UN-HABITAT in the Somali Region Newsletter

Transcription

1 april 2010 UN-HABITAT in the Somali Region Newsletter updates on the latest urban interventions 9th issue Burao tree planting World Habitat Day Bossaso, Galkayo, and Garowe IDP shelter projects Mogadishu market rehabilitation joint programme update 1

2 The need for sustained funding support for the resettlement of displaced populations in Somalia Integrated humanitarian settlement development The UN-HABITAT Somalia Programme, together with local authorities and communities, plans and builds shelter settlements for displaced communities and vulnerable groups in urban centres in Somalia. Large groups of displaced and urban poor have often lived up to ten or more years in dense, unhealthy, and insecure settlements, where both the living environment and the housing situation are below acceptable standards. Women and children in particular pay the price in this situation; lack of health care, potable water, affordable food, jobs, and opportunities for play, sports, and learning make it even bleaker. These appalling living conditions call for an urgent and sustained intervention to ensure the durable, protective, and integrated resettlement of IDPs, thus working towards building peace and sustainable urban development in Somalia. Highlighted below are some projects for which we urgently appeal for funding support. Mogadishu: resettlement of IDP families residing in the compound of the Transitional Federal Government Ministry of Agriculture The Ministry of Agriculture in Mogadishu once played a leading role in the economic development of the nation. However, due to the ongoing and devastating civil war the entire national infrastructure collapsed. For the last 20 years, over 150 IDP families (1,000 1,500 persons) from different regions of Somalia have occupied the compound of the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry wants to revitalize its services; it seeks to relocate and durably resettle the respective IDP families and has allocated adequate and suitable land in Mogadishu for this purpose. UN-HABITAT will prepare an urban site plan for the IDP families; construct 150 housing units and adequate water access points and sanitation facilities for each family; provide on-the-job building training (a livelihood opportunity) for the IDP families; carry out a rapid clean-up and patch-up of the buildings and compound of the ministry; and conduct monitoring and evaluation. The direct beneficiaries will be between 1,000 and 1,500 IDPs and the employees of the Ministry of Agriculture. The indirect beneficiaries will be the wider population of Mogadishu and south central Somalia. The project duration would be one year from March UN-HABITAT appeals for USD 900,000 to carry out this project. 2editorial Bossaso, Garowe, and Galkayo: expanded Joint Programme for the Protection, Reintegration, and Resettlement of IDPs The Bossaso joint programme for IDPs aims to improve human security and living standards and provide durable solutions for the reintegration and resettlement of IDPs. Indeed, at the end of the first phase the programme has led to better protection of human rights, reduction of physical violence, and protection against fire outbreaks through the upgrading of settlements. The environment in IDP settlements was enhanced through improving temporary settlements and services. UN-HABITAT contributed by jointly upgrading 1,743 shelters (housing 10,485 persons) in existing settlements and building over 450 permanent shelters (to house 2,700 persons) for the most vulnerable IDPs and urban poor. The UN partners plan to roll out a multi-year, expanded programme that consolidates and builds upon the achievements of the first phase in Bossaso and replicates the programme in Galkayo and Garowe. Implementation in Galkayo (with 50,000 IDPs) is strategic because it helps stabilize the Galkayo Bossaso migration route. Huge numbers of IDPs travel to Galkayo fleeing insecurity or in transit to Yemen, and improving IDP living conditions will reduce loss of life. In addition, UN agencies are represented in Galkayo, which allows leverage from the strengthened fieldbased capacity of partner agencies and facilitates greater coherence in UN joint programming. Implementation in Garowe meanwhile is appropriate because its 12,800 IDPs receive limited humanitarian response compared to Bossaso and have the highest malnutrition rates in Puntland. There is also easier access to land for the resettlement of IDPs compared to other locations in Puntland, and UN-HABITAT has built over 350 permanent shelters on donated land in Garowe over the last few years. The project duration will be two years from June UN-HABITAT appeals for USD 2,785,714 to carry out the first phase of its joint programme activities. Hargeisa: peace building in Somalia Integration of IDPs and Returnees Shelter Project This project in Hargeisa aims to improve living standards and provide durable solutions for the reintegration and resettlement of displaced communities and returnees in the capital of Somaliland. It is estimated that approximately 12,000 displaced families are currently residing in Hargeisa, most living in very bad conditions. The proposed project will target 50 percent of those families in three temporary settlements in Hargeisa: State House, Stadium, and Daami. This intervention will increase the human security of an estimated 6,750 families by providing increased protection and improved access to basic services (water, sanitation, health, nutrition, and education). UN-HABITAT will upgrade over 1,300 temporary shelters and improve access to livelihood opportunities through community work schemes and on-the-job training in building. An additional 3,500 families are targeted for resettlement through the construction of permanent shelters. The project will address gender issues by ensuring protection from violence for girls and women and by promoting women s productive role; female-headed households will be prioritized in the selection of beneficiaries. The criteria to ensure that women are represented in community and selection committees are already in place. Activities will be structured under four main sub-groups: Protection, Basic Services, Land, and Livelihoods. The cross-cutting themes include gender equality, HIV/AIDS, and capacity building. The project will commence in early UN-HABITAT appeals for USD 2,159,911 to carry out the first (two-year) phase of the project activities. by Rene John Dierkx, Programme Manager, Human Settlements, Shelter, IDPs

