NATIONAL MEDIA
05 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 193 Words
Somalia will for the first time in decades be able to regulate labour and employee right, thanks to a newly formed tripartite committee formed by the Ministry of Labour. Labour Minister Sadik Hirsi Warfa announced Thursday the formation of the committee following a meeting with the Somali Chamber of Commerce and International Labour Organisation (ILO) officials in Mogadishu. According to the minister, the committee will build on the framework to boost job creation, develop labour progress policy and ensure the national labour policies are in line with international labour laws. “Following the sacrifice and efforts of many stakeholders, we successfully formed this tripartite committee. This is a good step in improving the economy, facilitate job creation and protect employee rights.
Somalia completed the National Employment Policy for Somalia February this year. The policy focuses on three priority areas namely, strengthening the private sector and promoting SMEs; supporting productive economic sectors for job creation and strengthening labour market governance. The meeting was also attended by the chairman of Somali commerce chamber, Abdi Abshir Dhore, and officials from the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU). Somalia joined the ILO as the last country in 2013.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
05 September – Source: Anadolu Agency – 186 Words
Somalia beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a football World Cup qualifier played in Djibouti on Thursday, in the country’s first ever win in the qualifier. Somalia is the lowest-ranked team in Africa and the match was played in Djibouti, as Somalia does not host any international match due to security reasons. “Somalia makes history to win its first ever FIFA World Cup qualifier clash. Somalia beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifier clash in Djibouti this evening,” Somali Football Federation said.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed congratulated the team on the victory. “Congratulations to our OceanStars. Your victory is remarkable. You have played purposely. We are eager to receive you back home as you prepare for the return leg,” Somali President Mohamed said in a Twitter post. Abdi Nour Mohamed Ahmed, Somali presidential palace’s communication director, called the win “spectacular”. “We did it! We beat Zimbabwe 1-0! That was Spectacular from our OceanStars. Your Victory has inspired us and brought smiles. Let’s keep our Qatar2022 dreams alive because Impossible isn’t in our vocabulary,” Ahmed said in a Twitter post.
5 September – Source: World Bank – 575 Words
Improving education outcomes of the younger generation is key for enhancing productivity, sustaining economic recovery, boosting inclusive growth and promoting poverty reduction in Somalia, says the 4th edition of the World Bank’s Somalia Economic Update (SEU). Titled Building Education to Boost Human Capital, the report notes that an estimated three million Somali children remain excluded from schooling opportunities, largely affecting 6-18-year-olds who make up 40 percent of the Somali population. Girls are at a particular disadvantage. Educating Somali girls will not only impact fertility rates but ensure healthier, better educated and more productive families. “The Somali Federal Government is working tirelessly to achieve the necessary enabling fiscal and economic reforms to raise domestic revenue, grow the economy, finance basic public services and expand the educational and employment opportunities for the Somali people,” said Abdirahman Beileh, Minister of Finance. “Our efforts are bearing fruit and we hope this will be supported in the future with the concessionary resources to invest in the social sector and development after debt cancellation is achieved.”
While the challenges are substantial, there are clear signs of progress, including the rollout of a national curriculum and providing education opportunities in local languages. Affordable mobile connectivity throughout the country also offers opportunities for improved teacher quality and better learning outcomes for students. The report also notes that the fostering of partnerships with communities and the private sector could help to fill the education access gap. “Somalia is laying the foundations for longer-term economic development, but human capital development is essential for growth to be inclusive and sustainable,” said Hugh Riddell, World Bank Country Manager for Somalia. “Attracting more public and private investment into Somalia’s education sector is therefore fundamental to securing poverty reduction in line with the hopes of the new National Development Plan.”
On the overall economic situation in the country, the report notes that progress in realizing economic recovery has been steady and sustained. The Somali economy is estimated to have expanded by 2.8 percent in 2018, compared to 1.4 percent in 2017, following a modest rebound of the agriculture sector from the effects of the 2016/17 drought. Growth of 2.9 percent is forecast for 2019 and projected to expand by 3.2 – 3.5 percent over the medium-term, assuming the current reform momentum continues. Heightened economic activity combined with reforms in tax policies and tax administration has contributed to domestic revenues increasing by 29 percent in 2018, albeit from a low base. While this progress is encouraging, the available fiscal space remains insufficient to meet expenditure needs education and health sectors.
