ACTIVITY TITLE: Kampala meeting – NSAs success story

Date : 29 – 30 May 2007

Venue : Speke Resort hotel, Kampala , Uganda

Participants : 30 NSA WG members + international community

Issues discussed: RDP/CSP consultations

Kampala conference draws international attention to the Somali newly emerging NSAs. Some 30 Somali NSAs from the troubled South Central zone of Somalia participated Kampala 29 – 30 May 2007 conference on RDP/CSP consultations. The conference also brought together over 30 international organizations interested in Somalia issues including Saferworld which hosted the meeting, EC, UN and world bank.

Nearly 200 press corps made full media coverage of the conference including BBC, VOA, AFP, IRIN and HornAfrik to mention but few by name in order to create a greater awareness among the international community's preparedness to respond to the Somali peoples call for help.

Somali NSAs role during the conference proceedings was commendable in many ways. They co chaired a number of working communities spoke to the press, delivered a presentation mainly focusing on the objectives of the NSAs support program for example Somali NSAs institution capacity building, Conflict transformation approach, poverty eradication, democracy and peace building.

Kampala two day conference provided for the Somali NSAs a rare opportunity for having a direct face-to-face interaction and dialogue with nearly 30 international organizations represented at the conference. During these interactions, NSAs demonstrated competence and real commitment.

There was also another important event that took place at the same place on 27 – 28 May 2007. This later event was all about NSAs institution building training organized by CRD/Saferworld and conducted by the well known trainer, Sultan Amri. It was very interesting and fruitful as well. After the two day of the training the following items were reached:

•  Acronym SOSCENSA (Somali South Central NSA)

•  Draft bylaw