Nairobi, Hargeisa - Friday 7 February 2008

This year will see The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) expand substantially activities designed to improve the lives of citizens of Somaliland.  Resources amounting to twice those spent in 2007 will be spent on projects focusing on the rule of law and security, democratic governance and on recovery and sustainable livelihoods, as well as on additional staff to increase the range of the ambitious programme in different regions of Somaliland.

The plans were announced at a recent meeting in Hargeisa between Somaliland government officials, civil society representatives, donors and UNDP.

Reviewing the major achievements of 2007 and setting out the agenda for 2008, UNDP country director, Bruno Lemarquis, said that UNDP will work closely with the Somaliland government and other UN agencies within the framework of the UN Transition Plan for Somalia 2008-9 to ensure enhanced coordination and responsiveness to Somaliland’s needs, with particular emphasis on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

“Increased partnership and joint programming will build on the success of UNDP’s work during 2007.  Increased commitment from donors is a vote of confidence in success achieved so far and recognition that there remains much to be done.”

One of the programming priorities for 2008 is to ensure that issues that affect people directly are addressed, rather than programmes being overly skewed towards institutions.  For that reason work in the area of recovery and sustainable livelihoods will receive particular emphasis, with the Hargeisa Flood Control project leading the way.

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