With the potential to normalize relations with International Financial Institutions, Somalia has an opportunity to drive forward coordinated and sustained efforts to boost education access and teaching quality. The report proposes the establishment of a national education development fund that will ensure adequate education financing across the Federal Member States with incentives to maximize student enrollment. Such efforts are proposed to be complemented by partnerships with non-state sector and communities, as well as the deployment of technology to provide adequate learning support for teachers and students. “The success of the suggested approaches will depend on the availability of reliable data on the characteristics and performance of students, schools and other management entities,” said Huma Ali Waheed, World Bank Senior Education Specialist. “Above all, success will be contingent on enough and predictable funding at all levels of government with aligned donor funding to support system development.”
5 September – Source: Afrik21 – 310 Words
The Kismayo and Baidoa Urban Water Supply Project has recently received nearly US$ 12 million from the African Development Fund (ADF), a subsidiary of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved the financing of two development projects in Somalia. These are two grants worth a total of US$ 28.8 million from the African Development Fund (ADF), the AfDB’s concessional loan window. These funds will be used to finance the implementation of a regional road network rehabilitation project and the Kismayo and Baidoa urban water supply project, located in Jubbaland and Southwestern State respectively. For drinking water, the ADF provides the Somali government with $11.99 million.
The Kismayo and Baidoa Urban Water Supply Project will lead to the completion of a water resources assessment study for the city of Kismayo. The environmental assessment will then make it possible to design and build a suitable supply system. The Somali government will also set up a groundwater monitoring system in Baidoa city. The latter will allow drilling to be carried out. Some educational institutions, health centres and markets will also benefit from improved water and sanitation facilities, as well as hygiene promotion training for teams.
The project is expected to start by mid-September 2019 and to be completed at the same time of year in 2023. The AfDB-funded project will benefit more than 200,000 people in Kismayo and Baidoa, as well as satellite communities. According to the Somali government, the urban water supply project in the two localities will mainly help to relieve the displaced populations “who represent 43 per cent of the population and who have contributed significantly to the growth of the urban informal sector in both cities, and who are experiencing great difficulties in the provision of drinking water and aspire to better sanitation services”.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The main challenge we are facing now is when the students complete their form eight exams, they drop out because of lack of school fees. There is no free secondary school in the town.”
5 September – Source: Radio Ergo – 383 Words
Nasra Mohamud Omar, 14, an orphan in the Somaliland town of Burao, is feeling thoroughly dejected that her school days have already come to an end at her young age. Having lost both her parents and coming from a poor family, she has completed her primary education at Tabantabo School but has no hope of joining a secondary school. “I live with my grandmother,” Nasra told Radio Ergo. “She can’t afford to pay the monthly fees of the schools at 25 dollars. I don’t know what to do so I stay at home and my hope for education is fading away,” she said.
Eighteen girls at Tabantabo finished their studies this year, but 10 are in a similar situation to Nasra and cannot afford to go to secondary school. Seven girls have been awarded scholarships to the government-run 15May Secondary School. Tabantabo School for girls was built in 2010 by Somali diaspora and locals to support orphans and children from poor families. Faduma Muse Omar, the head teacher, said they have 175 girls from Burao and the surrounding area. “The school is free and is funded by well-wishers who decided to support these female orphans. They provide the finance, uniforms, pens, and books,” said Faduma. “The main challenge we are facing now is when the students complete their form eight exams, they drop out because of lack of school fees. There is no free secondary school in the town.”
Asha Jama’a, a single mother, says her daughter Fahima Omar Jama, now 15, is at home after completing the final year of primary. Her younger daughter Ruqiyo Omar Jama, 11, has two more years to go in primary. “I am a mother caring for my children alone as their father died. Two of my daughters went to this school. One has completed now but this school has no secondary classes for her. As a mother, I don’t have money to manage high school education for my daughters,” Asha said. Naima Haybe is one of the lucky girls with a scholarship to 15 May Secondary School. She hopes to become a teacher and wants to support other girls in their education. “Though I am happy to get the chance to continue my education, I am sad about the fate of my former classmates,” Naima said. |
