HARGEISA

The United Kingdom has launched a £13 million aid package aimed at reinforcing stability and boost economic growth in Somalia.

Sustainable Employment And Economic Development Programme (SEED) is a 4-year programme of £12.9m, with a major a goal to improve stability in Somalia through economic growth and sustainable employment. The programme will be implemented in two phases-phase one: from December 2010 to March 2012 and Phase two: from April 2012 to March 2014.

The UN’s Food Agricultural Organization and the World Bank will implement the program in  partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Save the Children and the UN’s Development Programme.

Nearly two decades of conflict, exacerbated by natural disasters, have created some of the worst human indicators in the world. FAO’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit estimates that 2.4 million Somalis-- approximately 32% of the country’s population require relief emergency humanitarian assistance.

While launching the Sustainable Employment And Economic Development Programme (SEED) project in Hargeisa, UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell the project would create 20,000 jobs in the Region.

“UK’s support to Somaliland will help to create a better future—and will help the men women and children to leave without fear of violence, earn a living and receive professional care when it is needed most,” Mitchell told crowds at Hargeisa’s livestock market on Monday.

Luca Alinovi, FAO’s Officer in Charge for Somalia said creation of employment opportunities in the agriculture and livestock sectors will go a long way in supporting livelihoods in the struggling nation.

“This project is very critical because it will empower livestock producers, traders and others with good infrastructure, technical knowledge and business awareness necessary to maximize their incomes from livestock,” said Alinovi.

According to a recent report by FSNAU, Somalia exported 4.2 million animals, the highest export volume ever recorded, through it seaports of Berbera and Bossaso. This came after Saudi Arabia lifted a ban on the import of livestock from Somalia in 2009 imposed nine years earlier to prevent the spread of disease.

One of the projects under the SEED programme is to construct modern slaughterhouse in the region as well as improve livestock conditions in the region. The livestock sector, a mainstay for most communities in northern Somalia, is one of the priority areas through which livelihood support will be channeled.

In the areas where peace and stability prevails such as North West regions of Somalia investing in economic growth will further strengthen the stability and will create disincentive to conflict.

While in the areas where civil insecurity continues especially in the regions of central and southern Somalia leading to a drastic decline in social development, the country’s private sector has any way shown remarkable resilience.

“We need to act now to support many Somali communities before they become too vulnerable or get  displaced because it will cost much more to support a population in crisis,” said Alinovi.