Mogadishu (SONNA) — The Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing of the Federal Government of Somalia on Monday hosted a high-level meeting with senior officials from UN-Habitat to strengthen cooperation on urban planning and sustainable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters, was chaired by the State Minister for Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, Saeed Mahmoud Haid, and attended by the Director General of the ministry and several department directors.
Discussions focused on preparations for the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF) 13, scheduled to take place in May in the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as updates on ongoing projects, particularly those related to impact-driven initiatives, the Integrated Development Solutions Framework (IDSF), and government-supported programs.
The two sides also reviewed proposed amendments to the cooperation agreement between the ministry and UN-Habitat, including issues related to urban development corridors.
The Head of UN-Habitat’s Somalia Office briefed the meeting on key activities being implemented by the agency, including the construction of housing for displaced populations in Bosaso and Baidoa, the development of the National Housing Policy, and land management policies for Bosaso and Baidoa. UN-Habitat has also prepared several urban development and IDP-focused projects, some of which have already been approved, while others are in the pipeline.
The meeting underscored the strong strategic partnership between the Ministry of Public Works and UN-Habitat, with both sides agreeing to accelerate urban planning efforts and advance sustainable solutions to address the needs of displaced communities and promote inclusive urban development across Somalia.
