Promising progress has been made to improve public service delivery in Jowhar, Somalia. A new initiative will contribute to strengthening of stability in the country through decentralized service delivery and improved accountability in decision-making.

The process to establish councils to strengthen local governance structures providing services was kicked off in an official ceremony that took place in Jowhar in May, 2019. The purpose of the new councils will be to provide access to basic public services such as education, healthcare, water, sanitation, public transport and administrative services, and engage citizens in local development.

The initiative is part of a project implemented and supported by Finn Church Aid (FCA) and funded by the European Union.

The Vice President of Hirshabelle, H.E Ali Abdullahi Hussein, launched the initiative in Jowhar, the capital city of Hirshabelle, on May 28, as part of a ceremony that welcomed a wide range of representatives from governmental and regional levels, as well as traditional elders and youth groups.

“Local councils in the Jowhar district will support State’s development initiatives to decentralize local governance. It will improve the opportunity for citizens to participate and contribute to local decision-making and increase access to public services in the local level. In the longer run, Jowhar will have a representative local council that is freely and fairly elected”, H.E Ali Abdullahi Hussein said.

In his speech, the second Deputy Speaker of Hirshabelle Regional Assembly, Hon. Anab Abdullahi Isse, urged clan elders and the Ministry of Interior and local government of Hirshabelle to ensure the enacted 30 % quota for women’s representation in the local councils.

FCA´s project aims to strengthen local governance structures in Somalia for more accountable and inclusive Federal Member States, which also supports the implementation of the Wadajir National Framework. Furthermore, it aims to strengthen gender and youth inclusive governance in the local administration and is thus aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly with SDG 11; “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.

The project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation (MOIFAR) and ministries of Interior and Local Government in the Federal Member States.