Public Space | UN-Habitat builds public facilities at the Dhusamareb District Office, Galmudug State
 
UN-Habitat has started the construction of public facilities at the Dhusamareb District Office, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs & Reconciliation, Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing of Galmudug State and DC Dhusamareeb.

Facilities will include a high roofed multifunctional area, two rooms and latrines. The premise will have a neatly lawned space with vegetation, creating a conducive environment where members of the community can gather and socialize.

This construction project is part of a wider Settlement Development Plan that is currently being developed by UN-Habitat in close collaboration with the local authorities.

https://twitter.com/UNHabitat_Som

Stabilization | IOM implements solar streetlights to bring safety to Janaale, Lower Shabelle
 
New streetlights were installed in the town of Janaale in Lower Shabelle, increasing residents' safety and security at night. The 50 new solar-powered streetlights are placed along two kilometers of roads throughout the town. The streetlights bolster the local administration’s efforts to ensure security for its residents in Janaale. The town was recovered one year ago from a violent extremist group that continues to threaten at night. The new streetlights are part of the Daryeel project, launched in 2020 with funding from the European Union and implemented by IOM, to support Somalia’s recovery and stabilization through implementing critical public infrastructure projects.

https://ec.europa.eu/fpi/news/solar-streetlights-make-residents-janaale-somalia-safe-night_en

Humanitarian | OCHA: $1.09 billion needed to assist millions of Somalis in 2021

The Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations launched the 2021 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), which seeks $1.09 billion to provide life-saving assistance to four million people who will be in critical need of humanitarian assistance across the country this year.

According to OCHA, the UN’s humanitarian coordination agency, the humanitarian situation in Somalia worsened in 2020, compounded by the ‘triple threat’ of floods, COVID-19 and desert locusts.

In 2021, the country is projected to face more significant humanitarian challenges.

Drought conditions are predicted due to the likely below-average rainfall associated with La Niña, and the country will have to handle the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the economy. The HRP estimates that 5.9 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, an increase from 5.2 million last year.

https://www.unocha.org/somalia

COVID-19 Response | UNDP supports distribution of protective gear to fight COVID-19

As part of UNDP’s support for the Banadir Regional Authority’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with funding from Japan, supplies of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and soap were delivered to the Martini Hospital, in Mogadishu.

More deliveries over the coming weeks will bring similar supplies to hospitals and health centres around the city, in an effort to help protect people where it is needed most.

www.so.undp.org

Women and girls | UNFPA upholds the dignity of vulnerable women and girls during humanitarian crises

UNFPA continues to provide access to life-saving integrated sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services, including the provision of COVID-19 adapted dignity kits for Somali women and girls.

As part of the response to women and girls' specific needs, UNFPA and its partner, Somali Birth Attendants Cooperative Organisation (SBACO), have distributed 300 dignity kits to marginalized women and girls in the surrounding areas of the city of Galkayo.

https://somalia.unfpa.org/en/news/upholding-dignity-vulnerable-women-and-girls-during-humanitarian-crises

Refugee Protection | UNHCR provides emergency support to victims of conflict and cyclone

UNHCR, through its implementing partner African Volunteers for Relief and Development (AVORD), provided non-food items (NFSIs) to at least 3,000 people in Qansaxley and Kapasa settlements for internally displaced people.

Those targeted in the settlements were affected by the recent conflict in Belet Hawo, in Jubaland’s Gedo region, which displaced thousands of people.

Meanwhile, in Puntland, close to 22,000 people have begun receiving cash assistance to restock their shelters which were destroyed by Cyclone Gati in December 2020. 

By March, UNHCR will have assisted more than 25,000 people affected by the cyclone with cash and NFIs in the districts of Bosaso, Bargal and Iskushuban.

https://www.unhcr.org/somalia.html

Child protection | UNICEF and UNFPA: recommit to ending female genital mutilation

On the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, marked on 6 February, UNICEF and UNFPA called on the Government of Somalia to recommit to ending female genital mutilation (FGM) by passing a law that eliminates the practice.

Somalia has one of the highest rates of FGM in the world. According to the latest Somali Health and Demographic Survey, 99 per cent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been subjected to this harmful practice.

