Context

Countries in the Horn of Africa* remained an extremely challenged region in 2016. Ethiopia faced its worst political unrest in years, which triggered the announcement of a state of emergency. In South Sudan, the conflict deteriorated, which deepened the humanitarian crisis and led to enormous refugee flows within the Horn region. The overall security situation in Somalia remained volatile, as Al-Shabaab still held various geographical areas and continued to engage in asymmetrical warfare. The region also was confronted with extreme drought, which has led to famine in parts of South Sudan in 2017 and poses a serious threat of famine in Somalia. The destabilising influence of countries in neighbouring regions, such as Egypt and some Gulf States, continues to increase. The Netherlands contributes to increasing the stability, security and resilience of the region through several programmes, stimulating development, regulating migration flows, preventing violent extremism, promoting human rights and mitigating the effects of climate change. The work in the Horn of Africa must be seen in combination with work specifically aimed at South Sudan and Ethiopia, which is reported separately. The following overview present the Security and Rule of Law results of three organisations that are active in the Horn of Africa, these are: Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU) and the Intitute for Security Studies (ISS) - and of the activities in Somalia aimed at strengthening security and the rule of law.

* Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti

Featured project

SOMALIA - SSF Success Story: Football for Peace

SOMALIA - SSF Success Story: Football for Peace

Sool and Sanaag are disputed regions between Somaliland and Puntland with long-standing differences. The dispute has exacerbated the divisions between locals and youths in the regions lack opportunities to engage in community integration activities and dialogue. The Football for Peace tournament was one of many peace initiatives organised to promote peace and encourage greater youth participation in peace building. Women, elders and youths from different communities cheered the teams along. Local and regional authorities praised the initiative and urged its continuation in the future.

Key results of the embassy in Horn of Africa

Security & Rule of Law

Indicator Score Progress

Number of people (M/F) with increased access to justice (formal/informal) in Somalia

68 On track
Number of people with increased access to justice*
Interpretation of the Embassy results in the context

Somalia is in the process of forming a coherent legal system based on harmonised legislation. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) programme has strengthened Maritime Law Enforcement institutions in Mogadishu, Bosasso and Berbera with the support of a number of donors, including the Netherlands. Another UNODC programme supports the construction of the Mogadishu Prison and Court Complex. The Court is expected to become operational in 2017. This will increase access to justice for high-risk offenders and prison rules and conditions will comply with international (human rights) standards. The Dutch contribution to the Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) has resulted in improved access to justice through alternative conflict resolution mechanisms. The Netherlands has been a vocal advocate of human rights in Somalia and was co-chair of the New Deal Working Group 3, addressing Rule of Law.

* NL’s contributions to multi-donor trust funds and or consortiums are not earmarked and, therefore, do not require donor-specific reporting and tracking. The results attributed to Dutch support are calculated based on the percentage of NL's contribution to the total available budget within the trust funds.

Number of institutions strengthened (in terms of fairness, effectiveness, accountability or independence) in Somalia

3 On track
3 maritime police/coast guard institutions (in Mogadishu, Bosasso and Berbera)*
Interpretation of the Embassy results in the context

Just as Somalia is in need of a functioning rule of law framework on land, it also needs one for its territories at sea. The UNODC maritime crime programme seeks to address this issue, by providing training to maritime law enforcement officers on policing powers, enhancing marine skills, human rights enforcement and the use of force and engagement. While the problem of piracy already prompted a huge international effort in recent years, Somalia's own maritime law enforcement capability received little support until the UNODC maritime crime programme was launched. By further strengthening maritime police and coast guard institutions and by maintaining a presence at those institutions, the rule of law and security situation in the programme areas has remained stable and has improved in some areas compared to 2015. In 2016, 57 maritime officers received an officiële training*.

* NL’s contributions to multi-donor trust funds and or consortiums are not earmarked and, therefore, do not require donor-specific reporting and tracking. The results attributed to Dutch support are calculated based on the percentage of NL's contribution to the total available budget within the trust funds.

