Strengthening local governance & decentralized service delivery in South Central Somalia through Local Economic Development Projects under UNJPLG Program Partnering with ILO

Strengthening local governance & decentralized service delivery in South Central Somalia through Local Economic Development Projects under UNJPLG Program Partnering with ILO.

The overall objective of this program was to increase the competitiveness of the local economy in Beledweyne, Baidoa and Jowhar districts in terms of capabilities and capacities in human resource, business enabling environment & related local institutions in which local stakeholders are promoting private sector development, private and public sector agencies have been upgraded to provide business support services, administrative framework for development of the private sector has been improved, relevant areas of the economy human resource has been expanded & upgraded and small medium enterprises development has been achieved.

MMC-International facilitated the LED Initiative directed at organizations and individuals active at local levels wishing to venture in to the economic development of the districts in a systematic, participatory and action-oriented fashion, which views local actors as drivers of the local economic development process rather than as “recipients of aid”.

The workshops across the districts was officially overseen by the ILO LED Officer and highlighted that ILO is one of the five UN agencies partnering UNJPLG to coordinate and strengthen local governance and decentralized service delivery in Somaliland & other regions in Somalia. He also briefed the respective stakeholders about the LED project and how it will be successful if all the stakeholders in the respective districts were moving together in the same direction with the aim of developing the local economy by utilizing & managing the resources of the districts in a systematic way in order to improve the quality of life for the people. He retreated that the project was a local initiative and will benefit the locals in promoting business enterprises and investments in the districts. The LED process was facilitated by MMC International to make them understand better the various phases of the LED cycle and that their crucial roles in the process of achieving local development goals through LED Training workshops

The LED forums in the three (3) districts welcomed the initiative and thanked ILO and MMC for the development agenda in supporting the LED process as it will always be helpful to the respective local district residents. The business community & enterprises also underlined their support in the development objectives of LED Forums.

The Districts Mayors challenged the stakeholders to impress development plans and insisted that an initiative like LED will only be one of the many development initiatives international agencies or donors will bring to the district if only the locals will be up to the task of making the best use out of it. They also thanked the project facilitators for the program.

The respective District Commissioners for Baidoa, Beledweyne and Jowhar have appreciated the LED initiative. They congratulated ILO and MMC for such economic boosting project, and also thanked the various stakeholders for participating and engaging in the LED process which in the long term will change the quality of life of many people in the districts. They promised they will give their full support to the initiative and will play a leadership role throughout the process.

MMC-International LED facilitators in the districts have been continually sensitizing and mentoring the forums in their respective districts. The mentorship area include drafting the LED Profile, Constitution, office establishment, registration with ministry of interior and opening Bank account.

MMC International did a Local Economic Assessment and shared with ILO and results of the LEA and the SWOT of the three districts economic competitiveness was discussed with LED forums in the districts.

LED strategy planning sessions with all relevant stakeholders was conducted to identify key economic sectors in their local economics and shared economic vision for all indicating the vision, key strategic goals and objectives, programmes, projects and institutions and processes involved in the implementation.

Then, the districts LED strategies was validated for the districts to obtain ownership, leadership and partnership fundamental for taking the strategy forward.

Strengthening local governance & decentralized service delivery in South Central Somalia through Local Economic Development Projects under UNJPLG Program Partnering with ILO.

The overall objective of this program was to increase the competitiveness of the local economy in Beledweyne, Baidoa and Jowhar districts in terms of capabilities and capacities in human resource, business enabling environment & related local institutions in which local stakeholders are promoting private sector development, private and public sector agencies have been upgraded to provide business support services, administrative framework for development of the private sector has been improved, relevant areas of the economy human resource has been expanded & upgraded and small medium enterprises development has been achieved.

MMC-International facilitated the LED Initiative directed at organizations and individuals active at local levels wishing to venture in to the economic development of the districts in a systematic, participatory and action-oriented fashion, which views local actors as drivers of the local economic development process rather than as “recipients of aid”.

The workshops across the districts was officially overseen by the ILO LED Officer and highlighted that ILO is one of the five UN agencies partnering UNJPLG to coordinate and strengthen local governance and decentralized service delivery in Somaliland & other regions in Somalia. He also briefed the respective stakeholders about the LED project and how it will be successful if all the stakeholders in the respective districts were moving together in the same direction with the aim of developing the local economy by utilizing & managing the resources of the districts in a systematic way in order to improve the quality of life for the people. He retreated that the project was a local initiative and will benefit the locals in promoting business enterprises and investments in the districts. The LED process was facilitated by MMC International to make them understand better the various phases of the LED cycle and that their crucial roles in the process of achieving local development goals through LED Training workshops

The LED forums in the three (3) districts welcomed the initiative and thanked ILO and MMC for the development agenda in supporting the LED process as it will always be helpful to the respective local district residents. The business community & enterprises also underlined their support in the development objectives of LED Forums.

The Districts Mayors challenged the stakeholders to impress development plans and insisted that an initiative like LED will only be one of the many development initiatives international agencies or donors will bring to the district if only the locals will be up to the task of making the best use out of it. They also thanked the project facilitators for the program.

The respective District Commissioners for Baidoa, Beledweyne and Jowhar have appreciated the LED initiative. They congratulated ILO and MMC for such economic boosting project, and also thanked the various stakeholders for participating and engaging in the LED process which in the long term will change the quality of life of many people in the districts. They promised they will give their full support to the initiative and will play a leadership role throughout the process.

MMC-International LED facilitators in the districts have been continually sensitizing and mentoring the forums in their respective districts. The mentorship area include drafting the LED Profile, Constitution, office establishment, registration with ministry of interior and opening Bank account.

MMC International did a Local Economic Assessment and shared with ILO and results of the LEA and the SWOT of the three districts economic competitiveness was discussed with LED forums in the districts.

LED strategy planning sessions with all relevant stakeholders was conducted to identify key economic sectors in their local economics and shared economic vision for all indicating the vision, key strategic goals and objectives, programmes, projects and institutions and processes involved in the implementation.

Then, the districts LED strategies was validated for the districts to obtain ownership, leadership and partnership fundamental for taking the strategy forward.