The Non-state actor’s (NSA) project was launched in Puntland in mid 2005 by PDRC in partnership with Saferworld, an INGO based in Nairobi, Kenya. A preliminary study carried out by PDRC had identified numerous challenges and opportunities that shape the Puntland NSAs. The study had also identified the categories that constitute the NSA and that they are mainly engaged in social services delivery, in the form of health, education, water and peace-building.

A three-year NSA’s programme culminated in the establishment of Puntland Non-State Actors Association (PUNSAA) that forms a common platform where the stakeholders participate in national and local developmental forums as well as tri-partite meetings together with donors organizations and the government. In May 14^th and July 5^th-7^th, 2008, the general structures of Puntland Non-state actor’s association (PUNSAA) were completed. It is an all inclusive platform with 52 member constituencies throughout Puntland.

 Parallel to the above, Saferworld and its Partners CRD and APD had implemented similar platforms in Somaliland and South-Central; namely the “Somaliland Non State Actor’s Forum (SONSAF) and Somali South Central Non State Actors Association (SOSCENSAA)”.

 Somali Non-State Actors exchange meeting with representatives of the three NSA Platforms, Somali partner organisations, Saferworld, Interpeace and EC Somalia Delegation was to exchange on the experience of developing the three NSA platforms since 2005 and to consider the direction of the Somali NSA process in the next phase of the Somali programme. In this regard a four-day exchange meeting was arranged in Kampala, Uganda, from 3^rd to 7^th November 2008.

 The meeting was organised and facilitated by Saferworld and brought together the three NSA platforms and partner organisations from South Central Somalia, Somaliland and Puntland. Representatives from the EC Somalia Delegation, Richard Hands and Francesca Paravini and representatives from Interpeace, Abdirahman Raghe and Nuria Abdi were also present.  This meeting was the final meeting before the end of the first phase of the programme. The objectives of the meeting included:

§        To enable NSAs from the Somali regions to share information and lessons learnt regarding the formation of the three platforms

§        To enable NSAs to consider and discuss the future directions of the process and role of the NSA platforms

§        To enable the NSA platforms, Somali partners and Saferworld to discuss the practical implications of the future directions         

§        To enable the team commissioned to evaluate the NSA programme to interact (formally and informally) with NSA platforms members, partners and Saferworld’s

 current three-year phase of the NSA process which comes to an end on 30^th of November 2008.

Specific outcomes of the meeting were as fellows:

1. EC has pledged to provide funds for three more years to NSA platforms.
2. Platforms developed their respected priority areas of future interventions.
3. Roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders were clearly defined. A transitional strategic plan was designed in this regard.

PUNSAA Advisory Board capacity building training in Djibouti from 10^th -16 ^th, Sept, 2008.

Apart from the above mentioned workshop, PDRC and Saferworld have organized Capacity building training workshop for PUNSAA Advisory Board. The training has taken place in Djibouti in Sept 10^th-16^th. PUNSAA 17 AB members, 4 PDRC members led by Program coordinator and Saferworld Somali program coordinator Mss Faisa Loyan have participated in the training.

The purpose of the training was to enhance the capacity of PUNSAA Advisory Board (AB). The roles, responsibilities and the mandate as well as obligations and expectations, and to enable them to conduct their affairs in a more transparent and professional way as well as to upgrade their skills in the following specific areas

 Understanding roles and responsibilities of the Board and its structures

1. How to coordinate their work with the members and the GA
2. Understanding the Bylaws and commitment to respect and adhere to it.
3. How to coordinate their work the secretariat
4. How to formally run Board affairs and maintain records
5. Observing ethics and avoid conflicts of interest and
6. In a participatory way-formulate a 3 year Action plan

 Note: For more information on PUNSAA and PDRC, please, contact PDRC Programme Coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .