Federal Republic of Somalia

Positions for the African Development Bank

  1. Furthering Private Sector Development for Economic Growth

The Federal Republic of Somalia (hereafter ‘Somalia’) is a country in which a large proportion of its economy is divided into only a few sectors. The private sector is an example of one of these which continues to progress. This progression exists in spite of some major setbacks that the people of Somalia have faced, such as the fall of the state back in 1991. Despite much regulation and formal oversight, innovation continues throughout the private sector. Nevertheless, instability remains a looming issue. This volatile environment, restricts surges of growth in this sector. The 2017 London Conference put Somalia in the “hot seat”. Those in attendance, including government leaders and economic developers, attempted to solve the problem of how to promote a future surge in the private sector, leading to the creation of thePublic Private Dialogue. The Somali government pledged to increase its involvement by establishing a framework for which future regulations and policies could be made. If successful, economic recovery and prosperity could be a very real thing for this country. The Somali government also highlighted its National Development Plan, which will run its course over the next three years. This plan further seeks to promote the private sector through a stronger and more supportive government. An objective rule of law, like so many developed countries possess, is the main goal. This will help to establish transparency throughout the government, allowing the people of Somalia to continue to compete and trust the environment in which they inhabit. This is a crucial step in improving all sectors of the country, as the private sector currently makes up about 90% of total Gross Domestic Product. The Somali Core Economic Institutions and Opportunities Program (SCORE) is currently assisting in developing this proposed framework. SCORE’s efforts are to promote job creation and recruit investors in the private sector. Furthermore, others such as Denmark, the European Union, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have pledged to support and collaborate with Somalia. The World Bank has, since 2012, already made an effort at support reform throughout the country. Its Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice helps recruit more and more investors by improving confidence in the private sector and the country as a whole. After all, economic inequality is quite the norm for this country. In 2012, the UN Development Index indicated that Somalia had some of the lowest development indicators on the planet. Historically, there has been almost no significant change since initially in 1971. Though there has been a more current projection for economic growth, it seems to fall short of necessary figures to properly address the level of poverty.

  1. Enhancing Nutritional Programs to Improve Quality of Life

The famine of 2011 shook Somalia to its core. Malnutrition is one of the greatest problems the Federal Republic of Somalia has recently faced. In fact, almost 308,000 children age 5 or under suffer from malnutrition. Most of these children are also highly concentrated in the central and southern regions of the country. Over the past five years, Somalia repeatedly has encountered the problem of quantifying the data in order to attempt to provide a solution. Standardization is the main goal of current efforts in measuring nutritional data. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has made an effort to collaborate with any other agencies, such as the World Health Organization and the UN Population Fund. The Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) is a program developed collaboratively between these agencies. This will hopefully expedite the process of standardization. However, UNICEF has faced a dearth ofthe employees needed to establish a plentiful staff concerning nutrition. Efforts such as the 2002-2003 Master Plan of Operations do not address such variables as breastfeeding. Unfortunately, UNICEF’s main focus on breastfeeding and proper weaning has shown poor results. The population has consistently been observed using bottles to feed infants. Another frightening data point deals with not breastfeeding or related habits, but the statistics on those suffering from anaemia. 73% of children, over half of those under age 5, and almost 50% of women, in general, fit this description. On a positive note, however, micro-nutrient supplementation has taken rather well. This is not to say that feeding habits are without worry. A well-balanced diet is essential but still has not been properly attained. The IEC is in the process of developing informative multimedia platforms. Meanwhile, the Somali Joint Health and Nutrition Programme (JHNP) continues both the “New Deal” initiative, as well as, the “Somali Compact”. The key purpose of this is to meet the Maternal and Child Health sections of the larger vision of the Millennium Development Goals while also pushing for improved quality and distribution of health care. During all of this, the JHNP continues to advocate for consideration of the special regions of Somaliland, Puntland, and the Central South. Funding for this stems from Finland, Sweden, AusAID, UKAID, and USAID. In 2014, Somalia joined with the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement. More recently in February of this year, the Office of the Prime Minister held a meeting for the movement. All donors to the JHNP were in attendance, as well. This roundtable meeting highlighted the need for a larger network of academic study for the subject of malnutrition. 1000 days was the time period aimed for full implementation. Both the state minister and the minister for commerce and industrialization joined in urging for business and nutrition-focused actors to collaborate for progress at both the national and regional level. It is important for these efforts to more specifically address nutritional awareness throughout the population.