A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in July 2021

29 Jul 2021

A round-up of activities of the UN system in Somalia in July 2021

 

Criminal investigation | UNODC and Somali Police Force cooperate to counter transnational organized crime, including Trafficking in Persons

Congratulations to the 16 Somali Police Force Officers from Hirshabelle & Galmadug, who graduated from the Criminal Investigator Development Course 1 (IDC1). The training course is part of UNODC's Criminal Investigation Programme (CIP) in Somalia, funded by the U.S State Department, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

https://www.unodc.org/easternafrica/en/Stories/unodc-and-somali-police-force-commence-investigator-development-course.html

 

Floods | FAO improves flood response in Somalia through remote sensing with Satellite imagery reports

Somalia, like many countries, is affected by frequent climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts and tropical storms. Flood frequency has increased in Somalia over the past 20 years, resulting in the disruption of people’s livelihoods and the economy at large. Climate change - compounded with other factors such as low ability to adapt, a rapidly growing population, poor infrastructure, weak river embankments and poor soil structures - is exacerbating the level of flood damage inflicted on local communities.

http://www.fao.org/emergencies/fao-in-action/stories/stories-detail/en/c/1416034

 

Conflict Management | UN-Habitat and BRA conduct a conflict management training

UN-Habitat in partnership with Banadir Regional Administration (BRA) delivered an 8-day conflict management training to 54 trainees comprised of BRA and the local government staff as well as members of peace committees drawn from 17 districts of Mogadishu. The content of the training was drawn from a training manual developed by BRA with the support of UN-Habitat. The manual is aimed at facilitating districts and local governments in proactively instituting conflict management capacities at the community level, to achieve safer and resilient communities in line with SDG 11 of sustainable cities and communities.These new skills will complement the traditional community-based justice system, Xeer which is mostly used at the local level.

https://unhabitat.org/un-habitat-and-bra-conduct-a-conflict-management-training

 

World Environment Day | UN in Somalia leads a beach clean-up exercise to mark World Environment Day

Each year, the 5th of June is celebrated as World Environment Day. It is the United Nations (UN) flagship day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for the environment. It is observed by billions of people all over the world. The 2021 theme is "Ecosystem Restoration," with an emphasis on resetting our relationship with nature. This year’s celebrations also marked the official start of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, starting from 2021 to 2030.

https://unsos.unmissions.org/un-somalia-leads-beach-clean-exercise-mark-world-environment-day

 

Diaspora | IOM welcomes Somalia’s Development of its National Diaspora Policy

In June, IOM attended the launch in Mogadishu of a project that will lead to the development of Somalia’s National Diaspora Policy, a significant step towards the sustainable development of the country. The policy will be the country’s first diaspora engagement framework that acknowledges the Somali diaspora potential to contribute to the country's socio-economic development. In the coming months, the Department of Diaspora Affairs in close coordination with the multi-sectoral committee will undertake consultations with government and non-government stakeholders to ensure that a participatory, inclusive and coherent policy is developed. IOM will provide technical support throughout the development process thanks to funding from IOM’s Development Fund (IDF).

https://midasom.iom.int/news/iom-welcomes-somalias-development-its-national-diaspora-policy

 

Elections | UN and International partners welcome the successful conclusion of Somalia’s National Consultative Council meeting

Somalia’s international partners* welcomed the successful conclusion of the National Consultative Council (NCC) meeting and commended Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and the Federal Member State leaders for their constructive discussions. The partners noted the important decisions taken by the NCC on the election timetable and the role of the Technical Election Support Team and its expansion to include Federal Member State representatives. The partners also welcomed the decision to halve registration fees for women candidates and look forward to further steps to secure the agreed 30 percent quota for women’s representation. The partners reiterated their readiness to support.

https://unsom.unmissions.org/international-partners-welcome-national-consultative-council-meeting

 

Justice system | UNDP implements new prison facilities in Baidoa

UNDP and UNSOM are supporting the Federal Government to build new prison facilities in Baidoa using nationally owned procurement systems, funded by the Government of Sweden. At the project’s completion, it will both replace the old prison and provide facilities for rehabilitation, education and rule of law-related training activities. 

www.so.undp.org

 

Humanitarian | OCHA coordinated seven field missions

Following advocacy by OCHA, the Humanitarian Country Team directed that the humanitarian community be given access to UNHAS ‘caravan’ airplane to conduct joint assessment and monitoring missions. Since 12 June, OCHA has coordinated seven missions involving humanitarian, development, Government and INGO partners to Gaalkacyo, Dhuusamarreeb, Hudur, Cabudwaaq, Berdale, Hobyo and Afmadow. More missions are planned up to the end of August.

https://www.unocha.org/somalia

 

Humanitarian Response | UNICEF reaches over 100,000 women and children with emergency health services

UNICEF and partners continued to scale up their humanitarian response to reach the most vulnerable women and children who have been displaced due to recurrent climatic shocks or forced to flee their homes due to conflict. Over 100,000 women and children were reached with essential health care services and nearly 70,000 women were provided with individual infant and young child feeding counselling.

https://twitter.com/unicefsomalia

 

COVID-19 Response | UNFPA implements a new COVID-19 isolation ward in Hargeisa for pregnant and mothers with new-born babies

UNFPA supports a new COVID-19 isolation ward in Hargeisa for pregnant and mothers with new-born babies. UNFPA Somalia has supported the Ministry of Health Development Somaliland to establish a new maternity ward at Hargeisa Group Hospital dedicated to pregnant women and new mothers with COVID-19 symptoms. The isolation centre, set up with funding from the Government of Canada, will provide access to life-saving maternal and newborn care.

https://somalia.unfpa.org/en

 

Shelter | UNHCR supports the construction of Transitional shelter for IDPs

In Bari Region, Bossaso district, UNHCR through its implementing partner NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council) provided shelter support by constructing 82 transitional shelters and 82 family latrines. This was a community owned project, where the beneficiaries constructed their own shelter after receiving basic training on how to construct the shelters. The targeted population relocated from Tawakal IDP settlement due to risk of an eviction and possible natural calamity, such as floods due to the geographical location of the area which is positioned at the seaside. Approximately 654 individuals have benefited from the process.

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

 

Business opportunities | UNIDO implements project on Agro-technology development for economic growth in South and Central Somalia

The “Agro-technology development for economic growth in South and Central Somalia” project, implemented by UNIDO and funded by the Italian Agency of Development Cooperation, remained fully operational, providing valuable support to local SMEs through virtual initiatives as well as physical ones, always in compliance with precautions to prevent the diffusion of Covid19.These activities, delivered in terms of technical seminars, webinars, or digital exhibitions have been focused on the industrial sectors with high potential for the economic growth of Somalia. These opportunities allowed the Somali companies to be exposed to the latest trends in the sectors, as well as been introduced to potential importers or technology providers and get access to new markets for export opportunities.

https://xfiles.unido.org/index.php/s/JxPoG6NekpEt27R