SOMALIA: Donor conference prompts mixed reactions
NAIROBI, 23 April 2009 (IRIN) - Some Somalis are hopeful while others are doubtful or indifferent about the international donor conference opening on 23 April in Brussels aimed at raising funds to support Somalia's security institutions and the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in the country.
"Holding the conference is in itself positive; they [international community] are at least talking about us and paying attention," said Ruqia Ali, a civil society activist.
However, Ali said she was worried that even though funds raised would be earmarked for Somalia "most of the money may never been seen here."
The conference, co-chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and AU Chairman Jean Ping, marks the first time in 18 years that a donor conference is being held for Somalia.
According to a media summary by the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), the conference's purpose is to solicit funds to support Somali security institutions and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The total cost of the Somali security institutions is estimated at US$31 million for 12 months for 16,000 security personnel. The total requirement for 12 months for the 4,300 AMISOM forces is about $134 million.
Ali's observation was echoed by Awad Ahmed Ashara, a member of Somalia's parliament, who, while welcoming the conference, said funds raised should be spent transparently.
He said assigning $31 million to Somalis and $134 million to AMISOM was "not only discriminatory but illogical; it is the Somalis who have to do most work and will need most support."
Ashara said a tripartite committee, composed of Somalis, the donors and the UN-AU, should be established to oversee how the money would be spent. He urged that qualified Somalis in the diaspora be hired.
"Using Somalis will have a number of benefits… They will increase the local capacity, while at the same time imparting their knowledge to other Somalis and will cost a lot less than other expatriates."
Corruption danger
Timothy Othieno, a regional analyst at the London-based Overseas Development Institute, told IRIN the Somali government does not have the capacity to absorb such funds at this time.
"Past experience [with the Transitional Federal Government - TFG] demonstrated that corruption becomes rife when vast sums of funds are bestowed upon weak regimes without clear guidelines as to what to do with such vast sums of money," he said.
Othieno said he hoped the conference would make it clear that most of the funds should be used "in Somalia, therefore ensuring the bulk of the funds reach the Somali people, rather than being locked up in administrative costs and exorbitant fees for workers".
He added: "This 'business as usual approach in fragile states' needs to change if we are to see 60 percent or more of funds pledged actually reaching those on the ground."
Survival
Hassan Mahamud, a journalist in Mogadishu, said ordinary Somalis had more immediate and pressing problems and were not too concerned about what was going on in Brussels.
"Most of them are dealing with survival issues. Either they are not aware of it, or those who are don’t care or believe that it will contribute anything to their lives," Mahamud said.
Safia Jama, a mother of four, who has been in a camp for internally displaced persons on the outskirts of Mogadishu for the last two years, said: "I don't know about any conference. All I know is I am trying to find plastic to cover my shelter to protect my children from the rains and find food for them."
Jama, however, said she would be happy "if the conference leads to my returning to my home and my children going back to school".
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called on the donor conference to place the protection of human rights for all Somalis at the centre of efforts to support Somalia’s transitional federal institutions.
In an open letter to conference participants, Amnesty said: "Any potential donations to address Somalia's many significant needs must first be accompanied by support to establish mechanisms to ensure that the rights of Somali civilians are protected."
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Theme(s): (IRIN) Aid Policy, (IRIN) Governance
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Copyright © IRIN 2009
This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
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