The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors on 19 July 2019 approved grants of $28.86 million for water and sanitation and roads projects designed to improve livelihoods in Somalia and boost the East African country’s resilience.
The grants, consisting of $11.99 million from the Bank’s Transition States Facility (TSF) for an urban water and sanitation project for the Kismayo and Baidoa towns, and $16.86 million for the rehabilitation of roads, underscore sustained efforts by the Bank Group, especially the African Development Fund (ADF), to tackle fragility in the Horn of Africa. Of the total $28.86 million, the Italian Cooperation contributed $5.22 million through the TSF, split into $1.57 million for the water and sanitation project and $3.66 million for the roads project.
The Kismayo-Baidoa water supply and sanitation project will boost access to potable water, improved sanitation and strengthen capacity for related delivery services in Jubbaland and southwest states of Somalia.
The Road Infrastructure Project is expected to enhance connectivity through rehabilitation of some 247 km of roads, in addition to the construction of a new 100 km feeder road. The European Commission is also providing a grant of $47.11 million for the road infrastructure project, giving a total of $63.97 million that will be invested under this program.
Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina believes the grants would help improve quality of life, inclusiveness and engender resilience in the communities, especially in Kismayo and Baidoa, where an estimated 65 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and 70 percent is younger than 30 years and unemployed. “…We should look at the whole issue of fragility and transition states in a more comprehensive way.
We need to do a lot more engagement; we need to work aggressively to help these countries,” Adesina told Board members during the approval process.
He commended the role of the African Development Bank, through the utilization of the ADF resources, in fragile environments, saying it showed the commitment of the Bank to impact livelihoods in line with the Bank’s High 5 priorities. “It’s important we do what we are doing in order to build their resilience,” he added.
Poverty levels in Somalia are extremely high, with about 50 percent of the population living below the poverty line. It is aggravated by widespread insecurity and natural disasters, like floods and droughts.
The Bank Group has over the years played a key role in supporting infrastructure development and promoting regional integration in the Horn of Africa and in its Regional Member Countries. Currently, it has 12 ongoing projects in Somalia with a total commitment of $109.13 million in agriculture, water and sanitation, multi- and social sectors.
Bank Deputy Regional Director-General, East Africa, Nnenna Nwabufo said the water and sanitation project will propel Somalia towards Sustainable Development Goals on universal access to water and sanitation.
It will benefit around 200,000 urban and peri-urban people living in Kismayo and Baidoa, which are experiencing a high influx of internally displaced persons, resulting in high youth unemployment, leading to increased fragility. Despite decades of war and conflict that have affected its economy, the country has taken decisive steps to rebuild itself. “Somalia is showing promising signs of increased stabilization through the formation of recognized state institutions, fostering a country-owned and led approach to transition from fragility,” she said.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia: Former South Africa President, H.E. Thabo Mbeki on Sunday met with representatives of Somali Civil Society Organisations as part of the process to seek views
regarding an integrated approach towards peace, development and economic cooperation.
(link: http://bit.ly/2LyzspR) bit.ly/2LyzspR
@margotwallstrom: Appalled to hear of yet another deadly attack in Somalia, today in Mogadishu. My thoughts go to the victims and their families. Sweden stands in solidarity with Somalia and its people in building peace, prosperity and security.
@TurkeyOIC: Press Release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regarding the Terrorist Attack in Mogadishu
@UNSomalia: A delegation of #Somalia’s regional and international partners visited #Dhusamareeb today to be updated on developments in #Galmudug, and to attend a ceremony marking steps to integrate some local security forces into the Somali National Army. For more: (link: http://bit.ly/30RlDq9) bit.ly/30RlDq9
@ACUSomalia: #Happeningnow Infrastructure Pillar Working Group meeting. SDRF Endorsed Projects are the main agenda discussing: Somali Electricity Institute Capacity building, Kismayo-Baidoa Urban Water Supply & Sanitation and Somalia Urban Resilience Project (SURP) Phase II.
@hodansomali: Despite common misconceptions, displacement affected people are not powerless but in fact want to be part of this regions progress. Listen to this clip from 1 on 1 with @engyarisow and IDPs living in Warta Nabada District. @DSUBenadir @EU_in_Somalia #AfricaTrustFund @ACUSomalia
@FAOSomalia: The agricultural sectors are full of opportunities for youth employment
FAO, ILO, UNDP, UN Habitat and UNIDO participate in the join. @UN-@Somalia Youth Employment Progr. They met in #Garowe for a fruitful 1st National Employment Forum. Read more. (link: https://bit.ly/2LCTM9F) bit.ly/2LCTM9F
@reado_org: Country Humanitarian Forum started in Baidoa Somalia Discusing on Current Humanitarian Situation in Somalia, Different Delegates from FGS, Deputy PM, Mahdi Mohamed Guled and HE President SWS Mr Abdiaziz Hassan and Ministers of Federal State Members Donors, UN, OIC, INGOs and NGOs
@GEEL_Somali: Women entrepreneurs in #Somalia are thriving! We thank @IntegrationTV for amazing coverage of GEEL’s impact among women, including this recent video from #Kismayo. An entrepreneur herself, #hodannalayeh encouraged women to succeed in business (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srk0uHLRKwY) youtube.com/watch?v=Srk0uH… @USAIDSomalia
@FahiimaBicir: The Long-awaited @GaroweBookFair #GIBF2019 has kicked off in Garowe! I am not in #Garowe, yet my heart is there spiritually. #GIBF2019, a week worth a year, has finally come. #Somalia kudos to the organisers and the attendees
@SODENOrg: Founder of #SODEN Mohamed Farah @MooFarah3 raised on his remarks how disabled people in Puntland and entire Somalia are segregated from the other society in terms of building accessibility while president of Puntland Said Dani is sitting #GIBF
Source: devdiscourse