3 1 what s new! Mogadishu Yaqshid and Wadajir markets successfully rehabilitated A project to rehabilitate two public markets in Mogadishu, in Wadajir District and Yaqshid District respectively, was successfully completed on 30 December The project stemmed from a broader infrastructure rehabilitation programme implemented by UN-HABITAT partner NGO SAACID, which ended in June District stakeholders promised to actively participate in the rehabilitation, provide security for the sites, and maintain sanitation in the vicinity of the markets. The districts also agreed to assume the responsibility of maintaining the rehabilitated markets after the projects were completed. SAACID particularly included the displaced poor with a special emphasis on women, one of the most vulnerable groups in the project implementation. Their participation was also encouraged in the district action teams and other committees, leading to improved potential for sustainable development. See the full story on page 9. Burao city launches a website and lauds UN-HABITAT The city of Burao in Somaliland now has its own website: UN-HABITAT s close partnership with the city and its ongoing projects are given a high profile on the website, which includes a letter from the Mayor of Burao and reports on the various ongoing development projects in the city. See pages 6 and 7 for the full stories. Burao: First Steps towards Strategic Urban Planning BURAO first steps towards strategic urban planning In late 2009, UN-HABITAT Somalia published the book Burao: First Steps towards Strategic Urban Planning. The publication profiles the city of Burao and details the steps the Burao municipality has taken towards urban planning. Specifically, the book aims to do the following: Document the process the Burao municipality undertook through city profiling and a city consultation. Record the outcomes of the first broad consensus on urban issues, priority urban interventions, and action plans. Introduce spatial analysis as a tool for strategic planning. Complement the documentation of the process undertaken with teaching learning techniques and tips for local authorities and technical persons involved in the urban development of the city. The book can be downloaded from the UN-HABITAT website. Hard copies are available from the UN- HABITAT Somalia office. Settlement of land disputes and urban planning in Mogadishu High-level representatives from the city of Mogadishu and the Prime Minister s Office have announced plans to begin settling land disputes in and around Mogadishu, and to start urban planning for the city and for Benadir region. They would like to work with UN-HABITAT in order to use state-of-theart approaches such as participatory District and City Development Strategies and modern land management tools and policies. UN-HABITAT will engage in fund-raising to meet this important request and to connect relevant activities with the ongoing work by UNDP on the Mogadishu City Charter. 3

