Speeches Shim
USAID’s Strengthening Somali Governance (SSG) is a nationwide activity to support the development of effective and accountable governance across Somalia. SSG supports efforts to enhance government outreach, increase citizen participation, improve the functional capacity of key government institutions, and expand women’s empowerment and leadership. SSG seeks to develop the capacity of governance institutions at the federal level and in Somaliland and Puntland.
The TIS+ activity aims to increase Somalia’s stability through participatory processes that promote good governance and community cohesion. Given the fragile nature of the political and security gains made over the last years in Somalia, TIS+ maintains a continued focus on quick impact stabilization activities at the district and community levels, with a focus on targeted areas in the federal states. At the same time, TIS+ supports Somalia’s goal of moving from crisis response and stabilization to medium and longer-term development by facilitating joint planning between community, government and private sector actors on shared goals.
USAID utilizes multiple methods to monitor and verify that resources are being used to accomplish intended goals, and to assess the impact of investments. Monitoring is built into all stages of the USAID/Somalia program cycle, and monitoring by implementing partners is supplemented by quantitative and qualitative verifications and analyses by independent entities. USAID/Somalia maintains an independent contract to verify, evaluate and assess USAID-funded activities, and help ensure responsible stewardship of foreign assistance resources:
USAID supports Somali women with economic opportunities, promotes women’s engagement in governance and community dialogue, and increases women’s access to critical social services, including education and health. By addressing gender issues with both men and women, adults and youth, USAID promotes agents of change in all corners of Somali society.
Somalia’s population is young, with over 70% under the age of 30, and 42% between the ages of 14 and 29.1 With such a large youth population, engagement is critical as youth exclusion, grievances, and perceptions of inequity have resulted in youth comprising the majority of participants in militias and criminal gangs. Conflict, poverty, and unemployment leave youth feeling frustrated with over 60% expressing interest in leaving Somalia in search of better livelihood opportunities.2 Somalia’s youth population can be its greatest source of strength, provided youth are given the tools to thrive and succeed.
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