Somalia

In 2023, some of our achievements included:

Supporting Somali-led dialogue on solutions to displacement 

• One town hall discussion event conducted & 1 learning brief/commentary produced: ReDSS worked with the Somali Public Agenda to conduct a town hall discussion on social exclusion and durable solutions in Mogadishu on 15th June 2023. The event was attended by 50 participants drawn from displacement-affected communities (minority, marginalized & majority clan groups), government officials (at federal, regional, and district levels), and civil society groups. A key outcome of the discussion was that the Benadir Regional Authority (BRA) needed to do more to protect minority groups from discrimination. Another key outcome was that the role of minority rights groups – though critical – was not fully supported by the government or aid actors. A learning brief/commentary that documented the key outcomes and recommendations was produced and published on the SPA website here. A recording of the event was also published here.  
• Two podcasts produced: ReDSS worked with its partner, Somali Public Agenda, to produce two one-hour podcasts focusing on social exclusion and its impact on durable solutions. The podcasts featured speakers from the local authority in Mogadishu as well as a minority rights group advocate who discussed solutions to social exclusion and marginalization of minority clan groups in displacement in the Benadir Region. The podcasts were recorded and published on YouTube here and here.  

Supporting a government-led and owned durable solutions policy process that is inclusive, coherent and well-coordinated 

• One government-to-government learning event conducted: ReDSS facilitated a government-to-government learning event in Kismayu led by the Jubaland Ministry of Planning, Investment, and International Cooperation on the 20th and 21st of September 2023. The event brought together 70 Somali government officials from the Federal, Federal Member States, and local administrative levels.  They shared their learning and experiences on solutions pathways implemented in their local context. They also used the event to conduct bilateral conversations aimed at enhancing intergovernmental coordination on durable solutions. A learning brief will be produced in October 2023. A brief report on the outcome of this event can be found here.  
• The Department of Poverty Reduction and Durable Solutions (DPRDS) at the MoPIED supported the DPRDS at MoPIED to effectively coordinate among durable solutions stakeholders under the banner of the National Durable Solutions Strategy (NDSS). ReDSS supported the government entity to revise the coordination structure as well as conduct the first Durable Solutions Technical Working Group under the new structure on 27th August 2023. Highlights of this working group meeting can be found here.