Strengthening the operating environment of CSO's ability to participate in advocacy for policy change and equality of marginalized groups.

Date- 2023-2025;  Funded- European Union

Implementing partners:

Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum (SONSAF)- Lead applicant Somaliland National Youth Organisation (SONYO)- Co-applicant: Somaliland National Disability Forum (SNDF)- Co-applicant:

Project Description

The civic space in Somaliland is increasingly shrinking; for example, in 2021, over 80% of CSOs had their licenses revoked; this is attributed to the fact that a significant number of CSOs have a low capacity to design and implement demand-driven projects.

CSOs are crucial in attaining citizens’ rights and promoting responsive, inclusive, and accountable governance. Unfortunately, the full magnitude of CSO’s potential impact in Somaliland is yet to be realised in many areas due to the lack of capacity and collaboration to have unified and amplified voices. Consequently, there is limited CSO engagement in policy dialogue on issues of citizen interest, including political representation, rights of the most vulnerable groups and environmental protection.

Therefore, the project’s overall objective is to strengthen the capacity of CSOs institutionally and improve the operating environment to promote good governance, accountability, better coordination, and prioritisation support to vulnerable groups.

Project Objectives

The project focuses on two specific objectives to ensure that CSO’s participation and contribution at both national and regional levels are effective and sustainable.

•       To increase the capacity of CSOs to engage in policy dialogues and decision-making at a national and regional level.
•      To create a conducive operating environment to promote the interests of women and vulnerable groups

Project Objectives

    • Improved CSOs’ operating environment to provide oversight on democracy and good governance.

    • Institutionally capacitated and better coordinated CSOs that hold authorities to account for the inclusivity of national development plans and programmes.

    • Better informed CSOs that provide continued support to gender equality and the needs of vulnerable groups.

    • Increased participation of women and marginalized groups in the national development goals.

    • Increased access to public services for women and vulnerable groups.