Dear colleagues,
 
Greetings from ReDSS Somalia Country Unit.  We wish you the very best rewards for your devotion during the month of Ramadhan and Eid Mubarak!
 
We are pleased to share with you our second bi-monthly update of the year covering the months of March and April. In this update, you will find information on the finalization of the displacement financing study and the data collection process of the aspirations survey Phase 2. It also includes information on ReDSS trainings and learning events, Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) new resources on Housing Land and Property rights and on the National Durable Solutions Strategy.

Displacement financing case study the Somalia Case study of the displacement financing study has been finalised and will be disseminated in the coming weeks along with a regional synthesis report and two other country case studies for Ethiopia and Kenya. Findings from the synthesis report were presented at the IGAD Kampala Declaration experts meeting, which was held from 27-28 April 2021. For further details reach out to Anna Salvarli, ReDSS policy and internal displacement coordinator a.salvarli@regionaldss.org.
 
Listening to displacement-affected communities overtime – understanding intentions and aspirations in support of durable solutions (Baidoa, Kismayo and Mogadishu): In the past two months, REACH collected data in the three research locations reaching 1,212 households. Next steps in this process include analyzing the data collected and comparing it with the findings of the aspirations survey Phase 1, to provide a better understanding of the context changes and factors influencing displaced persons’ decisions to either stay in or leave their current location. Discussions will take place in June.

Somalia Training of Trainers (ToT) course on durable solutions for Somali authorities:  ReDSS Somalia rolled out the pilot session of the DS ToT between 19th April and 26th April together with NCRI and MoPIED, and with the support of the Durable Solutions and Danwadaag Programmes. Eighteen government trainees were trained on the definition and measurement of durable solutions, area-based planning, community-based planning and housing land and property rights. ln the coming months, ReDSS will follow up with respective ministries/institutions at Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member State levels. For more information please contact Andrew Maina, Solutions Coordinator andrew.maina@regionaldss.org

Protecting displaced women’s housing, land and property rights: NRC published new resources on displaced women’s rights to housing, land and property that include a study titled Consolidating Rights that details NRC experience on these rights in six countries including Somalia.  These resources also include a virtual exhibition and tutorials on security of tenure in protracted urban settings that you can find here. The resources contribute to the body of evidence on protection of women’s housing, land and property rights, with a focus on displaced women.

Operationalizing National Durable Solutions Strategy: The Durable Solution Unit of the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Planning (MoPIED) of the Federal Government of Somalia launched a Durable Solutions Sub-Working Group (DS SWG) and held its 1^st meeting on 15th April. Members comprise of UN, NGOS and Federal Government of Somalia officials. The DS SWG will support the government operationalize the National Durable Solutions Strategy that is a critical component of the National Development Plan 9. Next meeting will take place on 20th May to discuss on a TOR and a work plan. For more information, please contact Abdullahi Hassan, Solutions Manager  a.hassan@regionaldss.org.    

ReDSS quarterly review meeting: ReDSS Somalia members held a quarterly review meeting on the 15th of April. Members reviewed achievements made in the quarter, reflected on the themes on displacement affected communities’ financial inclusion and measuring durable solutions processes, and were updated on the ReDSS aspirations survey phase 2. The session was attended by 15-member organizations. The next quarterly meeting is planned for early July, 2021.

Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG): ReDSS in conjunction with the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) held two Durable Solutions Working Group meetings on 10^th March and 29^th April. The outcome of the meeting included a collective reflection on the effect of political impasse on durable solutions processes planned for the year. ReDSS and RCO are planning for a durable solutions stock taking event on the 26^th of May bringing together donors and durable solutions practitioners to reflect on progress made on the durable solutions agenda.