Warbixinta
Forum Iskaashiga Soomaaliya
Brussels 16-17 July 2018
Horudhac
1. Wakiillo ka kala socda wadamada Jaamacadda iyo Ururrada caalamiga ah ee XX ayaa ku kulmay Brussels 16-kii illaa iyo 17-kii July 2018 si ay uga qaybqaataan Forum 2-aad ee Iskaashatada Soomaaliya (SPF), ka dib markii SPF guuleystey oo Muqdisho ah 5-tii December 2017.
2. Kulanka waxaa furay H.E. Maxamed Cabdullaahi Maxamed, Madaxweynaha Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya, oo ay ku wehliyaan H.E Federica Mogherini, Wakiilka Sare ee Ururka Shaqaalaha Arrimaha Dibadda iyo Siyaasadda Amniga, iyo H.E. Margot Wallström, Wasiirka Arrimaha Dibadda ee Boqortooyada Sweden, oo ay wada guddoomiyeen H.E. Smail Chergui, Guddoomiyaha Midowga Afrika ee Nabadda iyo Amniga, H.E. Rosemary Di Carlo, Xoghayaha Guud ee Qaramada Midoobay ee Arrimaha Siyaasadda, H.E. Hafez Ghanem, Madaxweyne Ku-Xigeenka Africa ee Baanka Adduunka iyo [booska] Boqortooyada Ingiriiska. ”
3. Waxaan soo dhaweynaynaa oo aan soo dhoweyneynaa heshiiska siyaasadeed ee ka dhexeeya Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya (FGS) iyo Dawladaha xubinta ka ah Federaalka (FMS) oo la gaarey 5-tii Juun 2018, Baydhabo. Mashruucan wuxuu u furan yahay hindisaha, wadatashiga iyo marinka sharciga doorashooyinka ee 2018 kaas oo hubin doona in la helo doorasho taariikhi ah oo hal qof ah oo hal-doorasho ah oo loogu talagalay Soomaaliya markii ugu horreysay tan iyo doorashadii xisbiyada badanaa 1969-kii. wuxuu u qalmaa dastuur la dhammaystiray oo la ansixiyey oo awood u yeelan kara inuu xakameyn karo nolosha dalka, oo ay ka mid tahay dhamaystirka nidaamka federaalka. Hannaanka qabashada doorashooyinka FMS waa inay sii socotaa iyadoo loo eegayo jadwalka wakhtiga lagu jiro iyo heerarka saxda ah.
4. Waxaan soo dhaweyneynaa shirarka Golaha Amniga Qaranka ee ku saabsan wadaagga khayraadka, Qorshaha Kala-guurka iyo isdhexgalka ciidamada amniga, iyo ansaxinta dambe ee qorshahan ee Golaha Midowga Afrika ee Nabada iyo Ammaanka.
5. Waxaan u tixgelineynaa AMISOM iyo Wadamada Ciidanka Booliska iyo Wadamada Bileyska. Waxay ka go’an tahay in Soomaaliya ay muhiim u ahaato horumarka Soomaaliya, iyo joogitaankoodu waa mid muhiim u ah hannaanka siyaasadeed iyo xasilinta Soomaaliya. Waxaan soo dhaweyneynaa ballanqaadka AMISOM si ay u taageeraan hirgalinta Qorshaha Kala-guurka.
6. Waan ka xishooneynaa oo ka qoomameynaynaa in lumiyo nolol aan waxba galabsan sababtoo ah weerarrada sii socota ee kooxaha xagjirka ah iyo sidoo kale colaadaha hubeysan ee gobollada iyo beelaha. Waxaan dhamaanteen ku biirnay go’aankeena si aan u xaqiijino in Soomaaliya ay gaarto hadafka nabadda iyo barwaaqada. Dagaalka looga adkaado argagixisada waa in ay ahaato mid aan kali aheyn oo kaliya ciidamada amniga oo kaliya laakiin waa in la xaliyo sababaha aasaasiga ah ee argagixisada iyada oo loo marayo xukunka sharciga, cadaaladda, ilaalinta xuquuqda aadanaha, xoojinta maamulka iyo kor u qaadista dib u heshiisiinta.
