Key aspects of the post New Deal pact for Somalia

Somalia and International partners last week signed a post New Deal instrument of engagement which is aimed at providing the roadmap of implementation of agreements inked during the London Conference.

The instrument, dubbed the New Partnership for Somalia (NPS) replaces the New Deal Compact signed in 2013 in Brussels conference which was backed by $2.4 billion aid pledges.

The Compact was framed along five Peace and State Building Goals (PGS) namely inclusive politics, improved security, greater justice, strong foundations for economic recovery, and long-term systems to generate Somali revenue and services.

The NPS lays down eight thematic areas with strong emphasis on alignment with the National Development Plan and government priority areas.

These are political settlement, security, rule of law and human rights, rights of women and girls, youth empowerment, financial and economic management, growth, economic recovery and resilience and inclusion and regulation.

Lessons from new deal

The NPS retains critical components of the Compact but urges that some be reframed ‘based on lessons learned and heightened levels of ambitions’. The NPS is also ‘enriched by robust national ownership, leadership, coordination and monitoring mechanisms’.

On political settlement, the NPS lays emphasis on review and adoption of the constitution which is the basis for comprehensive political settlement on outstanding issues. These include division of power, authority and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Federal Member states, policy formulation and service delivery, and clear revenue and sharing agreement between the two levels of government. Other issues include the determination of status of Mogadishu, solution to the Somaliland question and a clear roadmap for the 2021 elections.

Security

The NPS also focuses on the security component setting bench marks on preparation for a conditions based exit of the African Union force, increased coordination and effectiveness of the military and non military interventions, coordinated and predictable international support to the federal and state components of the national security architecture among others. The NPS also acknowledges the endorsement of the National Security Architecture which is now prioritized under the Security Pact signed during the London Conference.

Rule of Law and Human rights also forms the core of the NPS with focus on protection of citizens and people of other nationalities in line with international standards, formulation of the justice and correction architecture and establishment of the Human Rights Commission.

Women, youth and girls

The NPS further stresses the need for increased participation of women in all levels of government and efforts against gender based violence. It also calls for inclusion of gender aspects in the design and implementation of development programmes.

The Partnership agreement also calls for support of youth in political participation, access to technical and vocational training and support for entrepreneurship among others.

On financial and economic management, the NPS highlights compliance to provisions of the IMF Staff Monitored Programmes and sustained efforts aimed at normalisation of relations with International Financial Institutions as a precursor to debt relief. Reduction of aid dependency through improved revenue collection is critical towards building a sustainable economy, the NPS notes.

It also asserts the need for rapid progress in establishing regulatory mechanisms for banking institutions and general business environment.

Somalia’s economic recovery and resilience is hinged on a robust engagement of all stakeholders including public-private partnerships and civil society participation involvement, the NPS notes.

Finally, the NPS lays emphasis on development of regulatory mechanism and a holistic inclusion of all stakeholders in planning, coordination and delivery of the National Development Plan.

Implementation

The High Level Partnership Forum and the Somali Development and Reconstruction Facility both key drivers of the the New Deal will be retained as the key bodies to provide direction and National Development Plan and the NPS. The Aid Coordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s office will provide secretariat functions.

The framers of the NPS have also inserted mutual accountability clauses to ensure both parties remain committed to implementing the areas agreed. “As well as being accountable to each other through this partnership, it is also important to note we are also accountable on all sides to our own taxpayers for the public funds we are devoting to Somalia’s recovery and development,” the NPS reads in part.

Progress results will be presented and reviewed twice yearly at the High Level Partnership Forum.