UN in Somalia releases its Country Results Report for 2019

The UN in Somalia today published its UN Country Results Report for 2019. This is the second annual report that describes the UN’s collective contribution to Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building achievements and development goals across the five Strategic Priorities of the UN Strategic Framework 2017–2020 (UNSF):

1. Deepening federalism and state-building, supporting conflict resolution and reconciliation, and preparing for universal elections
2. Supporting institutions to improve peace, security, justice, the rule of law and safety of Somalis
3. Strengthening accountability and supporting institutions that protect
4. Strengthening the resilience of Somali institutions, society and population
5. Supporting socioeconomic opportunities for Somalis

Much was achieved over the course of the year which placed Somalia in a strong position to advance on the next stage of the country’s path towards sustainable development. Significant progress was also made in advancing the UNSF’s cross-cutting issues: 1) gender equality and women’s empowerment; 2) human rights; and 3) youth engagement and empowerment through strengthening and establishing key institutions and platforms, policy and legislative processes, awareness raising, mainstreaming and programmatic interventions.

In 2019, the UN delivered US$ 568 million in support across all UNSF Strategic Priorities, representing a 24 per cent increase from 2018.

Recognising current difficulties facing Somalia, the UN Envoy to Somalia, Mr. James Swan, and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Adam Abdelmoula, highlighted the need to recognize the UN’s contribution to Somalia’s achievements, noting:

“While much progress was made in Somalia in 2019 and the beginning of 2020, the world has since been gripped by the rapid onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which is now afflicting Somalia. However, despite current challenges, it is important to reflect on and learn from our collective achievements so we can continue to provide effective, coherent and coordinated support to Somalia.”

This Results Report comes in the last year of implementation of the UNSF. Consequently, the UN system in Somalia has commenced the development of a new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNCF) to replace the UNSF from the beginning of 2021. The UNCF will be the UN’s response to the newly articulated Somali peace and development priorities, as outlined in the Ninth Somali National Development Plan (NDP-9).

Reaffirming the UN’s commitment to Somalia through the UNSF and subsequent UNCF, Messrs. Swan and Abdelmoula concluded:

“We look forward to working with all partners in the development of our new UNCF in the coming months as we collectively enter a new era of peacebuilding and state-building in Somalia in the spirit of partnership, friendship and mutual respect while simultaneously confronting existing and new humanitarian threats.”

The UN Country Results Report 2019 can be found here