7. Waxaan aqoonsanahay dib-u-heshiisiinta Soomaalida, xasilloonida iyo amniga ee dhammaan Soomaalida, kobaca dhaqaalaha iyo barwaaqada iyada oo aan la musuqmaasuqin, isla markaana waxay matalaad ahaan u sii socon doontaa hadafyada Soomaaliya. Kulankan wuxuu aqoonsaday horumarka Soomaaliya intii lagu jiray 16kii bilood ee la soo dhaafay si loo gaaro himilooyinkan, waxaana uu qiray dadaalka FGS, FMS, Baarlamaanka, Maamulka Diinta, qaybta gaarka ah iyo muwaadiniin badan oo Soomaali ah iyo kooxo rayid ah. Midnimadani waxay udub dhexaad u tahay inay hubiso in hay’adaha dawlada ee hufan oo hufan oo waxtarka leh ay ka mid yihiin heerarka FGS iyo FMS.
8. SPF, sidoo kale, wuxuu u hambalyeynayaa FGS dadaalka lagu gaarayo in lagu gaaro maalgalin horay loogu soo celin lahaa maal-gashiga kaas oo Soomaaliya siin doona fursadda helitaanka amaahda caalamiga ah ee la yaboohay iyo kheyraadka maaliyadeed oo kordhay. Heshiisyada wada-qaybsiga dakhliga ayaa labadoodaba xoojin doona mashruuca federaalka ah iyo kor u qaadista dakhliga si cad loogu heli karo Soomaaliya iyo muwaadiniinteeda.
9. SPF waxay sidoo kale soo dhaweyneysaa tallaabooyinka loo qaaday si looga hortago in laga hortago abaarta sannadka 2017 iyo dhiirigelinta lamaanayaasha si wax looga qabto baahiyaha bani’aadamnimada ee hadda Soomaaliya, sida lagu sheegay Qorshaha Waxqabadka Bani’aadamnimada ee 2018. Isla markaa, waxaan soo dhaweyneynaa hawlihii horay u-marinta ah ee lagu fuliyay sameynta Dib-u-hagaajin iyo Dib-u-habeyn Dib-u-hagaajin (RRF) oo ku dhiirigaliso ka qaybgalka ballaaran ee qaab-dhismeedka Qaab-dhismeedka.
10. Waxaannu dib-u-xaqiijinaynaa madax-bannaanida, geesinimada dhulka iyo midnimada Soomaaliya, waxaannu hoosta ka xariiqay muhiimada ay leedahay in laga shaqeeyo sidii looga hortagi lahaa dhibaatooyinka xasaasiga ah ee dhibaatooyinka gobolka iyo khilaafaadka ka yimaada soo-deynta Soomaaliya. Waxaan soo dhoweyneynaa wadashaqeynta wanaagsan ee ka dhaxaysa Dawlad-goboleedyada waxaanan ugu baaqeynaa dhammaan waddamada in ay xaqiijiyaan taageerada ay u hayaan Soomaaliya waxay dhiirigelisaa midnimada iyo dib-u-heshiisiinta beelaha.
Siyaasadda Dhammaan
11. Waxaan soo dhaweyneynaa ballanqaadkii H.E. Madaxwaynaha Maxamed Cabdullaahi Maxamed wuxuu qabaa doorashooyin guud oo dhinacyo badan ah sannadka 2020-ka. Waxaan ku ammaaneynaa Hay’adda FGS sidii siyaasad loo dhan yahay loo dejin lahaa ajandaha dib-u-habeeynta ee ku wajahan Fedaraalka iyo Dib-u-eegista Dastuurka iyada oo lagu muujiyey siyaasad-dejinta siyaasadeed ee loo dhan yahay ee loo dhan yahay. Waxaan ugu baaqeynaa waaxda fulinta iyo sharci dajinta si ay u daboolaan ballanqaadkooda ku aaddan in ay soo gudbiyaan sharciyada dejiya habka loo hirgelin lahaa taariikhda hal-qof-mid ah midka codeynaya kaas oo helaya rabitaanka
Communiqué Somalia Partnership Forum Brussels 16-17 July 2018
Preamble
1. Representatives from XX countries and XX international organizations gathered in Brussels on the 16th and 17th of July 2018 to participate in the 2nd Somalia Partnership Forum (SPF), following on from the successful inaugural SPF in Mogadishu on the 5th of December 2017.
