Capacity Building for District Public Works Departments in Somaliland

As part of the support provided by International Labour Organization, Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralised Service Delivery (ILO/JPLG) to the central and local government administrations across Somalia, a set of technical engineering equipment was provided to seven of the JPLG target District Public Works Departments in Somaliland - Berbera, Borama, Burao, Gabiley, Hargeisa, Odhweine and Sheikh during a hand over ceremony at the recently concluded JPLG Review Meeting held in Hargeisa, Somaliland from 20-21st January 2015.

The equipment which included surveying, materials testing and other basic engineering tools as well as engineering software, computers and printers, is part of the broader package of capacity building support provided to enhance the local governments in their public works and service delivery functions. This includes technical assistance in the strengthening of institutional structures, development of public works standards and norms, systems and tools as well as in training across various aspects from public works project cycle management, surveying, materials testing and employment intensive road works technology.

On receiving the equipment on behalf of all the Mayors present, the Mayor of Burao Mohamed Yusuf Abdirahman and the Director General Ministry of Interior Abdisamad Omer both acknowledged with thanks the continued support provided by ILO through the JPLG to local governments which has enhanced the local government's ability to plan and deliver basic services to their constituents. Also present was Lydia Wetugi from Sida representing the JPLG donors DANIDA, DFID, EC, Sida and the Swiss Government; as well as representatives from the JPLG UN agencies UN Habitat, UNCDF, UNDP and UNICEF.

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