REPORT ON THE FACT FINDING MISSION TO SOMALIA BY FINNISH HORISONTTI ASSOCIATION AND NETWORK
Duration: From the 28th April to the 14th May 2004
Destination: SOMALIA; Sool, Sanaag, Hawd/Ayn Regions, Puntland
Purpose: To evaluate the preliminary development project plan on Youth Vocational Workshops in current conditions
Financed by: Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, by the Department for Development Policy
Official delegates:
Ms Jaana Löppönen, Managing Director, Horisontti
Mr. Ahmed Isse Farah, Project planner, Horisontti
Dr Ahmed Mohamoud Hersi, Coordinator, Horisontti
Other members: Mr Abdi Abdulkadir Mohamed, Chairman SSHDA/Finland
1. BACKGROUND OF THE MISSION
1.1. HORISONTTI
Horisontti association is a non-political and non-religious NGO, which target is to work for sustainable social, health and environmental development. Horisontti has so far worked only at a national level fighting against social exclusion, poverty and unemployment. It has eleven years experience on project planning and management in fields of local employment and activating people who are in danger to being socially excluded. Horisontti advocates multiculturalism.
Horisontti runs a large centre in Helsinki which offers many handicrafts workshops, a cafeteria, a recycling unit, and computer IT environment (free of charge). These activities are open to all as well as opening employment opportunities.
Horisontti activities are funded by Helsinki City, Ministry of Employment and Finnish Lottery Fund. European Union funded a partnership project with Horisontti to employ long term unemployed people from 1995-99.
1.2. INTEREST FOR DEVELOPMENT CO-OPERATION
Development issues in Third World Countries have become familiar to Horisontti through immigrants, foreign students and refugees. For many years Horisontti helped refugees to adjust to Nordic culture by teaching the Finnish language, customs and offering temporary work experience.
It was a natural development from this interaction that Horisontti started to become interested in working with development aid and plan a project of its own in which both refugees/immigrants and native Finnish people could take part.
The idea of having Somalia as a co-operation partner came also naturally and easily since Horisontti had for years worked with Somali women´s empowerment in Finnish society. It was time to become more acquainted with the country that they had to flee over ten years ago. There were many thoughts about the content of the project, starting with rehabilitating child soldiers into normal society in order to strengthen the peace process to creating voluntary community centres in urban areas.
The geographic area was not necessary clear. One criteria was to choose an area where no Finnish NGO aid is so far targeted and which would be be part of Somalia which is one of the least known in Finland. The relief notes from Sool region through UN websites and the Steadfast Voluntary Organization (SVO) made the choice to the North Western part of Puntland.
In the planning process it became evident that it was difficult to imagine the everyday life conditions in Somalia. The general information about Somalia has been very negative over the decade and the country was classified as anarchist, backward, chaotic and dangerous for foreigners. The lack of a Central Government wiped Somalia out from the eyes of international community.
Piece by piece Horisontti started to collect information about the Sool, Sanaag and Hawd/Ayn regions and to follow the news of Somalia in general.
After many planning sessions it was decided to start a cooperation project in a field which Horisontti is familiar with. Knowing that the wellbeing of children and youth with access to education is crucial for sustainable development, Horisontti started to work with a development plan on Youth Vocational Workshops.
The purpose of the project is to give practical vocational skills and better chances for employment and entrepreneurship.
It was planned that the Youth Vocational Workshops would start in Las-Anod, Sool and the model should be carried out later in Hawd/Ayn and Sanaag regions.
The project was planned to last for four years at which time Networks both in Somalia and Finland/international community (eg.SSHDA) and by municipal authorities would manage the program.
1.3. SHORT PRESENTATION: THE YOUTH VOCATIONAL WORKSHOPS PROJECT
The project is targeted to 15-30-year old youth and young adults, who are not attending school, studies or have a permanent work. The project aims to reach the present or former young soldiers, who have missed the change to attend school education. It is notified that there is also a need for literacy education as preparation studies before attending the workshop education.
The project will last for four years, starting in Las-Anod. There will be a resource and monitoring network to help and support the project implementation.
The workshop activities will be as following:
- Carpentry and Construction
- Metall Workshop and Electronic Repairing
- Restaurant, Catering, and Domestic Skills
- Sewing, Interior Textile Decoration, Fabric Printing
- Information Technology Workshop
The teaching includes also Counting, Mathematics and Business Studies. The teaching will contain both theory and practice in work life. The project will start with teachers training and by producing teaching material.
The detailed project plan is available from Horisontti Office.
1.4. HELP FROM THE MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS/DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Somalia was one of the Finland´s bilateral development aid receiving countries before the collapse of the central government and the civil war. Finland became known for its Tuberculosis-program, which reached to distant nomadic areas, forest programs and electricity programs. In the last years the development aid has been implemented through NGOs, mainly in North Somalia (Somaliland) and Mogadishu area.
Horisontti asked for help from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to be able to go to Somalia in order to evaluate the project before the dead line for the final project application, due the 31st of May.
The positive answer for conducting the Fact Finding Mission came at the end of March 2004. Ministry was ready to cover the travel costs for two weeks for two delegates namely Ms Jaana Löppönen and Dr. Ahmed Mohamoud Hersi.
1.5. THE TASKS OF THE MISSION
The primary task of the mission was to gather information for the HORISONTTI Development Project Plan to be presented to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Development Agency.
The preliminary project plan written in February 2004 was to create vocational workshops for unemployed youth starting in Las-Anod town in Sool Region. Later the vocational workshop idea are to be initiated in other communities within the target area.
Since the area in question is poorly known in Finland, it was necessary to evaluate the project in real conditions. The mission to itself the following tasks:
- to create personal contacts with major local NGOs
- to evaluate the preliminary project and modify it together with interested local NGOs, keeping the budget in mind
- to evaluate the preliminary project in view of equality and environmental impacts
- to present the preliminary project and the tasks of our Fact Finding Mission with administration and clan elders important to the project implementation
- to create a network with local NGOs who commit themselves to the project and make cooperation agreements with them
- to study the life in the country and the drought situation
- to produce information material of the area and the living conditions of the people
2. COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Somalia, situated in the Horn of Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world, whose economy, public administration, educational system, health care and infrastructure was destroyed in the civil war at the beginning of 1990´s. Since the collapse of the central government in 1991 the international community has gradually forgotten Somalia and it gets least aid in Sub-Saharan African countries. The European Community is the largest donor and the United Nations Development Programs work there through Nairobi. Probably the most important revenue to the country is the money sent by the diaspora Somalis to their families and communities.
The UNDP Socio-Economic Survey 2002 speaks openly about the human life in Somalia. Most Somalis live below the poverty line (one US dollar per day) and the country has lowest adult literacy rate in the world. The health situation is catastrophic: 25 per cent of the children die under the age of five. There are 0,4 doctors for 100 000 inhabitants and less than one third of the population has some kind of access to the health services. The estimated life expectancy is 47 years. The high mortality rate is in general due to the poverty causing poor sanitation conditions, lack of adequate water, dangerous traditions on female genital mutilation which causes complications in child birth, and spread of tuberculosis and malaria.
Somalia does not posses significant mineral resources, except light possibility of oil. The oil prospecting in the 1980´s gave some encouraging results. The aquatic wealth is considered to be of high potential but it hasn´t been developed to benefit the people. The Northern part of Somalia suffers from drought periods and the ongoing drought is said to be worst in thirty years.
The vast majority of Somalis depend on livestock, farming or a combination of both. The drought has caused severe damage to the cattle farming and the nomadic people. Farming is conducted mostly in the Southern part of the country along Jubba and Shebelle Rivers. Bananas sorghum, coconut, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds and beans are grown there.
Exports (estimation of 2001) value was $120 million coming from livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal. Imports, the value of $ 343 million (est. of 2001) conducts items such as: manufactures petroleum products, foodstuff construction materials, gat. Major trading partners are United Arabic Emirates (UAE), Yemen, Oman Djibouti, Kenya, Brazil, Thailand and UK.
The telecommunication and internet has grown rapidly and in 2001 there were about 58, 000 telephones and 4 500 Internet-connections and 11 000 mobile phones.
The civic life after civil war would be in futile chaos without the ingenuity of Somalis who have created a functioning service sector with volunteer work and some salary paid jobs for the urban population. Remittances from abroad also play a vital role to the economy.
2.1. SHORT POLITICAL HISTORY
Somalia had been an independent state for thirty years since in 1960 the British Somaliland in the North and the Italian Somalia in the South were united One Somalia. Somalis had one language and one religion (Sunni Muslim) which helped the unification of people and state. Problems began rose on how to link the traditional clan system into modern political democracy. Contradictions between the North and the South of Somalia caused tensions and the Northerners felt that they had been left out from the fruits of development that the independence the Southern Somalia was enjoying.
The country was soon driven from democracy to dictatorship under General Siad Barre. He began his regime with social reforms, opened new schools, hospitals and advocated oral Somali language into written form, but ended all these programs to concentrate on military actions eg. war with Ethiopia in 1977. After losing the Ogaden War, a civil war broke out in Central Somalia. Siad Barre´s answer for the discontent of army and people was to oppress all those who might be of potential threat.
The next civil war started in the North in 1988 against Barre´s rule. Siad Barre left Somalia in January 1991 and his departure left Somalia in the hands of of a number of clan-based querrilla groups, none of which trusted teach other. The North West regions declared themselves independent in 1991, using the former British colonial name “Somaliland”.
The civil war spread all over Somalia and it became one of the most devastating wars in Africa. In addition to the anarchy, violence and pure robbery in the South, Somalia was hit by the worst drought in Africa in 1992. About one-third of the population was in danger of dying from starvation. The amount of refugees fleeing into neighbouring countries and abroad was horrific.
U.S. troops were sent in to protect the delivery of food in Dec. 1992. In May 1993 the United Nations took control of the relief efforts from the United States whose last troops left Somalia late in March 1994.
North East Regions of Somalia created the Puntland State of Somalia in 1998 in Garowe. The five regions are Bari, Nugaal, Mudug, Sanaag, Sool and Buhoodle District of Togdheer. The Puntland State was created in preparation for a future Federal Government for Somalia.
In spite of many peace negotiation efforts the country hasn´t as of yet found a permanent peace solution and political solution for the governance of the country.
2.2. SOOL, SANAAG AND HAWD AREAS
Sool, Sanaag and Hawd areas have suffered from the North West Region proclaimed Independence Declaration, which claims these areas to be part of their territory. This claim is based on the former British colonial borders. The people of these areas, the majority being nomads, have always moved freely from the North East to the West and they haven´t accepted any borders. International community hasn´t either recognised the Somaliland´s Independence Declaration.
The territorial politics has hurt the development of the Sool, Sanaag and Hawd areas. Since the Declaration of Autonomy in Puntland in 1998, the Sool, Sanaag and Hawd regions were geographically located between these two administrations; Somaliland´s and Puntland´s, and the situation has caused tension, confusion and propaganda actions.
This confusion can be seen in Las-Anod. The town lives normal, peaceful life without visible military groups or fighting and yet it is said to be very dangerous frontier town. The people identify themselves rather to Puntland´s administration than to Somaliland´s but in general the people would most preferably have central government and united Somalia than separated states.
2.3. THE SECURITY
In the areas, the delegation visited there were no security problems or visible army groups. The main roads between Garowe-Las-Anod-Galcaio didn´t have any militia checkpoints, except when coming in the town border. In Las-Anod there had been some tension between youngsters of two subtribes. Some youngsters were fighting each other and few were killed. The Women Organizations took strong opinion against fighting and mobilised authorities and police force to end the fighting. During our mission the conflict was solved with high level together with clans involved and the Vice President and other authorities.
The delegation didn´t have any police or other armed escort while driving or walking in the streets. The delegation was often accompanied with local NGOs whose activists were known in the communities. Ms Jaana Löppönen didn´t have other security measures than housekeeper guarding at night in one of the NGO residence while her stay in Las-Anod.
One could´t see any signs of the possible tension between Somaliland and Puntland concerning the territory of Las-Anod. There were rumours Somaliland had sent military troops about 60- 90 kilometres from the city but the delegation on the way to Buhoodle witnessed only some local militia check points.
3. FIRST CONTACTS WITH THE LOCAL NGOs
The delegation arrived in Galcaio Airport Puntland on the 29th of April. It was hosted mainly by two NGOs, whom it had had previous intensive contacts with; namely the Steadfast Voluntary Organization (SVO) Chairman Said Abdi Ahmed and the Sool, Sanaag, Hawd Development Agency (SSHDA) Chairman Ahmed Abdi Ali-Shire.
After a very hospitable welcoming lunch, the delegation headed to Garowe, about a six hour drive on a rough road. The landscape was very dry, only some rain had fallen sparsly. There were almost no signs of any animals, camels, goats or others because of the severe drought situation.
4. FIRST CONTACTS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
Our hosting NGOs arranged the first administrative contacts in Garowe, the administration capital of Puntland. The delegation met the Minister of Planning Mr Mohamed Shido and the Director of Planning. The Ministry welcomed the delegation and wished to be informed once it would have the preliminary project draft completed.
In the same evening the delegation had a chance to meet the Vice President of Puntland, Mr Mohamed Abdi Hashi. The meeting was very warm and informal. The Vice President gave the delegation a brief report about the development problems in Sool, Sanaag and Hawd Regions. He welcomed all NGOs to work in Somalia concentrating on areas such as Puntland. He affirmed that these areas are safe and was sorry about the bad reputation on security which there has been no real ground for, but has affected negatively to the development aid. He reminded that in these areas there have been no harm to or attacks on foreign aid workers.
Mr Vice President spoke of the excellent tuberculosis programme FINNIDA was carrying in Somalia and asked us to try to convince the authorities in Finland that the TB Project is urgently needed in these areas but also other parts of Somalia. He also had personal experience of Finland when he had visited the country in 1964 as a Student in Holland.
5. NINE DAYS IN LAS-ANOD
We arrived in Las-Anod on the First of May and visited the centres of our host NGOs in the same evening. Las-Anod is the main city of Sool region with estimated 60-65,000 inhabitants. During recent years the population has grown about ten times due to the instability of the country and internal refugees and pastoralist who moved in to the town because of the drought and loss of livestock.
The first impression of the Las-Anod town was sandy and rocky with houses built where ever there was an empty place. There were also piles of rocks marking the site for building.
The town had few trees and green vegetation, the ground was dry and air very hot. The houses varied from a few big villas to spontaneously fabricated huts with what they had at hand. The vivid coloured market life, service and teahouses fed the town with life.
Most of the people earn living by livestock and animal products sold in the market. About ten per cent of the people are farmers on small scale. Less than 12 per cent of the population is engaged in small business activities. Mostly they are women who have small shops where they sell clothes, textiles and foodstuffs imported outside the country. Light industrial processing activities, such as leather, wood, metal melding, and construction material processing provide some employment opportunities for the local people. About six per cent of working age population get jobs in transportation and telecommunication sector, while the rest work in the public sector.
The percentage of the unemployed people is about 60-70 per cent depending the definition of employment. However, most of the people are occupied with some kind of economic activities. The unemployment hits severely the young people who don´t have necessary labour skills. Young people who have migrated from the rural area and have nomadic background lack basic education. Also minority groups are victims of unemployment.
The city has one hospital with separate Tuberculosis Department and Maternity Department. There was also one Health Centre for Mothers and Children (MCH).
The City Hall and other administration buildings were very modest and suffered from lack of adequate resources. We were invited to visit the local Police Station, The Court House and the Prison. They all needed resources such as computers, furniture and salary paid stuff and materials for training programs.
5.1. OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS
On the second day in Las-Anod we informed the Sool Region´s Education Officer, Mr. Mohamoud Jama Dalmar of our mission and the project of vocational workshops for the youth.
The office consisted of one room in an Education Administration Building. The other rooms were not in use. Mr. Dalmar singlely runs the entire Central Administration of Education in Sool region.
Mr. Mohamoud Jama Dalmar told the delegation that there are 35 elementary/intermediate schools in Sool, Sanaag and Hawd/Ayn regions. There are two secondary schools; one in Las-Anod and one in Buhodle. The number of teachers is 217 and the number of students is 9760 (figures from the school year 2002/03).
In the target area there are no vocational schools. Mr. Mohamoud Jama Dalmar welcomed our project warmly. It is very important to offer opportunities for employment to youth who can´t continue their studies or are unemployed.
The urgent problems of education is the lack of resources in building new schools for the growing population, teacher´s training and salaries as well as amenities both for teaching and learning. The teachers in elementary schools were voluntary workers but for what they got paid by the parents. One of the delegates heard that there had been no payment for six months. The SSHDA donates salaries to the secondary school teachers.
5.2. SCHOOLS
5.2.1. PRIMARY SCHOOLS
We visited a few public primary schools and one private school. There are all together seven primary schools and two private primary schools in the city. The monthly tuitions varied from three to twenty dollars. It was said that those who couldn´t afford to pay could still attend the public schools.
With exception being the one private school, we visited the facilities of the classrooms and the teaching materials were very modest. Blackboard was often missing and neither did the teacher nor the students have textbooks. The teaching schedule followed either former Somali regime´s educational plan or Kenyan educational plan.
The schools had morning classes, then separate afternoon classes, due to the large number of students. The boys formed the majority of students, the number of girls was about one out of three (not confirmed ). It was a common sight to have both boys and girls in the same classrooms.
5.2.2. THE GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS EDUCATION
One could sense the value and positive attitude towards learning and the appreciation of education. Both the local NGOs and public sector offered lots of altruistic voluntary effort to teach the children, youth and adults. The need for educational facilities and teachers were enourmous.
6. THE COURAGEOUS WOMEN
The role of women as bread earners in family has increased dramatically after the civil war and their responsibilities include both domestic duties and the family´s economy. We had the opportunity to meet many courageous, socially active women and become familiar with their associations. The womens´ organizations had common goals for promoting peace in society, emphasizing on women education, health and benefit for the children, working against girls genital mutilation, and raising awareness on HIV/AIDS.
6.1. HANAQAD WOMEN´s UMBRELLA ASSOCIATION
This Umbrella Organization was established 1st of May in 1997 and it operates in the Sool Region. It was formed by seven organizations who despite of their different primary interests realized that they shared the same objective: to facilitate community development through a participatory approach, which could be obtained by better co-operation and resource sharing.
The seven members of Hanaqag Umbrella are following:
1. Sool Women Voluntary Organization (SWVO)
2. United Somali Women Roots Organization (USWRO)
3. Horn of Africa Peace & Development Association (HAPDA)
4. Ayan Women Organization (AWA)
5. Nasar Women Organization (NAWO)
6. Somali Women Development Association (SAWDA)
7. Gollis Association for Rehabilitation Development (GARD)
The Hanaqad Umbrella has worked together with UNICEF, UNCHR, NPA (Norwegian People´s Aid) and SRCS. The latest achievement is the construction of the Women Resource Centre with the aid donated by DANIDA through NPA. The Centre consists of three classrooms, an office, and a store. The centre will offer computer training, formal education, and also job training in home economics, embroidery and handicrafts to assist low income women to better their living. So far the centre doesn´t have the needed sewing machines, kitchen ware or computers.
One very urgent need, that the Hanaqad Women´s Umbrella has raised, is the inhumane situation of displaced families, mostly women and children who have been pouring into Las-Anod in the last months because of the severe drought situation. They have lost their livestock and they need grants and help to start earning income for families.
The Hanaqad Women´s Umbrella is very aware of minority issues and they showed to two members of the mission (Löppönen, Hersi) the devastating conditions of the life the minorities live in Las-Anod.
The minority question in Somalia hasn´t come up very clearly while the country is recognised to be homogenous with one culture, one language and one religion. Although the population of minority groups living in Somalia has not as yet been established (Aug. 2002), estimates indicate that they constitute one third of the total Somalia Population; approximately 2, 000,000 people. The minority groups include Bantu, Bravenese, Rerhamar, Bajuni, Eyle, Galgala, Tumal, Yibir and Gaboye. These groups continue to live in conditions of great poverty and suffer numerous forms of discrimination and exclusion.
6.2. ABYAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (ARDC)
The Abyan Research and Development Center, is a very prominent association, which focuses on adult education. In Las-Anod they have ten adult education classes in the evenings. The association was also building a center for women in Las-Anod which was almost ready. The center consists of classrooms, meeting rooms, an office, a kitchen, a storeroom and a guest room.
Abyan Research and Development Center has a headquarter in Garowe, the capital of Puntland. The organization is named after Professor Ibrahim Mohamud Abyan, a pioneering Somali educator, who contributed to all levels of education extending from functional literacy and primary schooling to higher education. Abyan played a prominent role in the establishment and development of the Somali National University. He also transformed the Somali Institute for Development of Administration and Management (SIDAM) into a first rate institution with international partnerships ( Professor Abyan was killed in the civil war).
7. THE FORGOTTEN YOUTH
Our group was not aware of existing Youth Organizations in the target area. Women organizations pointed out the organizations for youth. We were able to visit shortly four organizations, namely: Sool Youth Development Association (SOYDA), Students Thought Co-operation Organization (STCO), Puntland Youth Organization (PYO) and Las-Anod Youth Voluntary Organization (LAYVO). They were founded in 2002-03 and received no foreign donations as yet.
In spite of modest resources these organizations do important voluntary work teaching children and young adults English, Mathematics and reading and writiten Somali language. It is estimated that 25-30,000 young adults in Sool Region haven´t received any education in the last 13 years.The organizations try to give study/sport activities for youth and organize eg. soccer tournaments. The organizations try to raise awareness among young people and have influence on decision making concerning youth and their future. As an example here are taken some of SOYDA´s ja LAYVO´s basic objectives:
- To improve the status of youth generation
- To commence public awareness to the society against HIV/AIDS and FGM (Female genetale mutilation)
- To serve with voluntary base in health, education and sport activities and to give a helping hand in the wild life programs
- To create activities as substituting harmful habits such as kat chewing, smoking and using narcotics, idleness etc.
- To promote human rights for children and youth and women empowerment in Sool region
- To reduce the lack of knowledge and rate of illiteracy
Above mentioned four youth organizations formed in our request a Network Organization representing youth in the Youth Vocational Workshop-project´s support network. The name of the informal network organization became “Sool Youth Network Association” SOYNA.
8. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
8.1. SSHDA IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN THE AREA
Focusing on the development in regions of Sool, Sanaag and Hawd, the SSHDA has recently opened a center in Las-Anod. The organization was established in May 2000, exclusively for charitable, developmental and educational purposes. It is an independent non-governmental, non-political and non-religious organization. Its membership is primarily composed of professionals, educators and business oriented Somalis living in the USA and Canada. SSHDA has branches all over where diaspora Somalis live.
Some major achievements of the SSHDA:
- Six schools in different villages and towns were emptied by compensation to people who lived there in 2002. Some of the schools had been renovated into educational purposes.
- Honorarium monthly payment of 100 US $ is given to the 24 teachers of the two Secondary schools in Las-Anod and Buhodle. This payment started on Sept 2002 and will continue.
- SSHDA established the only Las-Anod Public Library in Nov 2003.
- SSHDA intervened in the current drought with funds exceeding 50,000 US $ Food, water and other assistance were given to hundreds of families.
- SSHDA shows practical management towards development problems and emphasizes on education, good governance and developing human resources.
8.2. STEADFAST VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION (SVO)
Steadfast Voluntary Organization (SVO) is a very well known regional humanitarian development agency operating in Sool and Sanaag regions. Since 1991 it has been involved and implemented many social services, relief peace negotiation activities and projects in the fields of health, sanitation, water supply, community mobilization fund raising activities and working with and welcoming international community aid. SVO has good relations with UNICEF and UNDP and Norwegian People´s Aid and it has carried projects donated by these Organizations.
SVO has offices in Las-Anod in Sool region and in Erigavo in Sanaag region. It also has good contacts with Hargeisa, Somaliland.
The Director of the organization, Eng. Said Abdi Ahmed has a long history of project management since the collapse of Somali regime in 1991.
8.3. HORN UMBRELLA
Horn Umbrella is the oldest humanitarian non profit, non governmental and non political organization that works in Sool, Sanaag and Hawd regions of Somalia. It was grounded in 1990 by five organizations: SAREDO I and SAREDO, NOLOL (LIFE), ADRO and MUBARAK. The administrative head quarter is n Las-Anod. The organization has offices also in Mogadishu and in Nairobi.
The organization has carried out several projects since 1990, namely: 1. Construction of a hospital in Hidh-Hidh Village, Buhodle area, 2. Construction of two primary schools in Hidh-Hidh and Dandan villages, 3. Various water projects in years 2000-2003 including improvement of birkeds, shallow wells and water dams in rural areas of Hawd.
9. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE REGIONAL NGOs
Once our group had met individually the six NGOs whom we wish co-operate with, we invited them all to negotiate with us. At that time the Youth organizations hadn´t formed a network yet so they were four representatives from each organization. Also Hanaqad Women Umbrella had several representatives. In this way youth and women seemed to be more strongly represented than other development NGOs.
At the first joint meeting on the 6th of May we discussed, in general, about the Youth Vocational Workshop-project and about the project implementation. The idea of network cooperation was introduced to the organizations and it raised many questions. So far donors had made partnership agreements with individual NGOs and it caused of course tension and competition between the NGOs. We in the fact finding team felt that the project would benefit more if the NGOs could form a Network which focuses support for the project implementation. In this way both the well experienced NGOs and the young, more vulnerable NGOs could share their views, experience and possibly create more understanding between them.
The Agenda of the first meeting was following:
1. Briefing the purpose of the meeting.
2. Evaluating the current project plan on Youth Vocational Workshops
3. “Brainstorming” – ideas, critics , 5 minutes
4. Tasks (homework) delivered to those who are interested in the Las-Anod Youth Vocational Workshops-project
5. Conclusion. The Final Joint meeting was to be held on Saturday the 8th of May, when the Network Agreement will be formulated and signed.
The tasks given to NGOs were the following:
1. Give basic documents about your NGO;
- history
- objectives
- administration
- achievements
- contact information
2. How can your NGO participate in the Youth Vocational Workshop-project?
- assets
- experience
- material, facilities, etc.
3. If you can identify your NGO in one/some educational sectors in the project could your NGO help in the project implementation by finding teachers, and facilities? Could you help with the education plan?
4. Could you give examples of costs eg. teacher´s salary, classroom rents, house rents, sewing machines, computers?
9.1. SECOND JOINT MEETING
The second joint meeting was held at the same place in the SSHDA center a day after the first meeting the 8th of May. All the six NGOs including the Umbrella Organizations came to the meeting. We went through the tasks given to NGOs and every one had something to give into the project; knowledge, experience and some material help. The Office Manager of SSHDA even announced that his organization could continue the project after the four year period set.
There was a keen discussion about the role of the possibility of a Las-Anod NGO Network and after some clarifications it arrived at a common acceptance that the Network is a co-operative organization helping the project`s implementation and more detailed agreements will be made individually with NGO´s if necessary. The role of the Las-Anod NGO Network is merely planning, supportive, and evaluative. It is a learning experience for working together instead of competing.
10. THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT
The Cooperation Agreement was signed between Finnish Horisontti Association and the six NGOs operating in Sool Region. Among the six NGOs were three Umbrella organizations, Hanaqad Women Umbrella which consist of seven organizations and Sool Youth Networking Association, which has four members and Horn Umbrella which has five members.
The agreement included six articles:
1. The NGOs envolved will work as a Network whose goal is to support and help in the project implementation to benefit the Informal Education and Employment for the Youth.
2. The project should respect the educational principles of the local community.
3. The NGOs envolved will ensure that the equality issues are well taken care of in the project: girls, young women, minorities and handicapped youth must have equal access to participate in all training.
4. The project must take consideration of environmental protection issues.
5. The project will be coordinated by the Finnish Horisontti Association and supported by the Finnish Horisontti Network as as the NGO Network in Las-Anod. The coordinator will nominate the project manager and other staff in the project.
6. The bookkeeping will be done locally by the project staff and checked every six months by the coordinator. The annual financial records is to be checked by an auditor from Finnish Horisontti Association.
The project applying procedure from FINNIDA was explained to those present; application must be handed in by the 31st of May 2004 and the reply would come by the end of the year. Meanwhile we promised to spread information to other NGOs in Finland to arose interest in development questions in Sool, Sanaag, Hawd/Ayn regions.
11. VISITS TO COUNTRY, BUHODLE AND XUDDUN
11.1. VISITING BUHODLE
Mr Isse Farah and Mr Abdi Abdulkadir Mohamed visited Buhodle for two days starting on the 6th of May. They were guided by the Horn Umbrella NGO.