2. The meeting was opened by H.E. Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, co-convened by H.E Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and H.E. Margot Wallström, Minister for Foreign Affairs from the Kingdom of Sweden, and co-chaired by H.E. Smail Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Rosemary di Carlo, United Nations Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, H.E. Hafez Ghanem, Vice President for Africa at the World Bank, and [placeholder] from the United Kingdom.”.
3. We applaud and welcome the landmark political agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and and Federal Member States (FMS) reached on the 5th of June 2018, in Baidoa. This paves the way for the drafting, consultation and passage of the election law in 2018 that will ensure the realization of a historic one-person-one-vote election for the first in Somalia since the multi-party election of 1969. We recognize Somalia deserves a completed and endorsed constitution that can frame and regulate the life of the country, including finalising the process of federalisation. The process to hold FMS elections must continue according to set timetables and proper standards.
4. We welcome the National Security Council meetings on resource sharing, the Transition Plan and security force integration, and the subsequent endorsement of this plan by the African Union Peace and Security Council.
5. We pay tribute to AMISOM and the Troop and Police Contributing Countries. Their commitment to Somalia has been essential to Somalia’s progress, and their presence remains critical to the political and stabilisation process in Somalia. We welcome the commitment by AMISOM to support implementation of the Transition Plan.
6. We deplore and regret the loss of innocent lives as a result of the continued attacks by extremist groups as well as regional and inter-clan armed conflict. We are all united in our determination to ensure Somalia achieves the goal of peace and prosperity. The fight to defeat terrorism must be unrelenting not only by professional security forces but by tackling the underlying causes of terrorism through the rule of law, justice, upholding human rights, strengthening governance and promoting reconciliation.
7. We recognize reconciliation among Somalis, stability and security for all Somalis, economic growth and prosperity without corruption, and equitable representation continue be the goals for Somalia. This Forum recognize Somalia’s progress over the course of the last 16 months towards achieving these goals and acknowledges the efforts of the FGS, the FMS, the Parliament, religious authorities, the private sector and many Somali citizens as well as civic groups. This unity in purpose will be key to ensuring more effective and efficient government institutions both at the FGS and FMS level.
8. This SPF, likewise, congratulates the FGS for efforts towards achieving pre-arrears clearance financing which will offer Somalia the opportunity to have access to international concessional lending and increased financial resources. Agreements in revenue sharing will both consolidate the federal project and enhance the revenues transparently available for Somalia and its citizens.
9. The SPF also welcomes the actions taken to prevent an onset of famine in 2017 and encourages partners to address Somalia’s current humanitarian needs, as set out in the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan. At the same time, we welcome the proactive work undertaken in building a long-term Resilience and Recovery Framework (RRF) and encourage broad engagement within this Framework.
10. We reaffirm the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Somalia, and underscore the importance of working to prevent destabilizing effects of regional crises and disputes from spilling over into Somalia. We welcome the positive engagement amongst regional States and we call on all nations to ensure their support for Somalia fosters unity and reconciliation among its communities.
Inclusive Politics
11. We welcome the commitment by H.E. President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed to hold a multi-party universal election in 2020. We commend the FGS for putting inclusive politics at the core of its reform agenda towards Federalisation and Constitutional review as expressed through the Political Roadmap for Inclusive Politics. We call on the executive and legislative branches to meet their commitment to deliver legislation that will pave the way for holding a historic one-person-one-vote that realizes the wishes of the Somali public. We express our commitment to its implementation in an enduring spirit of unity.