4 Government of Japan delegation visits project sites in Hargeisa In December 2009, a delegation from the Government of Japan visited UN-HABITAT s Ayaha II (Phase II) project in Hargeisa. Led by Seiji Okada, who is Deputy Head of Missions at the Embassy of Japan in Nairobi, and Shinya Iwata, who is the embassy s First Secretary and Head of the Political Section, the delegation sought to gain first-hand knowledge of UN-HABITAT s shelter and solar street lighting projects (funded by the Government of Japan). Accompanying the delegation were officials from UN-HABITAT, IOM, and UNICEF. 4shelter and IDPs Many people from the settlement area came out to welcome the delegation and express that they were very grateful. First, there was a tour of Ayaha II and an inspection of the newly constructed houses. The head of the delegation made positive comments about the housing, noting with some humour that the houses are better than his house in Japan. The local UN-HABITAT team gave a detailed explanation of the building plan and all the facilities provided, describing how the skills of the residents have improved through their training and involvement in the construction work. After also touring the solar street lighting project being implemented by IOM, there was a meeting in the Ayaha Neighbourhood Committee Office. On behalf of the Ayaha community, two speakers expressed their appreciation and gratitude to both the Government of Japan and UN-HABITAT. The two speakers told the donor delegation about the community s ongoing struggles: the nearest water Staff member Akiko Kishiue (centre) accompanied the delegation. source is two kilometres away, the nearest secondary school is four kilometres away, and some people in Ayaha still lack proper shelter. The head of the delegation spoke again, expressing how happy the whole delegation was to be there and to see that the funds had been used for their intended purpose. He promised to convey the community s requests to his government. He admitted to having the strong feeling that IDPs in Somaliland should be assisted. In the question-and-answer session, he asked those present more questions about schooling in the settlement and whether it was possible to have a borehole drilled in the area. Pictorial: delegation from Finland tours Hargeisa projects by Abdulahi Ibrahim, UN-HABITAT Site Engineer Hargeisa

5 Hargeisa commemorates World Habitat Day On 5 October 2009, many people gathered to celebrate World Habitat Day in Ayaha II, Hargeisa, Somaliland. The event, which was organized by the Hargeisa UN-HABITAT office, focused on the theme Planning our urban future. The participants included the Minister of Interior, the Director- General of the Ministry of Public Works, the Head of the Land and Urban Management Institute, the Mayor of Hargeisa, a director from the Ministry of Planning, and representatives from different UN and international agencies: FAO, UNDP, UNOPS, ILO, UNHCR, OCHA, UNDSS, and Terre Solidali. The Ayaha II community was well represented and the local media covered the event. The Minister of Interior praised the work of UN-HABITAT the shelter project as well as the continuous support to local municipalities. The minister specifically thanked the Government of Japan for its funding of the Ayaha II project. Similarly, the Mayor of Hargeisa, being the Chairman of Somaliland Municipal Association, talked about the strong working relationship between UN-HABITAT and Somaliland local governments. The Director-General of the Ministry of Public Works and the Head of the Land and Urban Management Institute explained their struggle to provide better urban planning and noted the pivotal role of UN-HABITAT. Representatives from Ayaha II also made speeches, all of them underlining the significant changes that the housing project has made in their lives. They requested the construction of additional shelter units for the families who are still living in the slums. A band from the Ayaha II community demonstrated traditional dances, sang songs, and read poems. Olof Nunez of UN-HABITAT gave a speech, stating that adequate shelter and a secure living environment are basic rights and that it is our collective responsibility to seek to improve the human habitat. Through improved urban planning, he said, we can strive towards human development and environmental sustainability. UN-HABITAT National Programme Officer Abdirahaman Adan discussed the interventions the agency has been involved in, VIPs enjoy the proceedings (above); Degmo Hassan Ismael speaks (left); members of a football team and part of the crowd (below). noting that all were part of an effort to develop Somali cities and enable the provision of basic services such as health, education, water, sanitation, electricity, recreational spaces, etc. In his final comment, he said, Therefore, I would plead that we all collaborate and work together to support the ministries and municipalities that are trying to make plans for our towns, as it is a joint responsibility and all citizens need to take part. Thank you and thanks to the Government of Japan. Degmo Hassan Ismael, one of the beneficiaries of the shelter project, spoke on behalf of the local communities at Ayaha. She said, I have to first thank UN-HABITAT and the Government of Japan for constructing the housing units in our settlement. Describing how her life changed after the construction of the houses, she said, We now live in these beautiful houses and we are not exposed anymore to wind, sun, and rain. However, life is not all about having a shelter. While we are grateful to everyone who contributed to the construction of these houses, we would like to remind the UN agencies here and our government that we need other social services, such as water, health services, electricity, and roads. In the afternoon, two football teams from Ayaha II played each other in a match enjoyed by many spectators and covered by the various media in attendance. by the UN-HABITAT Hargeisa Team 5

6 Trees transform Burao s city centre One of the most important projects undertaken by Burao Municipality in collaboration with UN-HABITAT was the planting of flower trees in the middle of the main roads of Burao in Many people were sceptical about the feasibility of the project at first, because they said that animals (goats) would climb the protection housing of the flowers and eat the leaves. Others argued that street boys would vandalize them, and many people were against the project outright because they claimed that there were other more pressing things to do instead of planting flowers. Anyway, the project was executed and all of them were proven to be wrong. Actually, the people of Burao liked what they saw in the middle of their town and they appreciated the beauty of the flowers. They compared the difference between the bright and beautiful sights of the yellow and red flowers of the tacoma and pomegranate, and the stinking rubbish that used to be dumped in front of their shops in the same location. In fact, the shopkeepers facing the flowers became their guardians, and they do not allow anybody to vandalize them. Some of them even remove plastic litter from the protection housing. 6environment Moreover, the people of Burao became aware of the importance of the aesthetic beauty of their city. Actually, it is a common sight in the afternoon to see schoolchildren and others standing in front of the flower trees and arguing about the names of the plants. Others were so impressed by the brightness and beauty of the flowers that they started to plant the same trees in their yards. In short, the following benefits were gained from the implementation of this project: The awareness of the people about their environment has increased. The appreciation and interest of people in flower trees have also increased. The beauty and cleanliness of the city have improved. Other towns and cities in Somaliland have also gained by starting identical projects. Because of the above-mentioned benefits and the success of the project, Burao Municipality is also planning to extend the project to the other remaining roads of Burao. And finally, this project would not have been successfully completed without the contribution of engineer Yusuf M. Ali Qoys, who proposed and implemented the project. His simple design for the protection housing and his choice of flowers have been superb. Ahmed Adan Yusuf Director of Administration and Finance Local Project Coordinator Adapted from

7 Message from the Mayor of Burao In early 2009, UN-HABITAT received the first major donor of Interior and Ministry of Public Works in order to increase contributions from the European Commission and the national support systems for local-level governance in each Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency region. One of the first activities is training on conflict for interventions relating to local governance in the Somali management and local leadership skills for elected and region. This allowed I would for like a continuation to take this opportunity of UN-HABITAT s to congratulate selected all local our leaders brothers in and all Somali sisters regions. in long-term engagement Somaliland in support on the eve of the of the development New Year (2010). of My best greetings to all of you and the urban sector and I hope, local from governance Allah, that in particular. the coming This year new would These be a activities prosperous are entrusted year for all to of partner us. organizations, thereby phase, which follows the comprehensive Urban Development building local capacities to ensure continued support and Programme for the Moreover, Somali Region I would approach, like to inform will build those upon of you impact. who have In Somaliland not seen Burao in particular, or visited support to the Somaliland best practices and us lessons recently learned. that we It will have use accomplished partnerships to many Municipal developmental Association projects is being the intensified last to strengthen its role solidify the progress two towards years, more competent The and highlights responsive of our as accomplishments a provider of professional and activities support can services to municipalities. urban governance be and summarized management, as follows: as well as improved Similar structures will be supported in other regions, together financial systems, land administration, and services in the with central- and local-level leaders. major Somali settlements. 1. Planting of flower trees in between the main roads of Burao. 2. Rehabilitation and expansion of the two dumpsites Another for key the component waste of the is the city continuation and of support to The new phase of the UN-HABITAT s construction local of their governance access roads, support fencing, municipal and accommodation finance system for development. the guards. UN-HABITAT and Terre programme is focused Moreover, on strengthening four collection and areas institutionalizing for the waste have Solidali been are made equipping and fenced. municipalities with improved systems the elementary skills 3. Procurement and systems of sanitation established equipment in Somali and to machinery gather and (crane, track shovel public loader, sector income 1 and expenditure, municipalities during truck, previous and 40 garbage activities. skips). The This new project phase has providing been completed a base with for the the effective assistance use of expanded internal will emphasize working of UN-HABITAT with and and supporting the international the Ministry NGO CESVI. and external resources. UN-HABITAT also continues to develop 4. Implementation and adoption, for the first time, more of comprehensive accounting information property taxation and systems, based on billing management systems, with the help of the NGOs Terre Solidali and UN- HABITAT. 5. Successful completion of the registration of all property and business licences in the city of Burao. 6. Rehabilitation of the two main markets in the city, Central Market and Farah Omar Market. 7. Construction of two flood protection earth dams about eight kilometres long (total). And finally, I would like to thank our brothers and sisters who are abroad, and particularly those who are from Togdheer Region, for their contribution to the development of our region. We are aware that most of you are sending monthly bills to your families and also making valuable investments in our beloved city. Moreover, we thank those of you who have brought foreign NGOs who are also contributing to our development programmes. Also, we would like to inform you that all of us should be proud of our city because we have peace and plenty of natural resources, such as a good climate, livestock, and, above all, abundant groundwater. We invite you and welcome you to our city and I am sure that together we can do a lot. Happy New Year to all of you. Mahamoud Ahmed Hassan Mayor of Burao Adapted from 7

