Somalia Stability Fund Phase II 2018-2020

The SSF strategy, particularly at impact and outcome level is very ambitious.  However, in 2019, SSF has seen encouraging results across all areas of strategic focus.   1. Impact level - Stability in Somalia is enhanced.  SSF uses the Fragile State Index (FSI) score for Somalia to measure its overall stability impact.  Three out of the twelve conflict risk indicators are relevant to SSF's work - two cohesion related (factionalised elites and group grievance), and one political focused indicator (state legitimacy).  To summarise results: the 2019 FSI score for Somalia improved by 0.9 points, but in sub scores tracked by SSF have remained constant.  Specifically, government institutions remain deeply fragmented and the relations between FGS and the FMS continue to deteriorate, giving a very low score for government legitimacy; the score for group grievance has improved, reflecting progress towards more inclusive political process at the local level, but overall politics remains deeply divisive; state legitimacy is on a positive trend, reflecting an overall reduction in communal conflict, but incomplete political transitions in 2019 has kept the score low. 2.  Outcome level 1 - Status of Political Conflicts in Targeted Areas.  This year saw SSF revise their strategy to focus on addressing key political fault lines as instrumental to building longer term stability in Somalia.  This allowed SSF to respond to issues that were understood to be barriers to inclusive and consolidated political settlements.  An example of SSFs fault line work is a project in Gedo region of Jubaland that facilitated community-government collaboration around resource mobilisation and channelled matching grants through the Jubaland State's public financial management system, to invest in tangible community prioritised infrastructure projects.  Another good example is from the politically contested area of Matabaan district of Hirshabelle, where despite a bad start to the year with flare up of communal violence that resulted in a large number of fatalities, the community based peace structures, supported by SSF, were able to contain the conflict and the area has remained clam to date. 3.  Outcome level 2 - Status of Communal Conflicts and State Legitimacy.   SSF intervention has contributed to the reduction of violent conflict by about 20%.  For example, the number of deaths in Puntland reduced significantly in Puntland as a result of de-escalation of conflict in Galkaacyo.  However, Al Shabaab continues to exploit community grievances and remains an alternative source for security and justice services.   4.  Output level 1 - Fault lines for political conflict (FGS-FMS, Inter & Intra state are identified and appropriately addressed.  SSF provided research and political economy analysis through Sahan.  Sahan continued to provide excellent, detailed and accurate assessments of the political, security and other trends in the Federal Member States.  To build on the example provided under outcome level one, the political economy analysis work was able to reveal that negotiating the pragmatic management of revenue flows to Gedo would be key to maintaining the Jubaland's State's stability.  The project's funding scheme supported a total of 35 community projects across all seven districts of the Gedo region.  More than 30% of these projects were co-funded by targeted communities, working with the Jubaland State Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Finance, where funds were channelled through the Single Treasury Account then disbursed using a fin-tech platform.  This eliminated suspicion for the funds to be siphoned or misused.  Another example is that through its engagement with state and institutional actors, SSF identified that poor negotiation, conflict resolution and problem solving skills are often a barrier to addressing political conflict in Somalia.  As a result, SSF partnered with Clingedael, a leading international training institute that specialises in negotiation skills, to provide training in these areas.  After the training, Gaalkayo Peace Initiative was launched.  This has contributed the cessation of violence in Gaalkayo. 5.  Output level 2 - Enhanced popular participation in governance, particularly for women and minority groups.   This output is the focal point for operationalising SSFs Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) strategy with focus on increasing women and minority groups political representation and participation.  One major result is an increase in the number of female members of parliament at state level.  For example, South West State now has the largest number of female MPs at 14.  SSF collaborated with Finn Church Aid and the Centre for Research Dialogue to implement the project 'promoting participation and representation of women in political decision making'.  There are already indications that women are beginning to have more decision making authority over the selection and management of community assets, which translates into greater community acceptance of women's role in public life, particularly through formal governance bodies.  In Galmudug, shadow parliaments were established where women and men gender champions had a safe space to discuss women women's rights, skills development for women, state and non state actors on women's rights and social inclusion.  Shadow committees have stood out and are a visible platform that have given many women aspirants the opportunity to share different political experiences, practice electoral politics and come up with their own constitutions.  In Jubaland, at least 8 women (3 youth) were elected as members of parliament, which contributed to 22% of elective positions in Jubaland.   6.  Output level 3 - Increased government visibility and community engagement.  This output covers the bulk of SSF's stabilisation agenda with projects focusing on increasing government visibility (such as government buildings and public infrastructure), and community engagement around key priorities such as service delivery, particularly security and reviving local economies.  Puntland as an example, the focus was on extending state authority to communities who felt particularly excluded from the political settlement, and had been previously affected by piracy.  Working with Puntland government priorities, SSF installed solar street lights, police stations, contributing to improving community safety.  To combat piracy, SSF collaborated with the American Refugee Council to revitalise the fisheries sector through skills development, infrastructure support for post harvest fish handling, and cooperative development.  In Hirshabelle, Somalia's newest state, SSF worked to bring stability through community based projects that promoted social cohesion and provided economic opportunities.  For example, a district office was established, community hall, market and 40 solar streetlights installed.  A solar mini grid was installed in Warshiikh area, providing power to about 200 households and 40 businesses - making Warshiikh one of the first Somali towns completely solar powered.  The solar street lights have improved security in the town particularly for women and business hours have been extended. 7.  Output 4 - Reduced community vulnerability to conflict.  This output focused on peace building initiatives with emphasis on establishing and strengthening credible peace and reconciliation committees, while integrating economic development and trust building initiatives. Additionally, reconciliation activities were linked to local governance strengthening, particularly through district council formation.  A good example of this is that SSF provided Trauma Informed Resilience(TIR) to two sub clans in Warshiikh to help resolve a land dispute that had killed three people prior to the council formation.  TIR is a framework to support a community understand the biological, psychological and the social effects that affects an individual and seeks reconciliation and forgiveness from warring parties.  As a result, this reconciliation process helped the community to articulate a united vision for their District Council Formation.        

The Somalia Stability Fund aims to achieve enhanced stability with more inclusive, legitimate and capable state institutions to perform their functions. The vulnerability to conflict will be reduced and opportunities for social and economic development become accessible to a wider section of the Somali population.