12. We congratulate the President and Somalia’s leaders both at the Federal and FMS level for chartering a path to realise Somalia’s constitutionally guaranteed one-person one-vote elections, as stipulated in the Somali Provisional Constitution. This meaningful process must be encouraged and supported to ensure the passage of the electoral law by Parliament by December 2018, including continued registration of political parties, finalization of related constitutional amendments, amendment to the political parties law, protecting inclusivity, particularly in terms of ensuring the participation and representation of women, youth, as well as IDPs, minorities [and marginalised groups].
13. We call on all partners in the spirit of mutual accountability to ensure that the necessary resources for the electoral process, including those related to voter registration scheduled in 2019 by the National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC), are mobilised in a timely manner commensurate with the agreement of key political benchmarks that are necessary to ensure an inclusive and credible process.
14. We also call on all FMS to hold regional elections in line with previously agreed constitutional term limits.
15. We are encouraged by the creation of the Federalization Negotiation Technical Committee (FNTC) as a body to drive forward negotiations on the fundamental pillars for long-term stability including election model, resource sharing and allocation of powers, to support political agreements at the leadership level. These political agreements will need to be reflected in the constitutional text and in the legal framework.
16. We welcome the Somali National Constitutional Convention held in Mogadishu on 13-15 May 2018, which set the tone and pace for the constitutionally mandated institutions to refocus and prioritize both the substantive interventions and also the timelines necessary for the completion of the CRP.
17. We recognize that the next six months will be crucial for the finalization of Constitutional Review Process (CRP). We support the FGS’s commitment to accelerate the political decision making necessary to settle all remaining questions including formalization the status of the FMS and the National Security Council, resource and power sharing between the FGS and FMS, fiscal federalism, the allocation of responsibilities for security and justice, the system of political representation, and implemention of an agreed, transparent, and credible justice model. We also call for the establishment of a mechanism to resolve constitutional issues and the establishment of the Constitutional Court.
18. We commend the progress achieved so far in promoting national reconciliation and look forward to the completion of the National Reconciliation Framework by the end of 2018, in parallel to a dialogue process to address priority conflicts. We underscore the need for dedicated, specific and targeted provisions in the constitution to enable and facilitate the advancements of women, and minorities[ marginalized groups] and ensuring their equal and safe access to institutions and services including in the areas of access to justice, education, health, security, and economic recovery.
19. Noting the importance of stabilising the political space, we commend Somalia’s efforts in fighting corruption, promoting transparency, and building an enabling environment for accountable, transparent, and effective institutions and processes at all levels. We encourage the legislative and executive branches to accelerate the efforts in taking visible and consistent measures to protect the integrity and accountability of the management of public finances as well as to advance the legal and institutional framework to stamp out corruption, including through the timely adoption of the Law on the Anti-Corruption Commission and call on international community to support their efforts.
20. We express deep concerns about the escalation of tension in Tukaraq in the Sool region. We call on both the Somaliland and Puntland administrations to immediately cease hostilities, separate forces, engage in political dialogue and allow unconditional humanitarian access.
21. We urge the FGS and the Somaliland administration to resume dialogue as early as possible to seek a peaceful solution to their differences. We call on Somalia’s leaders at both the federal and state levels to demonstrate a spirit of compromise.
Security
22. We commend the FGS leadership in formulating the Transition plan in close cooperation with the FMS, AMISOM, Troop Contributing Countries and international partners. We welcome the comprehensive nature of the plan which incorporates operational, institutional capacity building and supporting activities in order to achieve a sustainable transition.
23. We support the strategic direction for transition as set out in the Transition Plan, which defines transition as the emergence of effective Somali security institutions, including in areas where AMISOM has not had a presence, as well as the gradual handover of responsibility from AMISOM towards increased Somali ownership for its citizens’ security. We welcome that this strategic approach not only includes military and policing activities, but is equally focused on reconciliation, stabilization, strengthening governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, protection of civilians, including women and girls and prevention and countering of violent extremism. We reaffirm our commitment to this comprehensive approach to security.
24. We welcome the commitment of all stakeholders to complete the detailed planning for Phase 1 of the Transition Plan, led by the FGS, in partnership with the FMS, covering the operational, institutional capacity building and supporting activities. We welcome the decision of the National Security Council to work closely with the Regional Security Councils to ensure the inclusion of political and community engagement strategies that reflect local conditions.