The district is located around 160 km South West of Las-Anod. The estimated population of Buhodle is about 60-65,000 inhabitants. Urban dwellers accounts for 2/3´s of the population.
11.1.2. Economy
The local economy dependent upon a rural type of economy, which relies heavily on animal products and crop harvests. Buhodle´s mineral resources have yet to be discovered and researched commercially. Agricultural products constitute the bulk of Buhodle´s inclusive of meat leather tanning and charcoal. Wood is locally available and could be a reliable raw material if processed. There are no well paved roads in Buhodle only the rough rocky roads. The main trading towns include Las-Anod, Buruo, Growoe and Wardher.
As for other parts of Somalia Buhodle has two main rainy sessions Gu (April-June) and Day (September-October). The business in towns is active during the rainy sessions, because the nomadic community move closer to the city and supply sufficient animal products, with relatively cheap prices into the local market. Fresh milk, meat, hide and skin, and corn are locally produced and available at the market.
Drinking water is very scarce during the dry seasons and the price of the water sours up. One litter of water may be as high as $ 1,40. A water drilling project was started to search for underground water reserves.
11.1.3. Security
The delegation felt safe and secure during its visit to Buhodle. However, there were a few police check points on the road between Las-Anod and Buhodle. The major purpose of these check points is said to be for the taxation on merchandise purchases or sold.
11.1.4. Public Services
In the field of health and education a sharp decline has occurred and only minimum services continue to exist. Because of the lack of appropriate school buildings supporting services, a whole generation of Somalis faced the prospect illiteracy. Many people who have fled to the city initially because of the civil war in the South of the country have become internally displaced refugees and add the ever-growing economic hardship to their relatives.
11.1.5. Health
Two nursing stations were erected outside as a public Health Emergency Centre. A number of nurses and a doctor work in the Emergency Health Centre, on a daily basis. The availability of medicine, among other things are considered to be the major difficulties facing the development of the public health service.
11.1.6. Education
In the field of education, Sool, Sanaag and Hawd Development Agency (SSHDA), renovated the old primary school consisting of eight classrooms. The school provides classes for up to 2050 students. It opens at 8 am. and closes at about 8 pm. The lessons are up to grade six. The classes are over crowded with, over 50 students per study hour. Scarce and poor quality teacher amenities as well as inadequate study materials were observed during the visit. Eight of the teachers are salary-based employees, while the rest of the teachers are volunteers (7 assistant teachers).
Buhodle has a newly built secondary school with six classrooms. The school served the needs of primary schools who had lessons in two classrooms. The Board of Education Committee, which is a voluntary group of intellectuals, business men and elders of the community, has reported, that student enrolment at the secondary level are taken in every two years, because of the shortage of qualified teachers and study materials. First year secondary school students and third year secondary school students take exams each school year. The study program was purely theoretical with no practical application of the knowledge.
Ninety per cent of the young primary school students end up to unemployment because of the lack of basic skills expected in the local labour market. They also lack entrepreneurship abilities and knowledge in management of small business. Another major factor haunting the development of small business in Buhodle could be characterized by the lack of understanding of youngsters at the importance of building on social interaction and network contacts and fund raising techniques enabling mobilizing financial resources in business startups.
11.1.7. Water Situation
It had rained recently around Buhodle, where the Aid Agencies estimated that only twenty per cent of Puntland and Somaliland have had enough rain to allow the pasture to grow. But they add that even these areas will be exhausted within 10-15 days as a result of the high concentrations of livestock that desperate pastoralists have moved to these limited areas, to keep the remainder of their animals alive.
In addition of that, the UN Agency Press Release on the 28th of May reported that the situation of the already destitute pastoralists continues to deteriorate. Many have moved to towns where they are placing their already poor relatives and clan members under further stress. Others congregated in camps or villages, along roads and at water points: The neighbouring Sool Plateau region of Buhodle is the most drought-affected area.
11.1.8. Political mind-set and general attitude of the people
The Community of Buhodle preserves peace and tranquillity with their neighbouring communities. The people are peace orientated and acts like looting and killing is not accepted. The elders of the community watch over the peace.
The elders told the delegation that Somaliland is an endangerment to the coexistence and peace between communities belonging to the same nation because of Somaliland´s political motives of separation from the rest of the country. Somaliland spreads bad news about communities of Sool, Sanaag and Hawd regions, simply because they refuse to be part of a separate Somaliland.
A piece activist, pointed out that the administration of Somaliland spread baseless reports on security issues in Sool, Sanaag and Hawd communities to UN staff members in Hargeisa and in Nairobi. It has, though, been realized that many of these reports coming from Somaliland were questionable.
The vast majority of the people considers Puntland as their regional state. Poltical expers explain that, the community of Buhodle (sometimes called Ayn community) support the UN stand of affairs of Somalia, which is against any act that harms the idea of territorial integrity of Somalia. The community of Buhodle perceives, Somaliland supportes as separatists who wish to start the process of the break down between Somali communities in the North of the country.
11.2. VISIT TO XUDDUN
Two members of the delegation; Ms Jaana Löppönen and Mr Ahmed Hersi visited the capital of Xuddun district, which is about 90 kilometres North of Las-Anod. The visit was arranged by Steadfast Voluntary Organization (SVO) who accompanied the delegation.
The area was severely hit by the drought and the 4 500 people living there, had not got relief assistance since December-January. The 50 dollar payment by UNDP/ SVO delivered to over 2000 families that received relief help for living was only first aid help to critical situation and people were waiting for more aid.
The delegation visited the local Health Centre for Women and Children (MCH) and the workers said that they have witnessed children suffering from malnutrition. The lack of pure water was often cause for the diseases as well as inadequate and poor food. Women suffer generally from anemia.
The health care workers were tired and frustrated that they could give very meagre help because of lack of medicine and doctors. The nearest hospital was in Las-Anod. There was land reserved for a Health Care Centre and a Hospital in Xuddun and immigrant Somalis from Denmark had donated hospital beds and bed linen for thirty patients, but no other help had come to construct the medical centres.
The delegation had a meeting in one-year-old Women Centre where representatives from the local organizations were invited. The Women Oganization (UGBAD) was founded in 2003 with 18 members. The priority of the organization was to contribute to the community through voluntary work in the field of education and health. The women helped the primary school with cleaning and sanitation. They also helped the local police with the security issues. The women were worried about the inadequate resources for the adult education, especially for women, whose illiteracy rate were estimated to be ninety per cent.
The Chairman of the Xuddun Youth Corporation Organization, informed the school situation in town. There is one primary school which has 350 pupils. After the primary school the children have to go to the Secondary School in Las- Anod or to try a earn living somehow. Almost all the young people are unemployed.
The Youth Organization tries to motivate the youth to study voluntarily and activate them in the voluntary community programs such as cleaning wells and collecting rubbish. The community made a great effort in destroying intense malaria about an year and half ago.
12. DROUGHT
Sool region is one of the most heavily populated regions with livestock in Somalia. The Dhodi plains in Sool locks animals from all its neighbouring regions ( Togdheer, Sanaag, Bari, Nugaal and Hawd) because of “Daran” bushes. At least once a year in the rainy season nomads wander with their livestock for grazing the “Daran” bushes which is good for camels and is not found elsewhere in the area. The “Daran” is salty and sour bush and it makes the camels drink more water than usually. There is often not enough clean water in the open wells even in rainy seasons and fights among herdsmen are not uncommon. During the prolonged drought the animals either died or were herded/transported to the scarce green areas.
According to the Food Security Assessment Unit (FSAU) up to 80 per cent of the camels and up to 40-45 per cent of sheep and goats have died in Sool region. It will take years for herds to recover a viable number that can sustain pastoralist livelihoods. A 60-70 per cent drop in income from livestock sales has drastically reduced the purchasing power of resident households. Scarcity of water as a result of the failed rains has led to sharp increase in water prices for human and animal consumption.
An estimated 64,100 people are experiencing a Humanitarian Emergency and 28,600 are experiencing a Livelihood Crisis (Feb.2004).
13. CONCLUSIONS
The two-weeks spent in Somalia in Sool, Hawd areas was a unique opportunity for the delegation members to see the every day life conditions people had in these drought affected areas. For one member of the delegation Ms Jaana Löppönen, the visit was the first one to Somalia.
We were very well hosted and had good contacts with the local NGOs. The people in visiting towns took contact and many of them had good memories of Finnish Aid Projects.
It was delightful to see that theYouth Vocational Workshop Project was welcomed and given support both the NGO, and communal level. The project was needed to give opportunities for the youth to learn vocational skills, required in the labour market or to self- employment as entrepreneurs. The project takes also deep consideration to the displaced youth, minorities, handicapped, and girls and young women. There seemed to be faith in a peaceful future and development of the country. Refugees and immigrants, who had returned back to the area gave hope for the future and brought stimulation to economic life. A small scale industry and service sector is expected to employ more in the future. The business sector needs to be taken as a partner in the project. Also financial help needs to be added to the project implementation to help the young people to start a business of their own after the workshop education.
The network idea was also welcomed within the community active people. There was some mistrust towards the international NGOs and local NGOs so the network as a cooperation partner raised interest.
Many questions remained without answers and new questions raised after arriving home. They will be studied with the Finnish/International Network. The most difficult issues was the future of pastoralism, the alternative energy supplies to charcoal (eg. solar) and the possibility of using wind energy. The sustainable environment use needs to be studied more carefully.
In all, the mission completed the majority of tasks, except that it did not visit Erigavo in Sanaag region due to the lack of time. The mission collected material from local NGOs which is to be delivered to the Finnish NGOs. The photos and film material will be processed to be shown to public in various occasion. |
