Daldhis (Build Your Country)

Background

Since 2012, Somalia has seen significant changes in its security context and its political structure. Over the last two years, Somalia’s state formation process has seen the introduction of a new federal governance model which has yielded four new Federal Member States in South and Central Somalia. The adoption of a new model of governance and the creation of new institutions says little about their legitimacy and sustainability in itself. For the social contract to be rebuilt between these emerging institutions at the Federal, Member State and District levels on one hand and their constituents on the other, what matters is how governance will be implemented and perceived. The 2011 World Development Report underscores that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without establishing legitimate institutions that provide all citizens with equitable access to security, justice and employment. The report stressed the need to focus on building stronger institutions by strengthening the partnerships between development, security and justice while at the same time provide tangible peace dividends to the population by creating jobs and developing the private sector. 

Response

This project aims to present a renewed commitment to working with local community leaders, elders, formal and informal justice services and newly selected local governments, in collaboration with state ministries, to entrench stability and peace, enhance social service delivery, provide economic opportunities for young men and women and provide an accessible system for resolution of people dispute and determination of their rights.

The project proposes to contribute to the achievement of the Priority Plan Outcomes by introducing democratic systems of participatory governance and accessible justice and police services jointly with the Jubbaland and South West State governments and federal authorities. Central to peace is legitimate, functional and accountable local governments, which are both accessible for citizens and with human and financial capacity to respond and engage with the population. Local authorities have a central role in delivering justice and police services, undertaking participatory planning, promoting local economic development and in the future, administering taxes to finance the delivery of basic services including health, education and security. Sustainable peace also requires concerted efforts to ensure that vulnerable youth are fully integrated into their communities and given an economic stake in the future. The establishment of local governments will create an enabling environment for employment creation in both the private and public sectors and will create a space for youth to positively impact their future.

The project aims to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Government structures and institutions at Federal, regional, district and community level are strengthened, more accountable and transparent and better able, to respond to the various needs of the population in South and Central Somalia.

2. Communities in South and Central Somalia generate the demand for, and benefit from local governance, security, justice, economic and social solutions.