25. We welcome the endorsement of the Transition Plan by the African Union and the commitment by the African Union and AMISOM to support implementation of the Transition Plan [guided by the Joint AU-UN Review and the Report of AU and UN Special Envoys on AMISOM Financing]. We welcome AMISOM’s commitment to reconfiguration, including of its civilian component, to support implementation of the Transition Plan,in specific and key locations across AMISOM’s area of operation, [and looks forward to the ORA of AMISOM]. [We look forward to the renewal of AMISOM and UNSOS’s mandate by the Security Council].
26. We are encouraged by the FGS’s commitment to Security Sector Reform and to develop a more accountable, acceptable, affordable and able security institutions including the establishment of human rights oversight and accountability mechanisms.
27. We welcome the decision of the National Security Council to request the National Integration Commission to produce an action plan for integration of regional forces. We urge the FGS to working closely with the FMS to reach agreement on this plan, including on right-sizing the Somali National Army, and begin implementation without delay ensuring accountability and compliance of the process with human rights and international humanitarian law standards.
28. We appreciate both the inherent challenges, as well as the complexity in implementing the National Security Architecture and Transition Plan. We recognize that successful implementation will require political will and strong support of all parties. Through regular meetings of the National Security Council, the FGS and FMS commit to take the political decisions necessary to implement the National Security Architecture including FGS security resource sharing with the FMS. In the next six months, the FGS and FMS commit to enable the Regional Security Councils to become operational along with the Regional Security Offices.
29. We underscore the importance of the responsible allocation and coordination of resources to support the security sector. The FGS commits to strengthen public financial management, and align security sector spending to the agreed security priorities. The FGS thanks international partners for their existing support to the security sector. We agree to hold a follow up conference on security resourcingin parallel to the next Somalia Partnership Forum as agreed during the London Somalia Conference of 11th May 2017.
30. International partners agree to continue to provide financial and material support in line with the Mutual Accountability Framework and to align resources to support implementation of the Transition Plan, starting with the FGS priorities. The FGS and international partners agree to strengthen coordination through the CAS Strands and a Financial Tracking mechanism.
31. We are grateful for the financial and operational support by international partners to AMISOM and call on all partners in a spirit of burden sharing to provide assistance for the implementation of the Transition Plan in order to accompany the gradual transfer of tasks from AMISOM to Somali security institutions. We call for the provision of additional contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for AMISOM including contributions destined for the SNA as a matter of urgency.
32. We welcome the Ministry of Internal Security’s completion of the Operational Readiness Assessment (ORA) of the Somali Police Forces, the establishment of leadership coordination bodies at Police Commissioner and Ministerial level and the agreement for a Joint Police Program to deliver International support to Federal and State police in a coordinated manner. We look forward to the completion of the ORA of Regional Forces with the support of AMISOM, to assist in the process of integration in compliance with human rights and international humanitarian law standards. The FGS and FMS commit to reach political agreement on the Justice and Corrections Model, and the FMS to begin implementation the State Police Plans in the next six months, including to ensure enhanced presence of women across the system and structure of State Police institutions
33. We underscore the urgency of an inclusive and gender responsive security sector and urge all security sector institutions to expeditiously develop and launch their respective gender strategy as stipulated in the Security Pact.
34. We welcome the completion of the Ministry of Defense’s organizational structure and agreement on policies regarding organizational structure, as well as a code of conduct for the Somali National Army. We commend the trial and implementation of the Somali National Army’s payroll reform, including electronic salary payment, in Mogadishu and recognizes the importance of payroll reform to achieving the goal of realizing more professional, transparent and accountable Somali Security Forces. We underscore the importance of completing payroll reform for all SNA units, prioritizing those engaged in transition operations, the passing the Pensions and Gratuities Bill to assist in right-sizing the SNA and the need for a phased, realistic model for reforming the force composition of SNA forces to be completed in line with the Defense Strategy and agreed Ministry of Defense milestones.
