PROJECT UPDATE
Project Overview
This initiative supported the Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD) with Somalia’s 1325 National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).
Project Profile
The Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM), with one of Canada’s premier experts, Urooj Mian, collaborated with the Government of Somalia’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development (MoWHRD) to help put into action the Somali Women’s Charter and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).
The initiative aimed to address ongoing challenges related to peace and security that affected Somali women, such as conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, access to justice, inclusion in the constitutional review processes, state-building and peacebuilding, national reconciliation, and transitional justice mechanisms, prevention of violent extremism, as well as climate change and humanitarian emergencies.
The work focused on assessments of the plans made at the national and local levels in Somalia. It monitored how these plans were implemented so they could manage challenges and opportunities in the future. It also assessed successful methods and lessons from other places to improve how they developed and put these national and local action plans into practice.
Key Deliverables
- Capacity Support and Training
- Participated in several related events with UN agencies and global networks
- Developed training materials and delivered training
- Supported the MoWHRD to join the Women, Peace, and Security Focal Point Network
- Technical Support and Knowledge Products
- Developed a performance measurement plan to support NAP implementation
- Produced a baseline note analyzing the status of the NAP and LAPs in Somalia, with comparative insights from international best practices
- Outlined a Theory of Change for the Interim Implementation Strategy
Project Outcomes and Lessons Learned
The project enhanced the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development’s capacity to develop, monitor, and evaluate Somalia’s National Action Plan and Local Action Plans.A key lesson learned is that implementing TAIs in complex contexts requires strong collaboration between Canadian Experts, National Experts, and ministry counterparts. Partner engagement during trainings and workshops proved essential to sustaining momentum and achieving results.
Direct Project Reach:
- Four participants engaged through activities conducted and project deliverables
Public Engagement (Canada):
- 59 Canadians reached through outreach and engagement activities
Public Engagement Activities:
- Canadian expert Urooj Mian:
- Delivered a presentation at the University of Ottawa
- Participated in the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York
- Contributed to the TAP Blog for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: Supporting WSP in Somalia
