Overview
Somalia’s eight-year transition ended on 10 September 2012. The adoption of a new Provisional Constitution, formation of a new Parliament and selection of the President led to a new period (2012-2016), which presents an opportunity for a new phase of stabilization and peacebuilding. The challenges that Somalia faces are complex, multifaceted and differ from various political, social, and regional contexts. On 16 September a landmark Conference on A New Deal for Somalia was held in Brussels, co-hosted by the Somali Federal Government and the European Union (EU), with participation from Somali regions, Members of Parliament and civil society, as well as international friends and partners. The conference endorsed a New Deal Compact between Somalia and the international community that will guide the reconstruction of Somalia, based on the New Deal Principles for Fragile States and committed to its implementation. The Compact is the result of an inclusive process to determine the priorities of Somalia for the next three years (2014-2016). The process, based on the Busan New Deal principles, was initiated in December 2012, by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the international community. The Somali Compact presents a new beginning in the joint partnership between the Somali people and the international community and is intended to be the only and overarching framework for all international donor and partner engagement with the country. It identifies a set of key priorities for the reconstruction of Somalia over the next three years under five Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Priorities (PSG).
As part of the Compact, the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and development partners agree to establish the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF) as a centerpiece of the New Deal partnership and in order to enhance the delivery of effective assistance to all Somalis. Closely aligned with the Somalia Compact principles, the SDRF will serve as a mechanism for the FGS to oversee and guide the diverse activities of its development partners.
The SDRF will bring together several funds (“windows”) under common governance arrangements (the UN, the World Bank and the African Development Bank and the Special Financing Facility). The Somalia UN MPTF will be complementary to and aligned with the other windows. Its governance structure will be aligned with the governance structure proposed for the SDRF.
Assistance Strategy
The Somalia UN MPTF organizes its programmatic and operational work according to the priorities identified under each Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSGs) of the Somali Compact (hereafter referred to as PSG pillars). It will cover activities throughout the five PSGs, recognizing the UN’s activities and mandates throughout and will focus on immediate delivery, building resilience and capacity development, as a comparative advantage in relation to the other windows.
In addition to channelling funds for programmatic activities, the Somalia UN MPTF will also perform a coherence and alignment function for on-going existing UN programmes. While existing programmes (both Joint Programmes and individual entity programmes/projects) will maintain their account, governance structure and current legal relationship as stand-alone Programmes, they will be progressively subject to the common reporting standards required by the SDRF and will be progressively placed under the SDRF oversight. The UN will strive to align the governance of its existing programmes to the SDRF governance, to the extent possible.
The Somalia UN MPTF will be structured in PSG pillars, following the definitions and priorities of the Somali compact:
PSG1 - Inclusive Politics: Strategic Objective: Achieve a stable and federal Somalia through inclusive political processes including, political dialogue, reconciliation and adoption of the Federal Constitution and elections by 2016.
PSG2 – Security: Strategic Objective: Establish unified, capable, accountable and rights-based Somali Federal security institutions providing basic safety and security for its citizens.
PSG3 - Justice: Strategic Objective: Establish justice institutions capable of addressing the justice needs of the people of Somalia by delivering justice for all.
PSG4 - Economic Foundations: Strategic Objective: Revitalize and expand the Somali economy with a focus on livelihood enhancement, employment generation, and broad-based inclusive growth.
PSG5 – Services and revenues: Strategic Objective: Increase the delivery of equitable, affordable, and sustainable services that promote national peace and reconciliation amongst Somalia’s regions and citizens and enhance transparent and accountable revenue generation and equitable distribution and sharing of public resources
Governance
The Steering Committee
The Somalia UN MPTF is a UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund, established under the overall leadership of the FGS and governed by the same Steering Committee as envisaged for the SDRF. When meeting to discuss the Somalia UN MPTF, the Steering Committee will adapt its composition/voting rights, be co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator count with the participation of two representatives of participating UN Agencies (on rotational basis), the World Bank, and two donor representatives contributing to the Somalia UN MPTF.
The Steering Committee will be responsible for:
a) Providing oversight and exercising overall accountability of the Somalia UN MPTF;
b) Reviewing and approving proposals submitted for funding after being cleared by the structures to be established after the endorsement of the Somali compact for oversight of each PSG (PSG sector groups), ensuring their conformity with the requirements of the Somalia UN MPTF Terms of Reference (TOR);
c) Developing and approving the criteria by which the implementation and managerial capacities of National Implementing Entities will be reviewed, as part of the overall funding evaluation process;
d) Reviewing Somalia UN MPTF status and its overall progress, both in regard of itself and its contribution to the overall SDRF implementation;
e) Reviewing and approving the periodic progress reports (programmatic and financial) consolidated by the Administrative Agent, based on the progress reports submitted by the Participating UN Organisations and IOM and National Entities;
f) Commissioning reviews and “lessons learned” reports on the performance of the Somalia UN MPTF, and discussing follow-ups with Participating UN Organisations and National Implementing Entities on recommended actions that have Somalia UN MPTF-wide impact; and
g) Approving and updating the Somalia UN MPTF TOR, as required.
The FGS & Development Partners Groups will provide a technical forum for sectoral policy formulation, planning and programmatic co-ordination would serve as a common governance and coordination function for the Somalia UN MPTF and for the broader support to the Somali transition. This platform would ensure joint oversight (donor and government) of the strategic direction, implementation and results of Somalia UN MPTF, the MPFs, and other financing instruments.
A Secretariat will set up to support the proper functioning of the SDRF Steering Committee and the High Level Partnership Forum, and to advance day-to-day work on financing, aid effectiveness and co-ordination, monitoring and reporting. The Somalia UN MPTF will designate dedicated staff (who will be recruited or seconded), who will be dedicated to the work of the Somalia UN MPTF.
The Somalia UN MPTF will be administered by UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office), as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent will conclude a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Participating UN Organisations and IOM, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the FGS and Standard Administrative Arrangements (SAAs) with contributing partners. It will receive, administer and transfer funds to Participating UN Organisations, IOM, and National Implementing Entities upon instructions from the Steering Committee and submit yearly consolidated narrative and financial reports, in accordance with the standards established by the FGS, to the Steering Committee and all contributing Partners that have provided financial contributions to the Somalia UN MPTF.
Upon its establishment, the Steering Committee will adopt an Operational Manual, prepared by the Technical Secretariat with the support from the Administrative Agent, detailing the rules and procedures of the Somalia UN MPTF and its Steering Committee, call for proposal and approval cycle, project proposal and reporting templates, etc., in line with the principles and commitments embedded in the Compact. The Steering Committee will also develop the format for the one report.
Eligibility
Participating UN Organisations (UN Agencies, UNSOM, and UNSOA) are eligible to receive funding from the Somalia UN MPTF by concluding a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Administrative Agent. IOM, which is a non-UN Entity and is a member of the UN Country Team, will also be eligible to become a Participating non-UN Organisations by concluding a separate MOU with the Administrative Agent. Financing may be provided to national and sub-national institutions and international NGOs through one of the UN Agencies. Use of funds, reporting obligations, liability, audit and other matters relating to the management of the funds provided, and the activities shall be addressed in such project agreements in the manner that is customary for the concerned UN organisation and IOM. Participating UN organisations and IOM shall assume full programmatic and financial accountability for the funds disbursed to them by the Administrative Agent. Such funds shall be administered by each participating organisation in accordance with its own regulations, rules, directives and procedures.