35. We welcome the significant gains made in developing the implementation of the FGS’s Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) strategy, the effective participation of all stakeholders, including FMS and civil society, including women and recognize this positive development is due to a process which is Somali led and Somali owned We call on the FGS to becoming a party to relevant counter-terrorism resolutions and protocols.
36. We welcome the FGS’s efforts to engage with leaders of armed groups and disengaged fighters who openly choose the path of peace and commitment to long-term reconciliation to eradicate the drivers of radicalization. And urge the FGS to continue its support interim care, rehabilitation, release and community reintegration of defectors. In this regard, we urge that particular attention be paid to children associated with armed conflict who should be treated primarily as victims and provided the necessary support and care to be able to reintegrate into society.
37. We underscore the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict including through implementation of the Transition Plan and the National Stabilisation Strategy led by the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, and its counterparts in the Federal Member States to promote human security.
Economic Recovery
38. We acknowledge the FGS’s efforts to reestablishing macroeconomic stability through the strengthening of macroeconomic management, rebuilding financial institutions and improving governance, which are all key factors for obtaining pre-arrears clearance with the focus on debt relief as Somalia meets with IMF benchmarks.
39. We welcome Somalia’s achievements in meeting the requirements of the latest IMF Staff Monitored Programme as well as its commitment to deliver the progressively more demanding requirements of a third SMP, continuing a pathway to normalization of relations with International Financial Institutions and debt relief.
40. We welcome the commitment by the FGS and FMS to further enhancing mutual accountability linked to fiscal transfer by the central government to the FMS, for development purposes. In particular, we commend the commitment on agreeing on and fully implementing rules and principles for determination of allocation of resource flows both to and from each FMS, timing of transfers in both directions, financial vehicle for transfers, and reporting by FMS on implementation of funds in a manner commensurate with that required of the FGS.
41. We also commend the International Community’s commitment to support Somalia’s continued progress on economic reform and recovery, including through multilateral and bilateral on-budget programming. In particular, we welcome the commitment to ensure that all major funding instruments and bilateral programmes for economic reform, capacity building and development are collectively coherent, reinforce an inclusive federal model, and are in line with the New Partnership for Somalia and the Mutual Accountability Framework.
42. We recognize that concerted action is required to promote sustainable social and economic development by creating meaningful and inclusive employment opportunities for the men and women of Somalia. We stress the urgency of securing sustained investments in social services such as Health, Nutrition and Education, all vital components in stimulating social and economic development and building resilience, as well as in the productive sectors.
43. Somalia’s security and development will rely on the engine of progress, which is people and specifically, young people. Education for children and young women and men is the essential investment to ensure a literate population with the necessary skills to realize Somalia’s National Development Plan, and we commit to holding a special event on education before or in conjunction with the next Somalia Partnership Forum.
44. We welcome the FGS’s agreement to a fiscal framework calling for a budget reflecting changes in revenue measures and expenditures. This includes a halt in the accumulation of arrears, as well as the introduction of Corporate and Sales tax and a gender perspective to budgeting.
45. We welcome the FGS’s presentation of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Law to Parliament, the Commitment Control designed and implemented under Somali Financial Management Information System (SFMIS) and ensuring commitment control function became mandatory in order to reduce mismanagement.
46. We commend the significant achievements by FGS and the FMS in recently reaching historical Fisheries Revenue Sharing, Petroleum, and Mining Agreements. We encourage the full implementation of these agreements, including the passing of necessary legislation. and encourage transparent and accountable management of Somalia’s natural resources. These undertakings will enable Somalia’s economy to generate significant revenue, particularly domestic revenue, and we encourage the FGS and FMS to engage in transparent and accountable management of Somalia’s natural resources for the benefit of all Somalis
47. We welcome the FGS’s focus on anchoring economic policies and reforms, which include the improvement of budget planning and execution, currency reform, and an effective monetary policy in the context Finance Minister’s Forum. We encourage the FGS and the FMS to further leverage this forum to bring unity and harmonization to the economic agenda.