FGM is almost universally practised in the country for several reasons. Many religious and community leaders encourage the practise, wrongly justifying it as a religious necessity. Families also view cutting as a way of protecting their daughter’s chastity, a prerequisite for marriage.

Through a variety of programmes, UNICEF and UNFPA are taking action to eradicate the practice in Somalia. The two agencies are working with communities to change attitudes and educate families on the life-threatening consequences of forcing young girls to undergo FGM.

Besides the efforts to change traditional beliefs, the agencies say it is critical to provide a legal framework banning FGM and empowering families and communities to refuse girls to be cut – the passage of the FGM Bill would help to accomplish this and put an end to the abhorrent practice.

https://www.unicef.org/somalia/press-releases/unicef-and-unfpa-call-government-somalia-commit-ending-fgm-passing-law-prohibiting

Business Development | UNIDO offers Somali businesses opportunities for international partnerships
 
UNIDO Somalia funded by AICS in collaboration with ITPO Italy organized an online EIMA exhibition roundtable at an Italian leading fair in the agriculture machinery sector. The roundtable facilitated knowledge exchange and fostered business opportunities aimed at promoting international partnership. UNIDO Somalia investment promotion component is based on the local context, and business and economic conditions in Somalia. It actively seeks to adapt investment opportunities to the attention of investors and partners in order to increase both domestic and foreign investment and enhance contribution to Somali economic development. Similar roundtable and investment promotion activities will be held at the end of February and March 2021.

http://twitter.com/UNIDOSomalia

Prison Reform | UNODC promotes training to prison supervisors in Somaliland
 
To develop the skills and knowledge of prospective prison supervisors, UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) has brought together 14 prison officers from different regions of Somaliland, including Gabiley, Boroma, and Erigavo, for a five-week leadership training. With support from the European Union and the Government of Sweden, particularly through the Joint Rule of Law Programme, the training aims to create a pool of Custodial Corps officials who may be selected to elevate into middle manager roles. In March, the practical component of the training will begin, after which UNODC GMCP will convene a closing ceremony. This initiative has been delivered in collaboration with UNODC’s Global Prison Challenges Programme.

https://www.unodc.org/easternafrica/en/Stories/strengthening-prison-leaders-capacity-in-somaliland.html

Elections | UN and international partners urge Somali leaders to come together

In relation to Somalia’s elections, its international partners have called on all signatories of the 17 September agreement to come together urgently to finalize the implementation of the electoral model, building on the work of the Technical Committee which met in Baidoa on 15-16 February.

In a joint statement, the partners said Federal and Member State leaders should also maintain open lines of communication with other Somali political leaders and civil society to ensure the elections have the broadest possible support and electoral bodies act with independence from political interests.

http://bit.ly/3dDwZrt

Career Opportunities | WFP launches unprecedented female internship programme

WFP has launched a groundbreaking new female internship programme to provide first-time work experience and career opportunities to talented young female graduates. This unprecedented programme is part of WFP’s commitment to better gender parity and balance, and is a particularly important step in our context locally. As of February, 11 of a total 22 interns were already on board in Somaliland and Puntland, bringing a fantastic level of energy to their work across the spectrum of WFP’s operations – from logistics and livelihoods support to school meals and nutrition, in the office and in the field. The rest of the team will be joining in the coming weeks in different locations.

https://twitter.com/WFPSomalia

COVID-19 Response | WHO helps strengthen capacity for responding to COVID-19

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has supported the Somali authorities to develop preparedness and response capacities.

In January 2021, 77 health workers were trained on surveillance, case management, risk communication and infection prevention and control. WHO supported regions to respond to COVID-19 by distributing 9,232 face masks for use by health workers and community volunteers and 3,060 sample collection kits.

The UN health agency supported 2,409 community health teams, reached 1,413,478 people with risk communication messages, and visited 295,256 households in 51 districts to actively search for COVID-19 cases.

In addition, a total of 159 alerts of COVID-19 were investigated with the support of 73 trained district rapid response teams.

WHO continues to build diagnostic capacity for priority infectious diseases, including COVID-19, by providing training, technical support and providing supplies and re-agents.

https://bit.ly/3b8YY0l