Nairobi, Kenya, May 26, 2006 – On 25 May 2006 the United Nations and the World Bank provided a brief to the Somali Transitional Federal Parliament in Baidoa on the Somali Joint Needs Assessment. 

The Somali Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) is an assessment that analyzes the rehabilitation and transitional recovery needs of the Somali people and produces a 5-year Reconstruction and Development Programme.  It is coordinated jointly by the United Nations and World Bank, undertaken with Somali authorities and supported by the European Commission, Italy, DFID, Norway and Sweden.

The Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament, Hon. Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden advised the MPs that the purpose of the presentation was to keep Parliament fully informed of the JNA progress and asked MPs to provide suggestions and feedback on the JNA through the Parliamentary Committees.

Despite the ongoing clashes in Mogadishu, the presentation to Parliament in Baidoa on 25 May and a JNA Consultative workshop, held in Mogadishu on 24 May, highlight the fact that substantial efforts are underway toward recovery and reconstruction for the Somali people.

For further information, please contact Louise Cottar at tel. 4183640, email Louise.Cottar@undp.org