Patron Joanna Lumley OBE

Somalia/Somaliland

About 50% of the Somali population are believed to be nomadic pastoralists and another quater to be agro-pastoralists. In Somaliland, pastoralism is well recognised at governmental level and a National Co-ordination Body has been set up for pastoral development in the country.
However, there are many problems and challenges pastoralists in Somalia/Somaliland are facing. Lack of political stability, drought, and the the export ban of livestock to the Gulf Countries are putting a major constraints on pastoralist economies and livelihoods.

Ongoing/Recent Activities




Women's Economic Empowerment Programme
This project aims to empower women in pastoralist communities who are disadvantaged and living under difficult socio-economic conditions in arid and semi-arid areas. It is equipping women with business and production skills, and by promoting their access to rural finance providers (where these exist) as well as to their access to markets, it will help the beneficiaries to undertake new economic activites or expand existing ones and thereby increase their incomes. It is taking place in Uganda and Sudan in addition to Somaliland. The picture shows a group of women near a homestead near Riiga Village on the road to Salahey Town.

Objectives

  1. To equip women with the skills and knowledge needed to undertake new enterprises
  2. To increase women's access to finance and markets
  3. To advocate for positive micro-finance policies vis-a-vis women in pastoral areas as well as equitable access to credit

Activities

This project started 2009, so the project is still in the initial stages. Following activities have been completed so far.

  1. Identifying project implementation sites and women groups
  2. Conducting action-oriented research: Mapping and obtaining data and information
  3. Completing a needs assessment
A photo-essay which gives an idea of the situation of pastoralist women in Somaliland can be downloaded by clicking here (766 kb).

Capacity Building for Patoralist Community Based and Non-Governmental Organisations

Name of project: Baring Foundation Project
Time frame: Nov 2001 - Nov 2004
Funder: Baring Foundation
Geographical areas of intervention: Sool, Erigavo and Sanaag regions, Somaliland Project:

  • establish and train pastoralist NGOs and CBOs
  • build the capacity of the emerging pastoralist CBOs and NGOs working at grassroot level to develop pastoralist capacities to participate in their own development
  • promote debate within Somaliland on the role of pastoralist economy (to acknowledge pastoralists as important stakeholders of the national and regional economies).

Consultative Workshop for Pastoralists

Previous PENHA Somaliland Activities:

  • Pastoarlist Need Assessments
  • Pastoralist and Rangeland Management Policy Development
  • Environmental Regeneration Programme
  • Pastoralist Poverty Allevation Programme (micro credit)
  • Capacity building for related local organisations
  • Relief delivery during drought (short-term)

PENHA Somaliland Office

P.O.Box 4630
Hargeisa Zib Code 124
Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirate
Tele: 00252 313 6442
Fax: 00252 213 6942
e-mail: penhasld@yahoo.co.uk; penha@myway.com

Related Link:

Somalia Net

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