Diakonia Somalia: Democracy, Human Rights and Resilience 2020-2023

2024 is the last year for project implementation. As a result, the partner has summarized results over a period of 48 months of implementation as follows: 1. The capacity of local authorities for service delivery was improved in 17 districts: The capacity-building interventions for local authorities on local government management have yielded remarkable results, enabling local authorities to deliver quality services to rights holders. As part of strengthening the district administration's capacity, the program supported the development of gender-responsive policies and frameworks for effective local service delivery. Through the development of a taxation framework, district development frameworks, and resource mobilization plans, the authorities have been empowered to deliver services effectively, ensuring that the right holders receive the support they need. The MTE report indicates that service quality has improved in the past two years, as reported by rights holders. 63% overall confirmed the improvement, with 64.5% stating that they observed better service quality in Puntland, while 59.6% noted the same in Southwest State. 2. Duty bearers are becoming more accountable to citizens, which has led to improved service delivery: Since the start of the program, the level of accountability in the target districts has increased, bridging the gap between the right holders and duty bearers. The MTE report indicates that over half of the citizens, 57%, confirmed that the authorities organize accountability meetings. However, there were wide variations in the proportion confirming this, with Puntland having a higher proportion at 67.0% compared to Southwest at 33.8%. Besides the meetings convened by their authorities, 64.9% of citizens confirmed that the issues or complaints raised were addressed accordingly by the local authorities. The capacity development of the local authorities' capacity has significantly improved their responsiveness to the needs of rights holders. The MTE report indicates that over 58.6% of citizens attended meetings organized by authorities and leaders to discuss issues related to governance, multiparty democracy, development, and service provision. However, the difference in attendance rates between the two states is notable, with a significantly higher attendance rate of 73.9% in Puntland compared to only 23.2% in SWS. Moreover, the report highlights that women and youth are playing an increasingly active role in governance forums, as they are now present in several decision-making forums organized and facilitated by the authorities. 3. Awareness of democratic election processes enhanced: Civic education awareness was instrumental in Puntland's first democratic elections in over five decades of voter registration and the voting process for local government. According to the MTE report, in the targeted districts, 80.2% of citizens acknowledged that they or someone in their household had been exposed to civic awareness campaigns. Puntland state had a higher proportion confirming this at 86.5% compared to SWS at 65.6%. In addition, women's participation in the democratic process increased by 59% (Puntland 74.0%, SWS 23.0%), confirmed by taking part in forums organized to discuss democratization and multiparty dialogues. The DHRR program has significantly increased interest in the democratic process, leading citizens across Puntland to clamor for democracy and women and youth participation in each aspect of the process. 4. Respect for human rights is improved: The program has raised awareness among right holders about their basic human rights by directly educating them about fundamental rights provided to them as humans and good citizens through a 'Know Your Rights' campaign. The campaign has successfully reached out to more than 326,727 people, with women making up 50.5% of the total beneficiaries. As per the MTE report, this has led to a significant improvement of 94.8% in citizens' knowledge of fundamental human rights, which is a remarkable improvement from the baseline of 35.0%. On the other hand, duty bearers and human rights defenders capacities are improved, which facilitates the monitoring and reporting of human rights violations, supporting victims, and punishing offenders. Access to justice is also facilitated as the program connects rights holders to the judiciary system. There is an improved relationship and trust between citizens and the police, which is helping to improve security. According to the MTE report, 72.3% of the targeted beneficiaries prefer reporting crime to the police. However, the impact of the efforts is undermined by weak judicial systems, which leaves the victims with alternative options of recourse, mainly traditional systems. 5. Civil society capacity improved: The program benefited from the organizational capacity assessment (OCA) for the implementing local civil society partners. Following the OCA results, the program equipped the partners with the necessary skills and expertise to execute the program effectively and achieve its desired outcomes. Through thematic and institutional capacity building, the partners have demonstrated exemplary performance in delivering most project activities in compliance with the standards set by Diakonia. This has strengthened the credibility and legitimacy of partners, helping them establish deeper roots in their respective constituencies. 6. Synergies with the other resilience interventions, including the CIVSAM program: The program successfully created synergies and complemented the CIVSAM program, particularly in the critical area of climate change resilience. Through the DHRR program, rights holders were mobilized with indigenous and modern coping mechanisms and techniques, utilizing a study conducted by one of the CIVSAM program partners. This study provided invaluable knowledge on indigenous techniques and practices for surviving and coping during natural disasters. In Southwest State, WARDO, a DHRR program partner based in Southwest State, began implementing an agricultural project, which was funded by FAO. The partners have successfully created synergies for the DHRR program with an FAO-funded project focused on resilience and awareness-raising innovative water and fodder techniques. WARDO has targeted some of the mobilized rights holders to benefit from the FAO project agricultural support. However, all the rights holders have shared their experience and learning of hydroponic fodder production, as this type of fodder is applicable and cost-efficient for the targeted rights holders. 7. Synergies with Diakonia humanitarian program: Due to the armed conflict in Las Anod between Somaliland and the SSC-Khatumo forces, there has been significant displacement in Bocame, one of the DHRR program's target districts. This displacement has led to a disruption of the program's interventions. Diakonia supported selected humanitarian interventions and provided support to displaced families by providing food to 473 women-headed households in both Bocame and Taleeh districts. The assistance provided has helped 473 families with at least 6 members access food, directly benefiting 2,838 individuals.

The key challenges in Somalia that the programme is addressing are inadequate basic services, human rights violations, human insecurity and limited livelihood opportunities. Weak governance is identified as a common root cause. The programme will seek to address the participation and accountability issues – including meaningful participation of women and youth - within the on-going federal states formation and the decentralisation agenda as recommended in the Wadajir National Framework for Local Governance. The programme will promote human rights as a basis for good governance. The programme will also address disaster risk management in a bid to curb the undue suffering caused by Somalia slow-onset hazards, like droughts, that tend to disrupt governance work and exacerbate the risk of conflicts over limited resources. The programme intends to address the challenges by working on achieving a behavioral change at individual level as well as contributing to a societal change. The change that the program aims to achieve is for people in Somalia to live in peace and dignity with access to fundamental rights and freedoms. The change will be accomplished by strengthening civil society with capacity, so civil society can contribute to widen democratic space and promote human rights and gender equality as well as addressing the obstacles regarding reoccurring shocks in Somalia. For effective and sustainable change, there will also be support to district councils, the key duty bearers at district level.  The goal of the contribution is to contribute to democratic state building and disaster resilience in Somalia with the objective to improve democratic participation and governance, improve respect for human rights and enhance disaster risk management in Puntland and South West States of Somalia.  The contribution is expected to contribute to the following results:  Result 1: Improved inclusive participation and accountability in 15 districts; Result 2: Increased awareness and respect for human rights in 15 districts; Result 3: Enhanced disaster risk management in 15 districts; Result 4: Partners have strengthened capacity to contribute to democratic state building and disaster resilience.