simultaneously and consistently over time. The campaign was first launched in Mogadishu in September. https://somalia.unfpa.org/en/news/dear-daughter-campaign-launch-jubaland |
|
 |
Training | UNIDO continues support for technical and vocational education UNIDO continued the delivery of specialized technical and vocational training based on detailed assessments of Somali fish, livestock, fruit and vegetable value chains. The training was aimed at building the capacity of a robust and skilled workforce capable of operating, maintaining and installing agro-industrial equipment. The assessment was carried out by UNIDO in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Somali Chamber of Commerce and private sector actors, and led to the identification of four trade areas for the targeted training: plumbing, welding, packaging and storage, and fish handling. The training was taken within the framework of the ‘Agro-technology development for Economic Growth in South and Central Somalia’ project funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. In 2021, UNIDO provided training to 400 youth in Mogadishu, Kismayo and Baidoa. |
|
 |
De-mining | UNMAS helps clear land of mines in Puntland and Galmudug A long-running project to clear the districts of Dhabad and Galdogob of landmines in northern Somalia ended in December, rendering millions of square metres safe for residents' use. Funded by the European Union and implemented by UNMAS with support from the HALO Trust, the ‘Community-based mine action as a means to promote peace and stability in Somalia’ project ran from October 2020 to December 2021. Altogether, more than half a million square metres of minefields and an additional three million square metres of land previously used as battle areas were made safe for local residents. The project also provided employment opportunities for more than 113 local youth community members, both men and women, bringing a new source of income for households while concurrently fostering a sense of ownership of the solution to the landmine problem. |
|
 |
Humanitarian | OCHA releases 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia OCHA released the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Somalia — a country now facing its third consecutive failed rainy season for the first time in over 30 years. An estimated 7.7 million Somalis will need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022, a 30 per cent rise in just one year. The 2022 HRP seeks close to $1.5 billion to assist 5.5 million of the most vulnerable among them. To meet the immediate needs of drought-affected communities, the UN is also releasing $17 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), bringing CERF funding for Somalia in 2021 to $52 million. This is in addition to nearly $60 million provided by donors to the Somalia Humanitarian Fund, a multi donor country-based pooled funding mechanism. |
|
 |
Drought | IOM scales-up humanitarian efforts to assist thousands affected by drought With nearly three million Somalis currently affected by the country’s worsening drought, IOM is scaling up humanitarian efforts across eight districts to meet the most urgent needs of affected populations. Since November, IOM has provided emergency water trucking to around 2,500 households in 18 villages within and around Afmadow and Dhobley. This is complemented by the rehabilitation of boreholes, motorized shallow wells, rainwater berkeeds and the distribution of hygiene kits in Jubaland. IOM has also provided unconditional cash transfer to over 1,000 households in Afmadow and Doolow. Since the beginning of 2021, water scarcity has displaced nearly 113,000 people, and is expected to drive more displacement as water sources are drying up, livestock is dying and the price of commodities continues to increase. |
|
 |
Development | UNDP supports women to express themselves through art UNDP is supporting women to create poems, photo essays and films on issues of importance to them, ranging from the power of friendship to the challenges of living in poverty. |
|
 |
Gender-Based Violence | UNODC enhancing investigation capacity of police officers on Gender-Based Violence In December, UNODC convened two six-day specialized training courses for 24 police officers, including female officers, from Galmadug, Jubaland, South West State, Mogadishu, Hirshabelle and Puntland, to enhance their investigation capacity in relation to Gender-Based Violence cases. This project is funded by the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and falls within the UNODC Criminal Investigation Program (CIP) for Somalia, which includes a special focus on Human Rights and Gender-Based Violence. |
|
 |
Gender-Based Violence | UN in Somalia plants trees to mark activism against Gender-Based Violence Staff from the UN family in Somalia marked the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence, observed on 25 November and kicking off 16 days of activism, at a tree-planting event in Mogadishu. The planting of trees symbolized regeneration and hope. |
|
 |
Human Rights | UN Special Representative calls on Somalis to embrace equality and non-discrimination Marking this year’s Human Rights Day, observed on 10 December, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, called on Somalis to unite in upholding the principles of equality and non-discrimination are embedded in all aspects of life. “Equality is at the core of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Equality is also enshrined in the Provisional Constitution of Somalia and the many international treaties Somalia is a party,” Mr. Swan said. “Ensuring that the principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the forefront, will help eliminate exclusion faced by minorities and marginalized communities in Somalia, such as persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons, and allow people to fully participate in decision-making that affects their lives and their future,” he added. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