48. We support the FGS’s currency reform effort, including the success of the Central Bank of Somaliawith technical assistance from the International Monetary Fund in completing preparations of all key elements and arrangements for the issuance of the new Somali Shilling under Phase I. We recognize currency reform as being one of the key pillars of the FGS’s financial governance program and will look to support the currency reform program.
49. We commend the FGS’s commitment to providing a transparent, rules-based business enabling environment that supports a competitive private sector, as a part of Somalia’s overall solution to peace building, stability and prosperity; renewed commitment by the FGS and private sector to build on the successes to date of the public-private dialogue (PPD), in particular to develop shared visions for key sectors (energy, financial, telecommunications) and expanding international markets; commitment by the FGS, FMS and private sector to implement the Telecoms Act;
50. The FGS, donors and the private sector recognise the role that Development Finance Institutions (DFI) could play in supporting Somalia’s reconstruction and recovery, and commit to working within established procedures and to secure DFI financing, with a clear understanding of the timeline, opportunities and risks. We look forward to the strengthening of Somali partnerships with DFIs in advance of the next SPF.
51. We recognize that concerted action is required to promote sustainable social and economic development by creating meaningful and inclusive employment opportunities for the women and men of Somalia. We stress the urgency of securing sustained investments in social services such as health, nutrition and education, all vital components in stimulating social and economic development and building resilience, as well as in the productive sectors.
52. Somalia’s security and development will rely on the engine of progress, which is people and specifically, youth. Education for children and youth is the essential investment to ensure a literate population with the necessary skills to realize Somalia’s National Development Plan, and we commit to holding a special event on education before or in conjunction with the next SPF.
53. We look forward to the presentation of Vision 2040 as a long-term strategic view toward recovery, reconstruction, and resilience and we welcome the transformative commitment to break the cycle of humanitarian crises through the government-led Drought Impact Needs Assessment and the RRF. We also welcome the establishment of the National Economic Council which will provide coherent and consistent policy advice and oversight on economic development
Resilience, Recovery, and Humanitarian Assistance
54. We note that all Somalis face the risk of future droughts, floods, cyclones, disease, and conflict and that their ability to withstand these shocks has been lessened due to their repeated and overlapping nature.
55. We recognize the enormous effort by the FGS, FMS, local Somalis, Somali private sector and the international community to stave off famine in Somalia in 2017. We also recognize that despite improvements in the humanitarian situation 2.5 million people in Somalia still rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their daily food needs. There are also now 2.6 million people internally displaced and in need of various forms of assistance and protection, including protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, many of whom are at- risk of further displacement due to forced evictions.
56. We express our commitment to safeguard International Humanitarian Law, Humanitarian Principles, Human Rights Law and the protection of civilians, including women and young girls and boys throughout the territory and by all armed groups under their control.
57. We also commit to supporting and empowering the work of NGOs to deliver services under the supervision of the FGS, through greater transparency and sharing of information, development of multi-year humanitarian action plans; and exploring ways of working with all Somalia local actors, including Somali private sector, local and community based NGOs, civil society womengroups and local authorities.
58. We commend the commitment by the FGS and FMS to clarify national coordination structures for disaster management, resilience and recovery, including by the creation of a National Disaster Management Agency and empowering structures within the aid coordination architecture. In this regard, we welcome the development of the National Disaster Management policy and call for its speedy implementation.
59. We acknowledge the challenges in finding durable solutions for the more than 2.2 million internally displaced persons in Somalia, and the 1 million refugees still outside Somalia, and commend the FGS for its commitments made in the Nairobi Declaration and Plan of Action.
60. We appreciate the actions taken by Somalia and its partners to strengthen the coordination mechanisms on durable solutions to displacement and to align and coordinate the relevant plans and initiatives and to accelerate the rollout of these plans specificailly in key areas of return and displacement.
61. We welcome the commitments of the FGS to the policy and legislative agenda on displacement and durable solutions and its plans to ensure that i) National Eviction Guidelines, ii) National Policy on Refugee-Returnees and IDPs, iii) a Housing, Land, and Property interim and time specific protocol and iv) a Refugee Act are adopted within the next twelve months.
