Parliamentary and Constitutional Support Project (Pcsp)

United Nations Development Programme in Somalia PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT (PCSP)

Newsletter No. 5/2015 19th May 2015

IN THIS EDITION Dear Reader, A decisive event in the reporting period was the opening of the 6th session of the National Federal  LoAs signed with National Federal parliament. The high-light of the project activities during this period was the signing of Letters of Parliament, the HoR in Puntland and the HoR in Somaliland Agreement (LoAs) with all three parliaments. LoAs are the contractual basis re those resources of the Annual Work Plan which are partly or fully administered by the parliaments themselves.  Introducing consultants George Through these LoAs the Parliamentary Support Project intends to deliver approximately 100% more Crawford and Austin Zvoma on technical assistance than in 2014. LoAs are accompanied by a risk mitigation and capacity devel-  Being a Member of Parliament is a opment plan. Dangerous Duty in Somalia This edition of the newsletter also contains an article which describes the history of the three parlia-  Capacity Building of NFP, SL HoR ments in Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa. It points out that there exists a tradition of parliamen- and UNDP staff tarism at the Horn of Africa on which existing parliaments can build on.  Capacity Development Action Plan to address ABRIMO findings  NFP Committee Staff Trained on LoAs signed with National Federal Parliament, the HoR in Puntland and Research Work for Legislative the HoR in Somaliland Drafting  Support for Improving Admin & Beginning of May UNDP signed Letters of Agree- Each LoA is divided in three parts: a) agreement Finance Regulations in the SL HoR ments (LoA) with all three parliaments and the on activities and provision of funds; b) risk mitiga- Secretariat first installment of cash advances are currently tion plan, c) capacity development plan. The risk  PL HoR receives M&E Training transferred. LoAs are an important tool to build mitigation plan mirrors the findings of the administrative capacity within the secretariats ABRIMO capacity assessments and should signifi-  22 MPs from Somaliland Attend and to provide material support to parliaments’ cantly reduce the risk of funds being misused. Transformational Leadership for Results in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia activities. As described in Newsletter 4/2015 The capacity development plan has the goal to some 85 % or more of the parliaments’ budgets assist the three parliaments to address identified  Delegation from Puntland HoR are spent for salaries or related costs with hardly shortcomings of the ABRIMO assessment. Find Participated in Gender and Elec- tions Training in Tunis any money left for activities or procurement. more details re planned capacity development activities in a separate article in this newsletter.  The History of Parliaments of So- Taking into consideration the findings of the Parliaments have already received the first instal- malia, Puntland and Somaliland ABRIMO capacity assessment funds allocated for ment of cash advance or transfer is imminent and each parliament in the Annual Work Plan (AWP) with these funds are able to conduct activities are basically divided into three parts: Roughly like constituency visits, oversight activities, small UPCOMING EVENTS one third will be directly implemented by UNDP procurement, public outreach or cover running and is not part of the LoA. For another third of costs of key expenses (e.g. internet, office rents,  Board Meeting Puntland HoR 18, the funds (which is part of the LoA) the respective and small repairs). A series of trainings of project May 2015 parliament – monitored by UNDP project staff - staff as well as parliamentary staff on how to will conduct the procurement and contracting  Board Meeting Somaliland HoR properly implement the LoAs has already started 19, May 2015 and UNDP will pay directly to the vendor based and will continue into June. on a due process and after satisfactory delivery of  Project board National Federal goods and services. The last third – also part of UNDP direct implementation and LoA implemen- Parliament, 21 May 2015 the LoA - consists of cash advance transferred in tation executed through national counterparts  Delegation of the Somaliland HoR several instalments based on clear spending together shall achieve the goal to increase the travels to attend UNDP/WB work guidelines and limits. Subsequent instalments will delivery of technical assistance by approximately shop on parliamentary oversight, Jamaica only be transferred when there is full and satis- 100 % compared with 2014. With other words – if factory documentation of the use of the funds successful - the three parliaments in 2015 will  On the Job training on monitoring against the agreed guidelines. receive twice as much support as in 2014. and evaluation for department of planning of Somaliland HoR

PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT

The UNDP Parliamentary and Constitutional Support Project is supported by the European Commission, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom (DFID), UNDP BCPR, and is managed by the United Nations Development Programme in Somalia. United Nations Development Programme in Somalia PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT (PCSP)

Newsletter No. 5/2015 19th May 2015

Being a Member of Parliament is a Introducing consultants George Crawford and Austin Zvoma Dangerous Duty in Somalia

In this and the following editions we want sional staff for Chairman Claude Pepper (D We include this article with regard to the to introduce you to the consultants which -FL) and chief of staff for Chairman Joe alarming number of MPs assassinated in are working for the Parliamentary Support Moakley (D-MA). On June 22, 2006, Mr. Somalia. Since the adoption of the Provi- Project. In order to establish continuity we Crawford received the McCormack Award sional Constitution in August 2012, Mem- have assigned consultants to work on an for Excellence, which honors longtime bers of Parliament both at the Federal level in-and-out bases for a longer period with employees of the U.S. House of Repre- and in Puntland have faced an extensive a specific parliament. sentatives. amount of attacks. An unfortunate total of George Crawford is a senior government Mr. Austin Muranganwa Zvoma is an ex- 14 MPs (11 Federal and 3 Puntland MPs) relations advisor with many years of expe- pert on Parliamentary Development with have been assassinated since 2012, of rience in the US House of Representatives. over 30 years’ experience in parliamen- which 4 have been killed in this year alone. He has been recruited by the project to tary practice and procedures. He has been provide parliamentary development ser- recruited by the project to provide capaci- It is important to note that these targeted vices to the National Federal Parliament ty development services to the Secretariat killings have mostly happened when MPs (NFP). In the past few months, George has of the Somaliland House of Representa- were leaving Mosques. Also, 10 out of the worked with NFP Committees to standard- tives (HoR). In the past couple of months 14 MPs have been either gunned down or ize committee reporting, work planning he has worked with the HoR to improve sprayed with bullets while in their cars. 2 and to train committee staff (young gradu- the organizational structure and adminis- MPs were killed by explosive devices fitted ates). trative procedures of the secretariat. underneath their cars, while 2 other MPs George is an advisor in King & Spalding’s Austin is the former Clerk of the Zimba- were killed in bomb blasts that also killed a Government Advocacy and Public Policy bwe Parliament, which in Commonwealth number of other people. Practice Group where he works with the countries is the term used for the Head of firm’s clients to develop and implement the Parliament Secretariat responsible for Members of Parliament have been targeted strategies to successfully achieve their providing administrative and procedural by Al-Shabaab due to their important role legislative policy goals. Prior to joining services. He held the latter position for 25 as law makers and political decision mak- King & Spalding, George served as Chief of years. Prior to that he worked as deputy ers. This article serves to highlight the peril Staff of House Democratic Leader, Nancy clerk, assistant clerk, senior committee which the men and women MPs are facing Pelosi (D-CA) where he was the principal clerk and committee clerk for a total of 8 who put their lives at risk for contributing advisor on policy, political and procedural years. He also worked as a Customs matters. Before joining Ms. Pelosi’s staff in Officer for the Department of Customs to the design of the future of Somalia. The August 2001, he worked on the House and Excise in Harare. project sends its sincere condolences to the Rules Committee for 18 years as profes- friends and families of the deceased MPs:

National Federal Parliament: Hon. Mustafa Haji Maalim, Hon. Husein Abdisalam Ma- hamed, Hon. MaHamed Warsame Mahamed “Faysal”, Hon. Isaq Mahamed Ali “Riino”, Hon. Abdiaziiz Isaq Mursal, Hon. Mahamed Mahamud Hayd, Hon. Saado Ali Warsame, Hon. Sheikh Adan Mahamed Madeer, Hon. Abdilaahi Qayad Barre, Hon. Omar Ali nur “Furdug”, and Hon. Mahamed Ducale Muse. Puntland HoR: Hon. Abdisalan Sheikh Mo- hamoud, Hon. Adan Haji Hussain, and Hon. Said Husain Noor. George Crawford Austin Muranganwa Zvoma

PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT

Newsletter No. 5/2015 19th May 2015

Capacity Building of NFP, SL HoR and UNDP staff

As part of the overall capacity building The objectives of the capacity building National Federal Parliament has request- activities for national counterparts, train- were to train key parliamentary and UNDP ed the project to assist to procure an ac- ings on Harmonized Approach of Cash project staff on how to effectively handle counting software and to arrange training Transfer (HACT), Funding Authorization administrative and financial aspects of the for its finance staff as recommended as and Certificate of Expenditures (FACE), parliamentary work and LoA implementa- best practice during HACT training. Atlas and LoA Financial Management were tion. conducted on 27th - 29th April and 6th The trainings were also an opportunity for May 2015 in Hargeisa and Mogadishu re- the participants to discuss the new modal- spectively by the project. The trainings ities of cash transfer from UNDP to nation- were attended by 18 participants from al counterparts and to undergo practical National Federal Parliament, SL House of sessions on how to request funds by using representatives and UNDP program staff FACE form and reprogram unutilized cash. as follows: This will help implementing partners to  HoR Somaliland – 2 male staff familiarize with the complexity and proce-  National Federal Parliament – 2 male dures. Recommendations originating from the trainings were to increase capacity  UNDP program staff (5 female, 9 building packages for the national coun- UNDP and NFP staff at work, Mogadishu male) terpart staff on LoA implementation.

Capacity Development Action Plan to address ABRIMO findings

A UNDP-sponsored micro capacity assessment Puntland Ministry of Constitution, Federal areas of staffing, financial controls, procure- was conducted by ABRIMO Company in 2014 Affairs and Democratization (MoCFAD) to man- ment, reporting and information systems with- to assess the institutional capacity of the Na- age funds. The assessment - conducted against in each of these implementing partners (IP). In tional Federal Parliament (NFP), Somaliland the Harmonized Approach for Cash Transfer anticipation of signing a Letter of Agreement House of Representative (SL HoR), Puntland (HACT) framework and guidelines — found a (LOA) with each of the IPs, UNDP Parliamen- House of Representative (PL HoR), and the number of deficiencies and gaps in the general tary Support Project (PSP) tasked a national consultant, Warsame Hassan, to review ABRIMO findings and recommendations and to Advertisement for the position of a Parliamentary Capaci- prepare a capacity development action plans for each institution.

ty Development Consultant for the Puntland House of Rep- The LoAs foresee that each institution will con- resentatives- deadline 23 May 2015. Please see further tract a qualified staff / or local consultant to prepare the required regulations, draft the details in the link below: organizational changes and provide the neces- sary training in order to address the shortcom- http://puntlandpost.net/pp/wp-content/ ings. Mr. Warsame Hassan will provide guid- uploads/2015/05/shaqo_baarlamaanka.pdf ance to the work of these three staff in order to achieve synergy and assure quality control.

PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT

Newsletter No. 5/2015 19th May 2015

NFP Committee Staff Trained on Research Work for Legislative Drafting

As part of the continuing support of the NFP, for a briefing note to the Committee in a follow materials, prepared statements, copies of sub- 40 Committee clerks and staff of the Secretari- -on workshop. Briefing notes and briefing mitted testimony, possible questions for wit- at took part in a multi-day workshop to devel- books are key instruments to bring issues to nesses, copies, logistics, press in attendance, op the research skills required in support of the attention of Committee MPs, brief them on etc. MPs and Committees. Further training was upcoming Committee activities, and give them Future activities provided on advanced research techniques a deeper understanding of draft legislation. In Committee clerks and staff will continue to using the internet. A robust research capacity addition, briefing books are often prepared in participate in more workshops that develop in the NFP is one of the critical foundations for advance of public hearings and consultations their research and writing skills. Additional better informed decision making by MPs. and media events so that the Committee and the MPs can maximize public input and out- workshops are planned on public hearings and Briefing notes reach. Briefing books contain all of the perti- consultations, and deepening staff's knowledge Clerks and staff took the results of the research nent information that an MP needs to know in of the Rules of Procedure. they performed and used it to form the basis preparing for an event, such as background

Support for Improving Admin & Finance Regulations in the SL HoR Secretariat PL HoR receives M&E Training

