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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the joint Needs Assessment?

The Somali Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) carried out a thorough assessment of the needs of the Somali people during 2005-6 and was coordinated by the United Nations and World Bank. The assessment was undertaken in a very participatory manner with blended teams of international experts together with local Somali experts, reaching all parts of the country and involving many Somali groups including, local authorities, parliamentarians, traditional authorities, women’s groups, youth groups, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector business, and religious leaders in various locations.

What is the Reconstruction and Developement Programme?

The Reconstruction and Development Programme builds on the JNA and presents the medium term needs, vision and strategies to move towards achieving the vision. The RDP proposes priorities and key programmes along with a costing for addressing those needs over a 5 year period.

How was the JNA carried out?

The JNA was carried out by: a) research of existing information and data sources; (b) consultative workshops; (c) selected field visits and meetings with a wide and representative section of Somali society; (d) consultations with aid agencies working in Somalia; and (e) questionnaire-based fieldwork undertaken by Somali experts in all regions.

What is included in the RDP?

The RDP provides an overall Programme for Somalia but also responds to the specific situations of South-Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland. There are five volumes within the RDP as highlighted in the diagram below. The geographic volumes of the RDP provide contextualized presentations of priority needs and actions that, together with the overall Synthesis Volume, can be used for programming assistance. The 6 cluster reports for Volume 5 of the RDP are as follows: (I) Governance, Security and the Rule of Law; (II) Macroeconomic Policy Framework and Data Development; (III) Infrastructure; (IV) Social Services and Protection of Vulnerable Groups; (V) Productive Sectors and the Environment; (VI) Livelihoods and Solutions for the Displaced

Each Volume has five sections. The political, security and socioeconomic context is reviwed in section 1. Key needs together with a vision are given in Section II. Key prioritizing criteria and principles underpinning the reconstruction and development strategy are given in Section III together with a three-part strategy focusing on deepening peace and security, improving social services, and achieving rapid poverty reducing development. Key aspects of phasing, a financing framework and coordination arrangements are discussed in Section IV. Finally, a detailed Results Based Matrix is given in Section V.

What were the criteria used for prioritization within the RDP?

The main criteria for prioritization are as below:

§ Impact of peace building

§ Contribution to sustained equitable poverty reduction,

§ Opportunity for Effective implmentation and capacity transfer, and

§ Cost effectiveness.

§ Absorptive capacity of the country

§ Sustainability of investments

What are the pillars within the RDP?

There are 3 pillars within the RDP as below:

§ Deepening peace, improving security and establishing good governance

§ Investing in people through improved social services

§ Establishing a sustainable enabling environment for rapid poverty-reducing development, to expand employment and reduce poverty.

How does the RDP fit into Strategic and Planning processes being carried out by others?

The RDP provides a framework of agreed and sequenced national priorities. This framework will be drawn on by national partners, donors, and implementing organizations to develop their own response for Somalia. For instance, a number of EU donors –the European Commission together with Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the UK, Sweden) and Norway – have drafted a strategic response to the vision and priorities. Likewise, the UN is developing a UN Transition Plan that responds to some of the priorities of the RDP.

What difference to the lives of ordinary Somalis will the RDP make?

The RDP provides sequencing to priorities to lift the lives of the Somali people out of a humanitarian situation and into one of recovery, reconstruction and development. Donors, when funding a response to the RDP are being requested to provide funds for such reconstruction and development. Within the Results Based Matrices, the targeted outcomes of the RDP are clearly listed. Examples are increasing primary school enrolment to 48% within five years, carrying out a national census; 200,000 IDPs sustainably reintegrated and receiving essential basic and vocational education and training, amongst others. The assumption for RDP implementation is that is based on a ‘post-conflict’ environment. Ongoing uncertainties make immediate implementation of many of the elements of RDP problematic, especially in South Central Somalia.

Partial implementation of the RDP began in January 2008, however full implementation is pending a donor conference and a ‘post-conflict’ environment in which to implement.

Disclaimer: This website is intended specifically for information sharing throughout the development of the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA). The information in the site is managed by the JNA Coordination Secretariat composed of representatives from UN and WB. Information shared on this website does not imply official endorsement/acceptance by these organizations nor are they responsible for the content of any of the external documentations and/or links featured on this website.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of Somali JNA and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.