The United Nations, World Bank and European donors will be holding consultations with key Non-State Actors from southern and central Somalia on the identified priorities and content of the Somali Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and the EU-Norway Country Strategy Paper (CSP) on 29-30 May 2007 in Kampala, Uganda.

These consultations follow an extensive joint needs assessment (JNA) process, co-coordinated by the UN and World Bank, , leading to the development of the RDP, which has already been the subject of similar consultations in Somaliland and Puntland. The RDP highlights the needs of the Somali people and provides a prioritized set of responses to address those needs, at an estimated cost of USD 2.2 billion over a five-year period. Support to and implementation of the RDP would provide a unique opportunity to move beyond 16 years of state failure, violence, lawlessness and humanitarian suffering and to begin rebuilding a better and more prosperous future for the people of Somalia.

These consultations are held in step with the European Union and Norway consultations on the CSP which draws substantially on the RDP and brings key donors together for a coordinated strategic response to programme development assistance for Somalia from 2007 to 2013 . The CSP participating donors include: the European Commission, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

While the international community remains concerned at the grave humanitarian situation and ongoing insecurity in southern and central Somalia, this round of consultations is a crucial step in ensuring that the voice of the Non-State Actors is heard and incorporated in the RDP and CSP as well as enhancing the international community’s readiness to respond to the Somali people as soon as a conducive environment for reconstruction and development is created by genuine and inclusive political reconciliation.

We thank Uganda for its hospitality and its support to Somalia.

A press debriefing session will be held at the Speke Conference Centre on Thursday 31 May at 09.30am.

Contact details:-

Contact details for the Press in Uganda:-

Charlotte Kawesa Ntulume

UNDP Uganda

15B Clement Hill Road, P. O. Box 7184 Kampala

Tel: +256-41-233440/1/2/5 Ext: 279 Fax: +256-41-344801 Email: charlotte.kawesa@undp.org

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives