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Planning, Research and Statistics

Introduction

The functions of this Directorate includes:

  • Assist in policy formation and implementation of the Ministry.
  • Formation of development plan.
  • Preparation of advance proposal and draft budget for the Ministry.
  • Monitoring planned implementation and identifies areas of research.
  • Processing contract documents for the Ministry to issue or award contract letter.
  • Collection and Keeping of data (Data Base of the Ministry.

                                                 Somalia National Development Plan

                                                            Work Plan 2016-2019

Background

Infrastructure is subjected to damage and destruction during the course of any conflict with resultant decreased per capita access. As a result, restoration of infrastructure can be a major dividend of peace and is a critical factor in the success of post-conflict recovery. In conflict-sensitive environments, the effectiveness of infrastructure is a contributor to and a barometer whether a society will slip back into violence or make a peaceful transition out of the conflict cycle.

Infrastructure encompasses institutions and human capabilities, as well as material and physical processes, systems and structures. Thus restoration of infrastructure systems must include economic (transport, energy and communication) social infrastructure (water, sanitation, housing, schools and hospitals) and institutional infrastructure including the facilities, equipment, and personnel required for governance at the local and national levels. A vision and framework for planning, reconstruction and development of such infrastructure systems requires national and local in-depth stakeholder consultation to achieve legitimacy and ownership.

Infrastructure systems in its broadest sense can be described by three main constituent components: assets, knowledge and institutional capacity. Infrastructure systems are acting as the vehicle needed to deliver goods and services to ensure the effective functioning of society. Without any one of the above three elements there will be neither a functional asset nor capacity (knowledge and institutions) to manage (develop, own, operate or maintain) the assets. Infrastructure systems can be described as the enabler through which delivery of goods and essential services to the economy and society as a whole are provided. The inability for infrastructure to perform effectively as the enabler to supply goods and services not only limits the economic development of a country or region but can stifle recovery and reconstruction in a post conflict environment.

Infrastructure development does not stop with the provision of built facilities; service provision that actually makes the physical infrastructure accessible to the citizens is likewise important. Roads are rehabilitated to provide access to markets and employment, hospitals are built to provide health services,  government buildings are rehabilitated to provide the preconditions for good governance and service delivery and housing projects are needed to provide adequate living conditions to IDPs, returnees, urban poor and other vulnerable groups. Demands placed upon infrastructure systems resulting from protracted displacement, migration and rapid urban growth have been neglected for decades and strained existing physical infrastructure to and beyond their functional limits.

In the case of Somalia, several consultations with stakeholders ranging from civil society, national and local authorities and international development partners have been undertaken, including assessments of the current state of infrastructure, the priority needs for reconstruction and practical requirements to achieve priority improvements in the country. It is on this basis that this National Infrastructure Development Plan has been developed.

National infrastructure planning in Somalia involves at least five key federal ministries

  • Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction (incl. roads authority)
  • Ministry of Ports & Marine Transport
  • Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation
  • Ministry of Energy & Water
  • Ministry of Post &Telecommunication

 

Introduction

In line with the Federal Government of Somalia’s endorsement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will act as a guiding framework for the infrastructure sector development priorities with due consideration given to localizing the SDGs with the needs of the Somali people.

The consequences of over two decades of a civil war, that has had adverse effects on the political and economic systems of the country and culminated in complete institutional collapse which can be directly felt by many Somalis who as a result have no access to fundamental public services.

The lack of an effective federal government since 1991 has significantly hindered the country’s development in particular with regards to reconstructing the public infrastructure and the necessary regulatory and governance frameworks. This has left Somalia faced with the complex and pressing challenges of state building and reconstruction in the absence of endogenous sources of public revenue, and with hardly any institutional capacity.

Development and rehabilitation of transport infrastructure (roads, ports and airports) will help re-establish the physical links destroyed by war, facilitate the strengthening of social links, and expand regional trade. In the road sub-sector, there is need to re-establish regional interconnectivity with countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti, and between the various regions within Somalia with the aim of supporting efforts towards peace and reconciliation and regional linkage. Agriculture and livestock account for 65% of the Somali economy, and employ around the same percentage of the Somali labour force. This value chain requires specific attention from the perspective of trade, transport and development corridors when planning the transport sector in the country, also with regard to exporting livestock through Somali ports.

This chapter addresses some of these key challenges beginning with capturing both the short and long term vision of the Federal Infrastructure Ministries, then progressing on to analyse the present conditions of the infrastructure sector, the main challenges facing the infrastructure sector’s growth and expansion, highlighting the sector’s development objectives, strategic policies and sector development priorities. This chapter will also highlight the infrastructure sector’s main programmes needed to achieve the defined sectorial objectives for 2017 to 2019 while also assessing the aggregated resources required and planning the milestones for infrastructure development. Finally, it will engage in a discussion on the coordination mechanisms required to successfully implement the strategic objectives and activities across Somalia.

Vision for Infrastructure Development: 

The short term (3 years) vision for Somalia’s infrastructure is to lay out the foundations of resilient infrastructure systems that will provide the necessary services for all (setup the organizational structures & capacity, infrastructure standards, legislations, priorities, strategies, mobilize resources and planning for long term infrastructure development, land and urban planning), while simultaneously rehabilitating, (re)constructing, upgrading and developing the existing infrastructure systems in compliance with SDGs to create infrastructure that enhances the employment, increases food security, buildup resilience, respect Somali cultural heritages and is sustainable.

In the long term (15 years/2030) Somalia is envisioning to have its infrastructure serve Somalia and the people of the Horn of Africa, to facilitate economic and social development (interconnecting the nation and the region, with modern telecommunication, so that Somali citizens have access to affordable (renewable) energy, water and advanced waste disposal systems, adequate and sustainable housing, under the guidance of proper urban planning and financed in a sustainable manner.

 

Overall Objective for the infrastructure sector in 2017 to 2019:

Revitalize essential infrastructure and services to set foundations for social, economic and sustainable development.

 

  1. Situation Analysis of the Infrastructure Sector

The collapse of the Somali State during the civil war culminated in the destruction of public and private infrastructure assets and systems including roads, factories, hospitals, laboratories, schools, businesses and ministries as well as the loss of legislative and other key documents that provided regulatory or planning frameworks for the infrastructure sector. Protracted displacement, internal migration and rapid urbanization pose an additional challenge to service delivery and planning in the infrastructure sector. This impact can be felt when analysing the present conditions of key infrastructure components.

 

Land and urban planning

The urbanization process in Somalia has happened haphazardly, with no spatial planning or

urban management. While some urban centers of the main settlement are relatively structured in terms of lay-out, based on pre-civil war planning attempts, much of the urban space, including vacant space within the formal urban fabric, holds pockets of ‘nomadic’ tents (‘buuls’) belonging to internally displaced communities or recent arrivals of refuge returnees. In some areas former farmland is being converted into ‘urban’ land by tracing a grid with a bulldozer, subdividing it into plots, leaving no space for public infrastructure.

While the Somali construction sector is booming due to the current reconstruction activities in the country, the infrastructure ministries at federal and state level are operating in a grey zone without any up to date urban legislation. The majority of legislation for the infrastructure sector dates to a pre-war period and its status is either not clarified or not existing. Regional and local governments lack guidance through policies, norms and standards and the few current infrastructure rehabilitation projects are not built hand in hand with planning of related service provision.

 

Housing

Access to adequate housing is a challenge growing fast with Somalia’s high urbanization rate. Around 10% of Somalis are IDPs of which most live in camps and informal settlements.  An increasing number of urban dwellers, especially the most poor and vulnerable groups (not only IDPs, but also women-headed households, refugee returnees, persons with disabilities and youth) are living in precarious conditions, addressing their housing needs informally, lacking access to basic services, isolated from livelihood opportunities and vulnerable to forced evictions or homelessness. Somalia’s public and private housing stock has after more than 20 years of conflict been largely destroyed. Adequate housing is not affordable to IDPs and the urban poor, and affordable housing is not adequate. The funding gap is greatest in the shelter sector with less than 7% of the urban poor having access to adequate housing.

Transport (Roads, Ports and Airports)[1]

Efficient transport infrastructure is essential within an economy as it dictates the type of economic and social activities that can be conducted within a particular section of the country. One of the most important factors for making investment decisions is the availability of proper transport networks that facilitate the movement of goods, services as well as workers. Moreover, a well-developed transport network enables the underdeveloped communities to access essential goods and services. The transport infrastructure is also particularly important in enabling connectivity which will enable the efficient delivery of other infrastructure programs and other development plans. There is the potential to link Somalia with land-locked countries in the region (Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda and Central Africa) through rehabilitation of inter-state and inter-regional road corridors and development of transit service facilities.

 

Roads

The road networks in Somalia are mostly in poor to very poor condition as 90 percent of the roads have deteriorated and are well past their designed life-span. With a huge maintenance backlog, there is a significant need for reconstructing or resurfacing these existing paved roads throughout all of Somalia.  Within the country, only 2,860 km (13%) of a total 21,830 km of roads are paved. The rest of the network is earthen or gravel. A major part of the investment in the roads and transport program can deliver livelihoods and cash transfer benefits while improving the infrastructure. Overall in Somalia, approximately 80% of the population living in settlements, towns and cities resides in only 10 large cities[2], this is 50 per cent of the total Somali population. Thus priority also needs to be given to roads serving main cities, towns and settlements. This will help create employment, link markets, and reduce the cost of doing business, making Somali enterprises more competitive. Somalia is also not well connected to its neighbours. This limits economic activities such as trade within the region.

 

Ports

Somalia’s strategic location at the Horn of Africa on the Suez Canal shipping route and the longest country coastline (3,025 km) in Africa offers a great advantage to port operators. Despite the long shoreline Somalia has only four deep-water ports. Built in the 1980s, these four major operational ports in Somalia are situated in the economic centres of Mogadishu, Berbera, Kismayo and Bosasso, with only Mogadishu and Berbera handling significant volumes of traffic. All these ports were originally under the control of the Somali Ports Authority, which no longer exists.

Somalia’s ports are important for the country’s exports, which are heavily concentrated around livestock that makes up 81% of all the total exports, oil seeds (10.5%) and animal hides and skins (2.4 %) with Saudi Arabia being the largest trade destination accounting for over 55% of all exports by value. Largest import sector s are the construction sector and related industries as well as food items (vegetables, flour, cereals, dairy products and tobacco), together comprising 62% of total imports. Though there is easing of security situation, Somali ports had been badly affected by piracy with 237 cases reported in 2010, 75 in 2012 and 15 in 2013.

Despite the devastating effects of the civil war, these major ports are in reasonably good condition. However, the ports face considerable challenges in augmenting their operating performance, which is poor for two main reasons: First, the ports have limited equipment, with most of the cargo handling being carried out using the gear of the ships themselves. Second, they are operated by the government with a large pool of unionized dockworkers and based on outdated working practices. These challenges limit the capacity of the port to meet the demands of economic growth. As the primary mode of importing and exporting economic goods into the country, the capacity of ports needs to be enhanced in order to strengthen the potential for economic growth. To facilitate exports rehabilitation of feeder and coastal roads linking the ports to interior agricultural productive zones of the country are needed.

Airports

Somalia has an estimated number of 60 airstrips, airfields and airports evenly spread across the country and developed since independence mainly for military strategic reasons. There are 7 major feeder airports, and 23 other important airstrips. The 6 main airports include Mogadishu, Berbera, Hargeisa, Bosasso (recently upgraded), Garowe and Kismayo. Almost all other major urban centres also maintain at least one airstrip that is capable of handling a small aircraft.

With its thin population, spread out over a large area with only a few large urban centers and with a roving pastoral population of 40%, airports are critical for national and international connectivity, access and mobility. Airports and the aviation industry are a critical backbone of the national economy due to its important role in delivering critical humanitarian and emergency assistance to large vulnerable population groups, ensuring high value trade benefits for the economy and as a generator for revenue and job creation. Somalia’s per-capita income is among the lowest in the world. As a result, the ability of Somalis to pay for commercial aviation is low. Somalia’s aviation sector is underdeveloped in comparison with other African states, as well as with the rest of the world. Somalia has very low levels of commercial aircraft activity and passenger movements, and some inherent limitations with regard to the operating environment, political instability and internal conflicts. The various regions and governments need to have a well-defined role as regulators and facilitators of growth in the aviation environment.

The absence of a Somali Aviation Authority is a major challenge to control and develop of the aviation sector, as well as the lack of aviation equipment and skilled human resources.

Water, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management[3]

Water

A large portion of Somalia’s population relies on uncontrolled, low quality shallow-wells for its water supply. Majority of the water sources in rural areas are dug wells (62%) and boreholes (19%) complemented by surface water sources. Urban areas depend mainly on boreholes complemented by dug wells for water supply. Overall access to improved water supply in Somalia increased from 21% in 2000 to 30% in 2011. However, proportion of rural dwellers with access to water and sanitation significantly decreased from 15% to 7%, while that of urban areas increased from 35% to 66% in the same period. Existing urban and rural infrastructure systems are aged and in some cases destroyed during the prolonged civil war. About 60% of existing water supply infrastructure assets require rehabilitation, expansion or replacement in both urban and rural areas to meet the increasing demand. Provision of urban water supply services by the private sector is uncoordinated and unregulated resulting in inefficiency and non-optimal use of available resources.

The water supply sector is confronted with the challenges to accelerate delivery of improved water infrastructure services while lacking institutional and organizational capacities, policies and regulatory framework, adequate sector financing, and skilled labour, who would be key to building up the capacity of the sector, enhancing its operation, maintenance and delivery mechanisms. Absence of adequate infrastructure for harnessing the available surface and ground water potential hinders easy, reliable and equitable access to water supply for domestic and agricultural uses.

 

Sanitation

Access to improved sanitation in urban areas jumped from 45% in 2000 to 52% in 2014. About 3% of the urban dwellers resort to open defecation. On the other hand, access to improved sanitation in rural areas decreased from 10% to 6% over the same period. This is highly attributed to open defecation as currently approximately 83% of the rural population practises open defecation. This explains the observed high incidence of water and sanitation related diseases. About 40% of sanitation infrastructure systems require rehabilitation in both urban and rural areas.

 

Solid Waste Management

Urban residents are, after more than 20 years of conflict, used to irregular city clean up campaigns based on cash for work type activities and lack understanding of the importance of sustainable and regular solid waste collection and management. While some pilot initiatives have explored sustainable approaches towards solid waste management, most urban areas are characterized by informal dump sites, dirty streets and absence of sustainable solid waste collection systems and facilities. In Somalia, municipalities have limited human and technical capacity and skills to carry out sustainable and systematic solid waste collection and management. In some cities small private companies are involved in waste collection and disposal but contracts with municipalities are often of short duration, a fact that hinders larger investment in technical equipment. Urban communities are used to disposing off household, business and hospital waste on the streets or informal dump sites and are reluctant to pay for regular waste collection and management. Urban poor, in particular women and youth, often collect household and business waste for a small fee and dispose it unregulated and uncontrolled. The few existing formal waste disposal sites do not meet minimum environmental standards.

Energy[4]

 The limited availability, reliability and the high cost of energy are major constraints on economic growth in Somalia. The energy mix in Somalia is reliant upon locally available charcoal and firewood as the core sources of energy, meeting nearly 80 to 90% of the energy needs of the whole country and resulting in excessive exploitation of these primary sources. Annual consumption of charcoal is estimated at around 4 million tons per year, equivalent to about 400 kg/capita/annum, a rate that is fast exhausting Somali’s few forests. The prevalence of charcoal and wood for cooking also has serious health impacts at the household level that can be mitigated by the introduction of cleaner, more efficient and cost-effective end-use devices and modernand environmentally friendly cooking fuels.  Petroleum products, essentially for transport, electricity generation, cooking and lighting account for about 10% of the total energy use. Electric power generation (almost entirely diesel-fueled) accounts for about 2 of these 10%. Several cities (Garowe, Hargeisa, Bosaaso, Berbera, Qardo) have small, generally dilapidated grids which are not always in use. Overall, the total installed and operational generating capacity in Somalia is estimated to be 80 to 85 MW at estimated 250,000 connections. Drops in voltage are frequent and supply is limited to 5 to 6 hours per day. The low tension (480/220 V) over sometimes long distances leads to tension and technical losses with most small generators reporting 40% to 50% power loss.