Number of individuals who received training, assets or other support to boost (self-)employment or livelihoods (disaggregated, where possible, for women and for youths)

455 On track
Number of people - Youth (SSF)*
Number of people - SDF*
Number of people - Prisoners receiving vocational training in Hargeisa and Garowe (UNODC)*
Interpretation of the Embassy results in the context

The Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) stabilises fragile parts of Somalia by implementing projects and supporting the (re-)establishment of formal government structures in the newly formed and recovered states. The Somaliland Development Fund (SDF) provides technical assistance to various ministries and invests in improving service delivery, infrastructure and private sector development. Somalia is slowly recovering from the institutional collapse that resulted from decades of civil war. If data were available, it would probably rank as one of the least-developed countries in the human development index. Unemployment, especially among young Somalis, is potentially a driver of conflict. Therefore, boosting employment opportunities is seen as a vital component of any wider social and economic reconstruction plan. All of the programmes supported by the embassy have successfully implemented a training component, combined with the provision of assets and other support to enable people to start as entrepreneurs.

* NL’s contributions to multi-donor trust funds and or consortiums are not earmarked and, therefore, do not require donor-specific reporting and tracking. The results attributed to Dutch support are calculated based on the percentage of NL's contribution to the total available budget within the trust funds.

Amount of training to professionals who contribute to human security

12 events On track
Number of training events
Interpretation of the Embassy results in the context

The Institute of Security Studies - Africa Centre for Peace and Security delivered training courses to policy makers and relevant stakeholders from 21 different African countries, enhancing the capabilities and capacity of state and non-state actors in the field of human security.

Number of staff of AU Peace and Security Department (PSD) paid by NL and other donors

176 Progress, not on track
Number of staff
Interpretation of the Embassy results in the context

Through the payment of salaries, AU-PSD is able to execute its activities in the field of peace and security in Africa. Among other things, it is responsible for the management of African peace support operations, such as AMISOM, mediation processes and conflict and early warning prevention. The AU mediates in several African conflicts, including the mediation processes involving President Mbeki in Sudan and President Konare in South Sudan. AU-PSD has initiated a Mediation Support Unit that supports these processes. Another example is AU's Burundi Office, which was tasked with supporting military and human rights observers in the field during the ongoing political crisis. The Continental Early Warning System has been strengthened to enhance conflict analysis and to enable the African Union to react to potential conflicts at an earlier stage.

Number of staff of IGAD Peace and Security Department (PSD) paid by NL and other donors

40 Progress, not on track
Number of staff
Interpretation of the Embassy results in the context

The IGAD Peace and Security Department is responsible for intergovernmental activities in the field of peace and security in the Horn Region. In practical terms, among other activities, donor financing enables IGAD to conduct mediation and state-building activities in South Sudan and Somalia, and early warning and conflict prevention activities in the various border areas of the Horn region.

Background & future

Interpretation of the results in context

Both the AU and IGAD have a shortage of capacity, leading to poorer results than planned. They are under-resourced multilateral organisations. Within the AU, these challenges have been acknowledged by President Kagame. He has prepared reform plans, which are currently under discussion amongst member states, including raising member states' contributions to the financing of the AU. Somalia: the programmes in Somalia supported by the embassy remained largely on track, the only exception being the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Mogadishu Prison and Major Crimes Complex Programme. Construction of the Mogadishu prison and court complex was delayed due to issues between the UNOPS contractor and the Custodial corps. In the meantime, these issues have been resolved and much of the complex has been constructed.

Glimpse into the future

International partners are aware of the challenges faced by the AU and IGAD. In dialogue with both, partners aim to arrive at planning that is as realistic as possible. Partners also stress the need for higher membership contributions for both organisations. This is a work in progress. Regarding the Kagame initiative and financing reforms, the ball is now with the AU member states. Somalia: the Netherlands will continue to support the Somalia Stability Fund, UNODC, the Somaliland Development Fund and Free Press Unlimited in 2017. It will remain focused on stability and rule of law as the most important programme areas.

Financial summary

Total expenditure Embassy € 6,525,831

Expenditure 2016 per theme

Expenditure 2016 per channel

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | Directorate-General for International Cooperation
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© Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands | September 2017