Garowe, PUNTLAND – President Said Abdullahi Deni has called for a fundamental rethinking of the way in which aid is delivered and managed in the region. Speaking with unprecedented candor about the challenges and complexities of the aid economy, President Deni highlighted the urgent need for close cooperation and consultation between the government and the various NGOs, international NGOs, and UN agencies operating in Puntland.
President Deni spoke frankly about the phenomenon of individuals joining the government, UN agencies, or implementing organizations with the sole purpose of facilitating contracting to themselves, companies that they own, or those of their clans. He also criticized the perception that certain organizations and ministries are “owned” by specific clans, undermining the principles of fairness, transparency, and accountability that should guide the distribution of aid and resources.
To address these challenges, President Deni announced that Puntland would be creating a new mechanism to monitor ongoing projects run by INGOs and the UN, and to hold these organizations to account for their actions and impact. This bold move represents a significant departure from the status quo, and a clear signal that the government of Puntland is no longer willing to tolerate the waste, inefficiency, and corruption that have plagued the aid economy for far too long.
The Aid Economy
As one of Somalia’s most stable and prosperous regions, Puntland has long been a major recipient of international aid and assistance, with a wide range of NGOs, INGOs, and UN agencies operating in the region to support development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding efforts.
However, the aid economy in Puntland is not without its challenges and contradictions. On the one hand, the influx of international aid and resources has played a critical role in supporting the region’s development and stability, providing essential services and support to communities in need. On the other hand, the aid economy has also been characterized by a high degree of waste, inefficiency, and corruption, with resources often failing to reach their intended beneficiaries and instead being diverted to serve the interests of powerful individuals and groups.
In a region where clan affiliations and loyalties often take precedence over formal institutions and processes, the distribution of aid and resources has become a key arena for political and economic competition, with different clans vying for control over the flow of funds and the implementation of projects.
This has led to a situation in which aid and development efforts are often shaped more by the interests and agendas of powerful individuals and groups than by the needs and priorities of the communities they are intended to serve. It has also created a perverse set of incentives, in which individuals and organizations are often more concerned with securing access to aid resources and contracts than with delivering effective and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing Puntland.
The Need for Reform
Against this backdrop, President Deni’s call for reform of the aid economy in Puntland represents a bold and necessary step towards addressing the challenges and contradictions that have long plagued the region’s development and humanitarian efforts. The President has set the stage for a fundamental rethinking of the way in which aid is delivered and managed in Puntland.
Central to this effort will be the creation of a new mechanism to monitor ongoing projects run by INGOs and the UN, and to hold these organizations to account for their actions and impact. This mechanism, which is expected to be launched in the coming months, will play a critical role in ensuring that aid resources are being used effectively and efficiently, and that they are reaching the communities and individuals who need them most.
However, the success of this effort will also depend on a broader shift in the culture and practices of the aid economy in Puntland, and a greater willingness on the part of all actors to work together in a spirit of collaboration and partnership. This will require a fundamental rethinking of the way in which aid and development efforts are conceptualized and implemented, moving away from a top-down, donor-driven approach and towards a more participatory and inclusive model that prioritizes local ownership and leadership.
It will also require a greater commitment on the part of international actors to engage with and support local institutions and processes, rather than bypassing them in the pursuit of their own agendas and interests. This will involve a greater emphasis on capacity building and institutional strengthening, as well as a more strategic and long-term approach to development and peacebuilding efforts in the region.
