Somaliland is currently facing massive problems in relation to enclosures, evictions, and disputes over access to pasture/range land/, agricultural land, urban land and other natural resources. Livelihoods of people in Somaliland without access or with very limited access to land and other natural resources are vulnerable because they have difficulty in building up tangible assets such as livestock, seeds and facilities related to food production, and in regards to recovering after natural shocks.
In light of this and given the success obtained from a project developed by FAO’s “Rebuilding Confidence on Land Issues in Somaliland” and financed by the European Union, FAO aimed to engage local partners such as Pastoralist and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa CANDLELIGHT in order to encourage local solution to local problems and build up a solid basis to leave behind or disseminate similar skills that can be able to tackle complex issues in this part of the world.
Project Objectives:
To improve the livelihood opportunities, resilience and food security of rural communities in [Somaliland] through adoption of more productive and sustainable resource management practices that is technically feasible and socio-economically viable.
Project Period: Aug 2015 – May 2016
Intervention Area: 24 selected villages in four districts of Baki, Boroma, Gabiley and Hargeisa(Surrounding)
Main Activities:
- Mobilization and sensitization of stakeholders at regional, district and village level.The Service Provider shall mobilize and sensitize relevant stakeholders (local government or authority, traditional leaders, religious leaders, pastoralists or agro-pastoralists’ associations and other local government structures to inform the communities and authorities on the purpose of the action at the district and village community level.
- Natural Resource mapping in target districts/villages including those whose use is a subject of differing views and prespectives resulting to dispute over land and/or natural resource, While the mobilization and sensitization is being done, the Service Provider should map existing groups and institutions at district and village level to be involved as stakeholder in the PNTD/PLD training and Negotiation table.
- Conduct training on PNTD/IGETI on territorial development issues and negotiation at Village/district capital level The Service Provider will conduct a total of Twelve (12) trainings in Twenty Four (24) communities/villages with six villages each in Hargiesa (surrounding), Gabiley, Borama and Baki districts. The participants will be provided with skills to strengthen capacities to engage in land governance issues and Negotiation skills to articulate their rights and obligation. The training will be conducted in three consecutive days per location. The Service Provider will be responsible for the financial, administrative and logistics management of the trainings.
Remarks from the project manager:
Land as a resource is everything. It is life. It is a source of wealth and it is an identity, but Land often is a source of conflict and it is important to build a consensus, enhance and strengthen community conflict resolution mechanisms in the hope that it makes part of the state/nation peace building exercise.
Project Photos:
Meeting with deputy mayor of Boorama, with Arabsiyo and Magaalo Qalooc assessments
Hargeisa district village, Qoolcaday and Botor village resource mapping exercise team