62. We praise the FGS’s commitment to ratify the 2009 African Union Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention), the 1954 Convention relating to the Statues of Stateless Persons, and the 1961 Convention on the Reducation of Statelessness.
63. We also recognize that it is crucial to continue to address acute humanitarian needs and ensure protection of civilians within the framework of the Humanitarian Response Plan which remains the primary vehicle for delivering humanitarian support in Somalia. We also commit to better link humanitarian and development investments that promote recovery and resilience and align to the RRF.
64. We welcome the FGS’s commitment to address the root causes of humanitarian disasters through the new RRF. As the implementation component of the National Development Plan, the RRF will advance efforts to break the cycle of shock and response effectively, to improve the resilience of Somali families, communities and institutions. We look forward to the finalization and rapid implementation of this strategic vision and welcome the FGS’s intention to hold a side event on the RRF during the United Nations General Assembly to further strengthen partnerships and ensure a comprehensive, coherent and coordinated approach.
Human Rights and Gender
65. We recognize the continued commitments of both the FGS and the FMS to improve representation and participation of women in public and political affairs, including in leadership roles. We urge the Somali leadership to secure constitutional provisions for enhanced representation of women, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles in public and elected offices and the civil service through the constitutional review and other on-going political and legislative processes.
66. We encourage the FGS to expedite the process of adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and urge the FGS and Somalia’s international partners to ensure continued leadership and avilability of adequate resources to give full effect to the provisions of CEDAW and in realizing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
67. We recognize the achievements in the first phases of the establishment process of the National Independent Human Rights Commission. We commend the all-encompassing transparent, inclusive and impartial selection process, resulting in the nomination of nine candidate Commissioners. We urge the FGS to accelerate and complete the establishment process and the operationalization of the National Human Rights Commission to enable strengthened promotion and protection of human rights in Somalia.
68. Furthermore, we recognise the importance of recent inclusive processes undertaken by the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development with regards to the development of the Initial State Party Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We also commend the FGS of Somalia’s prioritization of the drafting of the first-ever Disability and Inclusion Bill, showcasing commitment to improve the opportunities of persons with disabilities in Somalia. We encourage the FGS to renew focus on promoting disability inclusion ahead of the Global Disability Summit and beyond by signing up to the Charter for Chage and ensuring that Civil Society are an active part of this process
69. We encourage the Somali government to prioritize the enactment of legislation and undertake reforms that protect women’s and girl’s human rights and to allow for the response, prevention and elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls. We acknowledge the more recent successes by the FGSin endorsing the Sexual Offence Bill at the cabinet level, a first step towards effective prosecution of sexual crimes and end impunity in these cases.
Partnerships
70. We welcome the recent update to the Mutual Accountability Framework and remain committed to continual improvement, implementation and monitoring of the Mutual Accountability Framework, including through quarterly reviews by the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility and twice-yearly at future SPFs. We recognize this document as a central tool to enhance our joint accountability and partnership which must clearly outline identifiable milestones for both the FGS and international partners.
71. We call on all international partners to ensure their support meets the stated objective of being “Somali-owned and Somali-led” and remain committed to operate within and strengthen the existing aid architecture that supports this objective. In particular, we call on all partners to share information on their bilateral programming through the existing aid coordination forums, and to ensure that they meet aid flow reporting requirements.
72. We reaffirm our commitment to work closely together with the FGS in a transparent, mutually accountable and coordinated manner that strengthens country systems in line with and in support of Somalia’s National Development Plan, to bring enduring peace, security and prosperity.
73. We acknowledge the important steps being taken to prepare for the next National Development Plan which will seek to define more inclusive and resilient growth for Somalia. We see this as a critical pathway to addressing the needs of all Somali citizens and reducing poverty and vulnerability.
Conclusion
74. We thank the European Union and the Kingdom of Sweden for hosting the Somalia Partnership Forum in Brussels
75. We agree to take stock of the outcomes of this Forum in 3 months and commence preparations then for the next Somalia Partnership Forum, to be held in six month’s time.