Austin Zvoma, an expert on Parliamentary Significant improvements are: On 13th-18th May 2015 a training on Development and recently retired Clerk of the Monitoring and Evaluation was organized  Adoption and implementation of recommen- Zimbabwe Parliament, arrived back in Hargeisa dations from the above documents to aug- in Garowe. The training was attended by on Sunday 26th April. ment the Republic of Somaliland Regulation 23 staff (16 male and 7 female) of the for the Accounts of the State and National Secretariat of the Puntland House of Rep- The mandate of Austin’s second visit to the Tender Board Regulations; resentative including the directors, heads Somaliland HoR from 26 April – 26 May is to of the sections and the secretary general.  Appointment a Procurement Committee and continue with institutional capacity building for The objectives of the training were to some of the HoR Secretariat departments by designation of an official in Administration and Finance as a Procurement Officer; train key parliamentary staff on the main developing administrative manuals and guide- principles and methods of monitoring, lines to institutionalize systems and processes.  Placing all financial management functions, evaluation and data collection in order to More specifically, a review of the HoR Admin- including management of donor funds, un- enable them to monitor and document der the Director of Administration and Fi- istration policy decision on the amended Ac- achievements and progress made by the nance; counting Manual and Procurement Procedures Puntland HoR against their approved five which include recommendations from the  Keeping separate accounts for Treasury allo- year strategic plan (2014-2018). The ABRIMO Harmonised Approach to Cash Trans- cation and donor funds (mostly direct pay- training was also an opportunity to dis- ments); and fers (HACT) Micro Assessment of risk will pro- cuss the need to elaborate a monitoring vide a significant improvement to the work of  Policy decision to appoint an Internal Control plan for the PL HoR. As one outcome of the training it was agreed with the HoR the Secretariat. Unit to serve as internal audit. senior management that an M&E plan By adopting international best practice in its Austin prepared a Management of Risk by the shall be elaborated for the 2014-18 Stra- public financial management and governance HoR Secretariat document which is a compre- tegic Plan during a follow up training systems, the HoR Secretariat is on the path to hensive analysis matrix of the extent to which workshop. improving its internal accounting controls and the Accounting Manual and Procurement Pro- promoting transparency and accountability. cedures address the Significant and High risks identified in the ABRIMO HACT Micro Assess- The feedback Austin has received is that the ment Report. The result of this exercise which HoR Administration is very pleased with the assisted decision making is that the two docu- contribution he has so far made to improve ments above address most of the risks. systems and processes and to build capacity of the HoR Secretariat. Trainee receives M&E certificate

PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT

Newsletter No. 5/2015 19th May 2015

22 MPs from Somaliland Attend Transformational leadership for results in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

22 MPs from Somaliland House of Representa- maliland House of Representatives stated that powerment project supported this training. tives (21 Male and 1 Female MPW), and 9 sen- the training was extremely beneficial and com- This training was a prototype of making use of ior government officials (3F; 6M); participated mended UNDP for supporting this kind of train- internal synergies in UNDP projects. 5 days’ workshop on leadership for results held ings. in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The aim of the train- Head of the delegations from the Parliament ing was to enhance the existing capacities and and the Executive branches held joint press develop leadership skills, by supporting partici- conference at Hargeisa Airport. Both the pants to conceive new ‘breakthrough initia- Speaker and the Deputy Minister of infor- tives’ which leads to more gender sensitive mation thanked UNDP for supporting the train- policy reforms and representation at all levels ing and they highlighted that they will work of the government. The participants agreed at together to achieve their breakthrough initia- the end to generate and sustain long-term tives. The speaker concluded, “Inclusive gov- interactive dialogue around issues linked to ernance is a cornerstone for sustainable devel- gender equality and women’s empowerment opment”. to initiate and maintain profound changes. In collaboration with Parliament and HIV pro- Participants of the 5 days’ workshop on lead- In the closing remarks, the Speaker of the So- jects, the Gender Equality and Women’s Em- ership for results

Delegation from Puntland HoR Participated in Gender and Elections Training in Tunis

One female MP and one female staff from the ticipants which should enhance their under- development. Puntland HoR Secretariat (both Arabic speak- standing of electoral systems and processes  Provide civic education for women so they ing) participated in a Training on Gender and from a gender perspective. The high level of better understand their rights and responsi- Elections for Arab Women held in Tunisia 19- active participation throughout the 5-day train- bilities as voters. 25 April 2015. The training was arranged by ing showed the level of interest among partici-  Advocate and support women participation UNDP Tunisia and participants were 28 women pants. in national elections at national level from eight Arab countries and Somalia: Key messages that emerged from the discus- The BRIDGE workshop offered training to par- sion were: Participants identified a number of challeng-  Train women's es that women face when entering political life groups in advocacy in particular related to security, cultural, eco- to advance gender nomic or of political nature. engagement in political life As Maimun Abdikani Dirie from the Puntland  Build political HoR Secretariat stated: ‘’This capacity building networks for wom- was very crucial for me and training was so en in their respec- motivating and participatory. It was an eye tive local govern- opener for new ideas and how you can move ments. forward for gender and election issues’’.  Disseminate Both participants plan to share their newly successful experi- ences to promote acquired knowledge with MPs and women women’s participa- organizations in Puntland. Some of the participants of the Gender and Elections training in Tunis tion in politics and

PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT

Newsletter No. 5/2015 19th May 2015

The History of Parliaments of Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland The Republic of Somalia was only formed on d’état, dissolved the Legislative Council and a four years term. The current Parliament July 1, 1960 when British Somaliland united abrogated the constitution that allowed multi- therefore is the 10th parliament. with Italian Somaliland. However, Somalis’ party elections. In 1976, the Somali Revolution- Puntland experience with parliament elections date back ary Socialist Party (SRSP), the country's sole to the pre-independence period. In 1956, multi legally permitted political party, was formed. In August 1998, Puntland was formed with a -party general elections were held in the Italian The new August 1979 Constitution (approved Legislative consisting of 66 members incl. five Somaliland under universal suffrage whereby by referendum) established a 177 member women. Subsequently, Puntland traditional sixty members were elected for a three-year strong People’s Assembly including six mem- elders selected 66 members of parliament term. Four political parties - Somali Youth bers appointed by the president. Two one- (MPs) in 2004 and 2009 with each clan and sub League (SYL), Hizbia Digil Mirifle (HDM), Somali party elections were held over the two dec- -clan allocated a number of seats according to Democratic Party (SDP), and Mareehaan Un- ades of the military regime and in 1979 for the its (perceived) regional representation. The ion—succeeded in the 1956 elections to gain first time, six women were elected as MPs. In current 66 MPs (64 males and 2 women), were 43, 13, 3, and 1 seats. In March 1959 the sec- the 1984 election their number increased to 25 selected in December 2013 for a five-year ond election was held in Italian Somaliland term. In August of 2000, Somali clan leaders and with only men above 21 years allowed to vote. other delegates gathered in a conference held Somaliland The SYL won 83 of the 90 seats in the Legisla- in Djibouti (in the small town of Arta). At this tive Assembly whereas HDM won five and the The first parliament of Somaliland after the conference, they established a Transitional Somali Liberal Party (SLP) 2. state collapse was established in May 1993 and National Government (TNG), and a Transitional apportioned by 150 clan elders according to The first parliamentary election in British So- National Assembly (TNA) for a three-year term. beel system of proportional representation. On maliland took place in February 1960. The The National Assembly comprised 245 mem- September 29, 2005, Somaliland held the first Council had 33 members and the right to vote bers appointed by clan chiefs. The terms of the democratic multi-party parliamentary elections was limited to men above the age of 21 years. TNG expired in 2003 paving the way to the based on universal suffrage where 82 members Political parties who won seats were the Soma- Nairobi peace conference in 2004. of the House of Representatives were elected li National League (SNL, 20), United Somali The Transitional Parliament formed in August (UDUB party 33, Kulmiye 28, and UCID 21). Party (USP, 12), and the National Unity Front 2004 was the second one after the state col- According to the constitution the term of the (NUF, 1). lapse. 275 MPs were selected by the sub-clan parliament ended in October 2010. However, British Somaliland united with Italian Somali- leaders during a meeting in Nairobi. Seats were the terms of the MPs were extended twice in land in July 1960 and the two parliaments allocated according to a “4.5 formula” to the (2009 for 3 years) and (2013 for 2 years). merged holding together 93 seats. On March four major clans (Hawiye, Darod, Dir, Digil &

30, 1964, Somalia held the first parliamentary Mirifle) and 0.5 positions given to a coalition of elections after Independence. All Somali citi- smaller clans. In 2009 the term of the parlia- zens of both sexes were allowed to vote. SYL ment was extended by two years. won 69 seats; the Somali National Congress In August 2012, a new Provisional Constitution won 22, while Somali Democratic Union won of the Federal Republic of Somalia was en- 15, and six other parties won 17 seats. dorsed. The new Constitution stipulates a bi- The second general elections since the inde- cameral National Federal Parliament (NFP) that pendence were held on March 26, 1969. Sixty- comprises of an Upper House and a House of four parties contested over 123 seats of the the People. Using the same 4.5 formula as in Legislative Council. The SYL won 73 seats, while 2004, 275 MPs (including 38 women) were 22 parties won either one or two seats selected by 135 clan elders and subsequently vetted by a Technical Selection Committee for Somali Parliament on an old picture In October 1969, the military lunched a coup

CONTACT DETAILS PARLIAMENTARY AND CONSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT PROJECT (PCSP) MAILING ADDRESS: UNDP Somalia Country Office– UN Common Compound, Airport Road, Mogadishu, Somalia | [email protected] UNDP Somalia Nairobi Support Office – UNON, UN Avenue, Block D5, PO Box 28832, Nairobi, Kenya TELEPHONE: +254 20 51 21324 EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.so.undp.org