Communiqué

The United Nations and World Bank, in conjunction with the Somali authorities convened consultative validation workshops in Garowe, Baidoa, Beletweyne and Hargeysa to review the Somali Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) cluster findings and recommendations for the majority of regions in Somalia, during 16-28 July 2006.

The objective of the Somali Joint Needs Assessment is to help Somalia begin to achieve sustained reconstruction and development and deepen the peace process. It does this by having teams of Somali and international technical experts work together to assess needs and develop prioritized strategies to achieve reconstruction and development and reinforce peace building. The document that comes out of the JNA – referred to as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) then provides an instrument for mobilizing, distributing and coordinating international recovery assistance.

The objective of these workshops was to provide the opportunity for Somali stakeholders to review, discuss and validate the preliminary findings, conclusions and recommendations presented in the draft cluster reports, as well as ensure clarity and understanding of the goals and expected outputs of the JNA process.

Attendance at these meetings included between 80 to 150 participants representing a wide spectrum of Somali society - Women, Youth, Traditional and Religious Leaders, Regional Authorities and Parliamentarians, Civil Society and NGOs and Business Groups and Professionals These series of two-day workshops took participants through a number of presentations to collect their unique perspectives and recommendations on the JNA process and priority needs and actions. Participants also heard and engaged with Cluster Leaders and Focal Points on the scope, critical findings, vision and priority actions identified in the six cluster reports (for Governance, Safety and Rule of Law; Macroeconomic Policy Framework and Data Development; Infrastructure; Social Services and Protection of Vulnerable Groups; Productive Sectors and Environment; and Livelihoods and Solutions for the Displaced).

Somali stakeholders reiterated the urgent need for reconciliation, particularly focused at the local and grassroots level, and stressed critical priority issues such as Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR), agricultural and water issues, and capacity building. Improvements to infrastructure were also a critical concern, as this is so closely linked with the ability to implement priority actions in other clusters and economic growth in the region. Above all else, participants agreed that peace and security must come first in order for the priorities identified in the JNA to be implemented. Outcomes of the workshop will contribute to and shape the final conclusions and recommendations of the JNA that will be captured in the five volumes of the Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).

It is hoped that additional workshops will also be held in Garbaharey for the Gedo, Lower and Middle Juba regions, and also Mogadishu for the Benadir region.

The UN Senior Technical Coordinator, Mr. David Bassiouni separately addressed the President of the Transitional Federal Government, the Transitional Federal Cabinet Ministers and the Chairs of the Transitional Federal Parliamentary Committees, the President of Somaliland, the Cabinet of Somaliland, Representatives of the Somaliland House of Representatives and Somaliland Council of Elders (Guurti), the President of Puntland and the Parliament of the Puntland State on the key findings and proposed priority actions of the JNA cluster reports.

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