CRD NSA SUPPORT PROGRAM

CONTEXT

CRD NSA support program first started operating in south central Somalia on 23 rd March 2005 in Mogadishu . The project started in the context of a country that has been without functioning government for over a decade. During that time they have been massive destruction of lives and deliberate indiscriminate human rights abuses.

VISSION

The vision of the project is to create mechanisms and structures for dialogue between a broad range of south central non-state actors, local authorities, regional organizations and the EU on issues related to development, peace and security within the framework of Cotonou Agreement and eventually creating Non-state actors platform for South central Somalia.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES

Overall objectives of the program included; identifying, organizing and then bringing together the diverse NSAs operating in South Central zone of Somalia's 11 regions.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

•  Facilitate the creation of an all inclusive platform for South central NSAs.

•  Organize various events of awareness creation on cotonou , experience sharing programs and training on various skills cotonou requires.

•  Facilitate capacity building for NSAs

•  Engage other actors (TFG) and EU in dialogue

•  Represent south central NSAs at all level and coordinate all efforts of NSAs and other groups with regard to cotonou .

•  Facilitate and coordinate the role of NSAs in policy formulation, program implementation, etc.

Having these objectives in mind, CRD NSA team carried out a substantial number of activities which have had a positive impact on the growth of the NSAs activities. The project was able to make an extensive mapping exercise throughout a vast area of South Central regions, and as a result identified hundred forty (140) organizations, engaged in one way or another in various activities. CRD NSA research team visited 22 districts in Bay, Bakol, Gedo, Middle jubba, Lower Jubba, Hiran, Galgadud and South Mudug . During the second phase of the mapping 130 different NSAs activists were interviewed. Most of them are mainly involved in the following activities:

•  Education

•  Animal husbandry

•  Agriculture

•  Small businesses

•  Health care

•  Water and sanitation

•  Human rights

•  Advocacy and conflict transformation approach

NSAs are categorized into three sectors according to the nature of their activities. First sector are the civil society organizations including women activists, youth, religious umbrellas. Secondly, professional sector which includes; media practitioners, medical associations, lawyers organizations etc. and thirdly, private sector such as; telecommunication companies, factory owners, aviation companies, media house owners, business groups etc.