8 joint programming District profiling in Somaliland As part of the District Participatory Planning and Budgeting Process, supported by the five agencies of the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery for Somalia, district profiles were developed in six districts of Somaliland in November 2009: Hargeisa, Boroma, Berbera, Burao, Sheikh, and Odweyne. Such profiles give an overview of the current social, economic, and environmental conditions in a district. One main purpose is to help district authorities prepare District Development Framework documents to guide future development and determine priority projects for the coming five years. The district profiles were prepared by the respective district councils with support from local NGOs and joint programme partner agencies, as well as technical guidance from UN-HABITAT, which brought its extensive experience in 2004/2005 assisting districts in all three regions of Somalia to prepare city profile documents to guide urban sector investments. The new profiles also serve as updates to the first Strategic Urban Plan documents, prepared in seven towns during UN-HABITAT s Urban Development Programme for the Somali region. It is expected that, by 2012, district councils will have developed the capacity to improve and update district profiles with minimal support from the UN agencies. Although a Rapid Urban Spatial Analysis was postponed to a later stage of the District Participatory Planning and Budgeting Process, Berbera District Council made an initial attempt to develop thematic maps using satellite images. It is essential that the district councils are supported to use the profiles for the identification of development priorities, and that the profiles relate to the spatial development potential of the district. Somali local authorities: training on elected leadership and managing conflicts and differences UN-HABITAT has re-engaged with local authorities in Puntland and Somaliland through the training of local councillors, local leaders, and key department staff members in the key competencies and skills required of those serving the general public as leaders. These training activities are part of the large five-year governance capacity-building component of the Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery. It started in November 2009 and all ten target towns of the first phase of activities will benefit from these two training modules by the end of 2010, including the yet-to-beelected new district councils in Puntland. During the course of these training and capacity-building activities, UN-HABITAT and the government partners are committed to developing suitable models to support the respective Ministries of Interior to gradually take over the role of coordinator and contractor of training providers. Further training needs must be assessed, a pool of trained trainers in various governance topics must be established and maintained, and records must be kept of the training needs and status of local authorities. This will significantly enhance the sustainability of the results achieved through the current training delivery and, importantly, will increase the ownership of governance capacity building by the central government. In Somaliland, the Somaliland Municipal Association is envisaged to play a future role in assessing the capacity-building needs of local authorities for the central authorities, and also promoting these needs. by Paula Pennanen Regional and Urban Policy Expert Mayor of Burao welcomes the new joint programme adopted by the UN in Somaliland Five UN agencies, namely UN-HABITAT, UNDP, UNICIEF, ILO, and UN-CDF (Capital Development Fund), joined forces and decided to complement funding of development projects through local civil society organizations and NGOs with funding support through District Councils. The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (UNJPLG) will from now onwards facilitate implementation of developmental projects through local municipalities of Somaliland. The Ministry of Interior would have the vital role of coordinating activities of the UNJPLG and the District Councils. The reason for changing the old system, according to the UNJPLG, is to involve the communities in the decision making and management of development projects, based on extensive consultations with the local communities at village and district level. The Chairman of Burao District Council, Mr. Mahamoud Ahmed Hassan, expressed his enthusiasm with the UNJPLG project and promised full support and cooperation. The Burao Municipal Council commenced the community consultation process by establishing ten teams, each headed by a counsellor as team leader and assisted by two facilitators, to conduct the field activities by visiting and mobilizing all the villages administered by the District of Burao. They held lengthy meetings with all the sectors of the communities, who told them about their needs and priorities. The team leaders will submit their reports to the Mayor and to the council as soon as they are finalized. The Mayor emphasized that the purpose of this new process of involving community participation in the economic development of the district is to foster transparency and accountability in the planning and execution of the approved projects. He promised his full support and cooperation to the UN agencies in the joint programme and to the Ministry of Interior and their consultant Mr. Saeed Abdullahi Ahmed. 8 Adapted from

