LocationsHow Mustafa’s story exemplifies the long-term impact of investing in Somalia’s local governance
15 Years of Change
September 8, 2024
Photo: UNDP Somalia
“It was 2016 – four years after Somalia had adopted the new provisional constitution. Peace was still illusive,” recalls 33-year-old Mustafa, reflecting on his early days as a fresh graduate in his mid-twenties searching for opportunities in war-torn Somalia.
Unlike most of his peers, who wanted to escape the country in search of ‘greener’ pastures in the West, he was determined to find a role in building back his own nation, destroyed by years of inter-clan conflict and violence.
“There were hardly any job opportunities. Luckily, however, I was selected for an internship in the JPLG (The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance),” says Mustafa who is now the Director General at the Ministry of Interior, Local Governments and Reconciliation in Somalia's South West State. "It was a turning point in my life. It helped me reach my current position at the Ministry nearly a decade later."
Born in Baidoa in the South Waste State of Somalia in 1991, Mustafa grew up witnessing one of the bloodiest conflicts in country’s history. It was in January 1990 that the civil war broke out in Somalia immediately after the fall of General Siad Barre-led military government.
Like millions of other Somalis, Mustafa grew up witnessing violence that took lives of thousands, forced many to become refugees and IDPs, until the country finally managed to establish its Federal Parliament in 2012 with the support from the UN mission.
Mustafa in action at his Ministry in South West State of Somalia. He is one of over 500 youth volunteers from the JPLG internship program, building vital skills for a country rising from conflict. Photos: UNDP Somalia
It was in those years of peaceful transition that UNDP, joined hands with UNICEF, UN Habitat, ILO and UNCDF to launch a number of projects, including the Joint Programme on Local Governance (JPLG) to support the people of Somalia in their efforts to rebuild the governance system, create jobs and provide a strong foundation to build a new Somalia. It helped improve the governance at the city and state levels in all five Member States in order to boost economic development and make communities stronger in the face of conflict, climate disaster and other challenges.
Implemented with funding from Denmark, the EU, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US, the Joint Programme played a key role in building social contract in a society that was just emerging out of a pratract conflict and years of statelessness.
Mustafa was one among the 650 Somali youth who got opportunity to volunteer in the programme, contributing at different levels. "The internship program had dual benefits, first it provided immediate employment opportunities to these youth, second it created a pool of experts ready to be deployed by the government at different offices across the country," says Mustafa.
As a young graduate seconded to the Ministry of Interior and Local Government in the Southwest State of Somalia, under the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance, he had a clear goal during my internship. "Our mission was to capacitate the community leaders and promote inclusive local governance through dialogues that were specifically designed to empower marginalized groups, ensuring their active participation in decision-making processes,” Mustafa recounts. The internship helped discover himself better, hone his unique abilities to negotiate, engage and lead communities thorough difficult and complex local development processes.
After about one year, Mustafa landed himself a civil servant job in the Economic Department of the Ministry of Finance in South West State. Mustafa continued to excel in his position and move upwards in the ladder. In 2019, he became the Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Local Governments, and Reconciliation (MOLGR) and started managing policy formulation, planning, and monitoring, coordinating council decisions, and leading local council formation and elections, providing strategic direction to the ministry.
In 2023, Mustafa received the best DG award from HE Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the Minister of Interior, Federal Government of Somalia. Photos: UNDP Somalia
Mustafa was one among the 650 Somali youth who got opportunity to volunteer in the programme, contributing at different levels. "The internship program had dual benefits, first it provided immediate employment opportunities to these youth, second it created a pool of experts ready to be deployed by the government at different offices across the country," says Mustafa.
As a young graduate seconded to the Ministry of Interior and Local Government in the Southwest State of Somalia, under the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance, he had a clear goal during my internship. "Our mission was to capacitate the community leaders and promote inclusive local governance through dialogues that were specifically designed to empower marginalized groups, ensuring their active participation in decision-making processes,” Mustafa recounts. The internship helped discover himself better, hone his unique abilities to negotiate, engage and lead communities through difficult and complex local development processes.
After about one year, Mustafa landed himself a civil servant job in the Economic Department of the Ministry of Finance in South West State. Mustafa continued to excel in his position and move upwards in the ladder. In 2019, he became the Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Local Governments, and Reconciliation (MOLGR) and started managing policy formulation, planning, and monitoring, coordinating council decisions, and leading local council formation and elections, providing strategic direction to the ministry.
The most satisfying moment for Mustafa was when he was able to convince religious leaders and elders on the inclusion of women in the District Council in the Diinsoor district of Bay region. “It is the only district in Somalia since the collapse of the central government of Somalia where the local council has succeeded in achieving 50% representation of women,” says Mustafa. “The knowledge and experience I gained from my time with JPLG internship came handy. We sat down with local leaders explaining why inclusion of women is not just permissible under any faith system but also crucial for creating a more just and inclusive society.”
The result was transformative: The Dinsoor Council agreed to reserve 10 out of 21 council seats for women. By leveraging local knowledge and cultural contexts, the initiative overcame significant barriers to women's participation and Dinsoor become the first ever district got the highs number of women local councils in Somalia.
JPLG’s 15 years of intervention led to creation of over 500 youth volunteers ready to be deployed for different government offices across the country.
Mustafa has seen significant changes in local governance, including increased community participation, improved transparency, enhanced collaboration among South West State institutions and stakeholders, and the first local council elections in several districts.
Photos: UNDP Somalia
“The programme has supported the development of institutions and infrastructure in places where both were missing, which for long provided a safe land for Al Shabab to rise. The support has especially been impactful in terms of social impact, private sector development or revenue generation for the district. This has allowed local populations to benefit from basic services to which previously they had no access and has been a catalyst for additional private sector activity. The programme’s inputs are appreciated by local populations and elected officials.” – Independent Evaluation Report December 2019
Mustafa Abdullahi Hassan's journey from intern to Director General is an example of the kind of long term impact that the program is having even today after more than 15 years. The foundation laid by the program will continue to support the new generation leaders effort to build a just, peaceful and resilient Somalia.
About the JPLG programme
The UN Joint Programme on Local Governance (JPLG), implemented since 2012 with different scope and names, has significantly contributed to capacity building for stronger local governance in Somalia. It provided essential training in public participatory planning, budgeting, and the development of five-year District Development Frameworks for 33 local governments across Somali regions, including Somaliland. These efforts have equipped local authorities to effectively address social services. Additionally, the JPLG played a pivotal role in supporting the establishment of 33 district councils, enhancing local governance and ensuring community representation. Furthermore, the program supported the development of critical physical infrastructure, including roads, clinics, markets, and schools in the regions.
Footnotes
Story by Ilyas Abukar, Communication Analyst, UNDP Somalia
