Mogadishu (SONNA) – Somalia’s Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Mr. Mahmoud Abdirahman Sheikh Farah (Beene-beene), held talks today with UNICEF Representative in Somalia Ms. Wafaa Saeed to discuss harmonizing their respective programs with the country’s National Transformation Plan (NTP).
The high-level discussion, attended by Ministry Director General Mohamed Shire, focused on creating stronger synergies between government-led development initiatives and UNICEF’s country program. Both parties emphasized the importance of ensuring all interventions directly support Somalia’s national priorities as outlined in the NTP.
Minister Beene-beene stated: “This coordination meeting represents our shared commitment to ensuring every development dollar spent in Somalia delivers maximum impact for our people. By aligning UNICEF’s expertise with our National Transformation Plan, we can accelerate progress in critical areas.”
Key outcomes from the meeting included:
- Program Harmonization: Agreement to review all current and planned UNICEF interventions for alignment with NTP priorities
- Joint Monitoring Framework: Establishment of a shared system to track progress and impact
- Capacity Building: Enhanced support for government institutions implementing the NTP
- Resource Optimization: Commitment to eliminate duplication and maximize efficiency
Ms. Saeed welcomed the closer collaboration, noting: “UNICEF remains fully committed to supporting Somalia’s development vision. This meeting has helped us better understand how to tailor our programs to complement rather than parallel government efforts.”
The discussions come at a crucial time as Somalia implements its ambitious NTP, which serves as the country’s roadmap for achieving sustainable development goals. Both parties agreed to hold quarterly coordination meetings to maintain alignment and address emerging challenges.