9 Mogadishu markets successfully rehabilitated before A project to rehabilitate two public markets in Mogadishu, in Wadajir District and Yaqshid District respectively, was successfully completed on 30 December The project stemmed from a broader infrastructure rehabilitation programme implemented by UN-HABITAT partner NGO SAACID, which ended in June It was decided that the remaining funds (USD 30,000) from that programme would be used for two additional public infrastructure projects in Mogadishu. More than 80 percent of the inhabitants of Mogadishu have been directly affected by Somalia s ongoing civil conflict and are living under very difficult circumstances. Hundreds of thousands of people fled from continuous fighting in the city and took sanctuary on the outskirts or in the few peaceful areas that exist. Most people remaining in Mogadishu are those who do not have the finances or means to leave. People continue to suffer the effects of increasing insecurity and a worsening economic situation. SAACID staff assigned to implement these latest market rehabilitation projects mobilized all of the IDP communities of the specified districts, together with the respective district local authorities, host communities, and IDP settlement leaders to identify and prioritize one action plan that would help the poor people gain access to enhanced basic services. This was done quite informally due to the level of conflict and insecurity in the city, as well as the increased threat to community leaders who are perceived to be working for Western interests. After these consultations, both districts proposed the rehabilitation of a public market. On 2 December 2009, SAACID project staff introduced the project objectives, the planned activity schedule, and the expectations SAACID had of the communities in the project areas. The district stakeholders promised to actively participate in the rehabilitation, provide security, and maintain good sanitation in the vicinity of the markets. The districts also agreed to assume the responsibility of maintaining the rehabilitated markets after the projects were completed. SAACID particularly included the displaced poor with a special emphasis on women, one of the most vulnerable groups in the project implementation. Their participation was also encouraged in the district action teams and other committees, leading to improved potential for sustainable development. Both districts forwarded tenders from local bidders during the first days of the project implementation. Three local, reputable construction companies that demonstrated probity and skill were contracted to do the rehabilitation, in close consultation with the district authorities and district action teams. The contracted companies gave priority to hiring workers who were available locally and in the IDP camps skilled masons and carpenters, as well as unskilled workers. For the smooth running of the rehabilitation work, a supervision committee composed of the local authorities, action teams, IDP camp committees, and vendors committees of both districts oversaw the progress of the work once a week. SAACID envisages that the principal victims of war and destruction namely, the poor and the marginalized who are living near the rehabilitated markets in both Wadajir and Yaqshid will now experience a reduction in the spread of communicable diseases. There should also be a significant boost to economic activity in the two districts. by SAACID, implementing NGO (report excerpt) after All pictures are of Yaqshid Market. 9

10 Department for International Development somalia programme UN-HABITAT visibility when you plan a settlement... you plan for a child s future IDP SHELTER SETTLEMENTS somalia programme UN-HABITAT s shelter interventions in Somalia aim to improve living conditions and the living environment. They also provide livelihood opportunities and on-the-job training in building skills for internally displaced people (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups. In our shelter projects, community participation is crucial. Hand in hand with local authorities and communities, we carry out in-depth IDP profiling, followed by visioning and micro-planning sessions with groups of children, youths, and adults to ensure that their voices are being heard. The community members talk about their environment and use sketches, poems, and even songs to express what they wish to see improved. In 2009, the priorities were safe drinking water, affordable education and health facilities, play spaces, jobs, skills training for the youth, shelter development, tree planting, and good access roads. As a direct result of these community discussions, in 2009 UN-HABITAT was able to upgrade 1,743 existing shelters and build 700 new permanent shelters, benefitting over 17,000 displaced people. For the first time in years, many IDP and urban poor families saw their living conditions improve and their protection increase. when you plan a settlement... you plan for a child s future Your contribution makes it possible for UN-HABITAT to continue working with partners to improve the quality of life for Somali communities. UN-HABITAT Somalia Programme Tel sudp@unhabitat.org Somalia 10

