UNDP and Federal Government of Somalia Sign Agreement on Support for State Formation

The Somali Compact and Vision 2016 call for the establishment of federal units and state administrations as the key milestones of a vibrant and stable Somalia. To help reach these milestones, UNDP signed an agreement this week with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) establishing a new project on ‘Emerging State Formation’. This new initiative will provide support for the FGS to work with local leaders and communities on the formation of interim state administrations – as stipulated by the Provisional Somali Constitution.

The Emerging State Support project will be implemented directly by UNDP, in conjunction with UNSOM and in partnership with the FGS. The agreement was signed by UNDP Somalia’s Country Director George Conway and the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs (MIFA), Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Salah. UNDP Somalia’s Deputy Country Director, Mr. David Akopyan, and Director General of the Directorate of Federal Affairs of MIFA, Mr. Abdullahi Yusofi and other key stakeholders also took part.

The Federal Government will work with local authorities, traditional leaders, civil society, women and youth in the formation of Interim Regional Administrations – which will serve as foundations for federal states. “The Federal Government of Somalia is thankful to UNDP and UNSOM for this support, and we look forward to long-term solutions for creating effective governance structure and processes in the country,” said Mr. Salah.

“UNDP remains committed to supporting state-building efforts and facilitating peace, stability and development in Somalia,” said Mr. Conway. The project’s activities will contribute to the Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSG) laid out in the Somali Compact’s – particularly on PSG 1 focused on inclusive politics.

The project will provide support to the state formation process in three coordinated phases: Support to the FGS for reconciliation and state-building; Building political consensus on the draft state charter and establishment of Interim Administrations; and Initiating the establishment of new institutions and basic state service systems.

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