11 Department for International Development somalia programme when you shelter a mother... you shelter a family IDP SHELTER SETTLEMENTS somalia programme UN-HABITAT s shelter interventions in Somalia aim to improve living conditions and the living environment. They also provide livelihood opportunities and on-the-job training in building skills for internally displaced people (IDPs) and other vulnerable groups. In our shelter projects, community participation is crucial. Hand in hand with local authorities and communities, we carry out in-depth IDP profiling, followed by visioning and micro-planning sessions with groups of children, youths, and adults to ensure that their voices are being heard. In 2009 UN-HABITAT was able to upgrade 1,743 existing shelters and build 700 new permanent shelters, benefitting over 17,000 displaced people. For the first time in years, many IDP and urban poor families saw their living conditions improve and their protection increase. I tried several times over the years to get a house to relieve my family s dismal situation, but failed, one IDP mother told us. Finally I was selected as a beneficiary in the donated land project, and I got my life s fortune. We never dreamed anyone would ever build us a permanent shelter in Bossaso. when you shelter a mother... you shelter a family Your contribution makes it possible for UN-HABITAT to continue working with partners to improve the quality of life for Somali communities. UN-HABITAT Somalia Programme Tel sudp@unhabitat.org Somalia 11

12 European Commission United Nations Development Programme Government of Italy Government of Japan United Kingdom Department for International Development Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency United Nations Children s Fund The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs International Labour Organization World Food Programme United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Danish Refugee Council Norwegian Refugee Council SAACID Farjano Foundation Somali Youth for Peace and Democracy UN-HABITAT donors and partners The EC is the main donor of UN-HABITAT operations in the Somali region. The commission provides funding and technical and strategic guidance to programme design and implementation. Long-term cooperation exists between UNDP and UN-HABITAT, and this partnership extends to a wide range of programmes, most prominently the UN Joint Programme for Local Governance and Service Delivery. The support of the Government of Italy has been consistent throughout UN-HABITAT s presence in the Somali region. It funds shelter and service delivery programmes and is involved in the elaboration of the new joint programmes. The Government of Japan funds shelter interventions in support of internally displaced people in Hargeisa, Garowe, and Bossaso. Through DFID, the Government of the United Kingdom funds a number of governance-related interventions and activities related to the Community-Driven Development and Reconstruction Programme. SIDA financially supports UN-HABITAT for the implementation of shelter activities for IDPs and the urban poor in south central Somalia. UNICEF financed the reconstruction of the tsunami-affected town of Xaafuun and partners with UN-HABITAT in the implementation of several activities. UN-OCHA, which manages the Humanitarian Response Fund, released some funds to support the reconstruction of the tsunami-affected village of Xaafuun. UN-OCHA and UN-HABITAT also collaborate in the planning and implementation of IDP-related activities in Puntland and south central Somalia. Contacts: UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Africa and the Arab States Alioune Badiane, Director alioune.badiane@unhabitat.org UN-HABITAT Office for the Somali Region Dorothee von Brentano O-i-C / Chief Technical Advisor sudp@unhabitat.org Tel: ILO has partnered and continues to partner with UN-HABITAT on a number of programmes: the Urban Development Programme for the Somali region, the Joint Programme for Local Governance and Service Delivery, and the IDP resettlement intervention in the south. WFP supports UN-HABITAT shelter activities by providing food-for-work at the construction sites of the shelter projects. UNHCR is a key UN-HABITAT partner for the implementation of land-, shelter-, and IDP-related activities. UNHCR funds some IDP settlement upgrading components and supports joint research on land-related issues; it also financed UN-HABITAT action planning activities in Mogadishu. In addition, UNHCR and UN-HABITAT are co-chairs of the Somalia Shelter Cluster. DRC is one of UN-HABITAT s closest implementing partners, particularly concerning community development and IDP-related issues. NRC partners with UN-HABITAT in the implementation of land-related research and shelter activities for IDPs and other vulnerable communities. SAACID is a Somali NGO that has been implementing urban governance activities and local projects on behalf of UN-HABITAT in south central Somalia. Farjano Foundation is a Somali organization that has been administering construction and rehabilitation projects on behalf of UN-HABITAT. SYPD is a Somali NGO that has been undertaking survey and material production activities related to UN-HABITAT projects for IDPs and the urban poor. 12 This newsletter was prepared by Edward Miller. The opinions in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of UN-HABITAT or the UN-HABITAT partners. Cover photo: World Habitat Day celebrations in Hargeisa, HS Number: HS/128/10E