On the other hand, renewable energy potential is abundant. The solar energy potential ranges from 5 to 7 kWh/m2/day with over 310 sunny days in a year or 3,000 hours of sunshine per annum. Somalia is also characterized by strong wind regimes with annual average speeds of 1.5 to 11.4 m/s with potential for small hydro power (around 100 to120 MW) along the Shabelle and Juba rivers.

Due to the lack of investment, the volatile security situation and the absence of public resources and public oversight, the potential to cultivate electricity and expand electricity infrastructure systems and markets has been hampered over the past two decades.  Renewable and alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, present substantive opportunities to diversify and expand the energy infrastructure systems of Somalia but so far has not been harnessed, due to both security and funding problems. Developing both fossil and renewable resources will require a functioning transport and logistics sector. Major challenges experienced within the energy sector include inadequate qualified personnel, limited access to and supply of electricity power, exploitation of biomass, and low penetration of modern and environmentally frielndly energy, especially in the rural areas.

Information Communication and Technology (ICT)[5]

The ICT sector in Somalia has flourished under a self-regulated private sector regime and is known to be a key contributor to the economy. Somalia’s ICT market consists of 11 operators and 4 million mobile connections, but teledensity is only about 7% and the proportion of Internet users is only about 1%. However, ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors and the third largest industry by employment in the country. The sector employs around 25,000 Somalis, generates substantial profit and has enabled a mobile penetration rate of 7 subscriptions per 100 people. Most readily available ICT media are radio and mobile phones. The TV and press sectors are weak, with radio being the dominant medium. The country has around 20 radio stations. 86% of households have access to radio and 26% to TV. Radio and TV sub-sectors need to be further developed as employment and revenue generating sectors.

However, Somalia lacks an ICT policy and regulation to guide infrastructure roll-out as well as the development of ICT applications such as mobile money transfer. The country’s volatile security and lack of stable energy sources greatly hinder growth in the ICT sector. Low literacy and ICT skill levels among vast groups of the population limit demand for ICT services in the country.

Somalia has access to the East Africa Sub-marine Cable System (internet) with Mogadishu so far being the only landing point that also connects to local optic-fibre cable lines. Somalia is, however, extremely close to several major undersea cable networks which connect Europe, the Gulf Region in Middle East and India trough the Gulf of Aden and transfer a major share of the globalized Information Economy of the 21st century, for example through the Europe-India-Gateway (EIG) or India-Middle East-Western Europe (I-ME-WE) network. The strategic position of Somalia has not been explored when it comes to investment opportunities for the growing number of educated young people who do not find adequate jobs at the domestic labor market.

 

  1. The Main Challenges hindering the Infrastructure Sector growth and expansion

Despite the progress made towards peace and stability, Somalia continues to face major challenges in revitalizing the infrastructure sector. Systemic challenges include the absence of an integrated national infrastructure plan that is grounded in a sustainable approach to development for all the regions in the country.

The absence of and lack of funding to enforce harmonized policies and regulatory frameworks at the federal and local levels of government including basic standards such as building codes also inhibits the development of the sector as it prevents the capacity of government structures to effectively regulate ongoing projects. This challenge is further exacerbated by a dearth of infrastructure professionals and a skilled labour force, who can substantively contribute their technical capacity to the development of the sector. The absence of both is adversely impacting the capacity to adequately deliver, monitor and maintain quality infrastructure systems.

The extremely limited capacity of Somalia’s existing four deep-sea ports combined with the high percentage of imported construction materials (hardly any in-country production) does not only lead to high construction and transportation costs but also creates a serious bottle neck for scaling up construction and rehabilitation investments and efforts.

Gaping budgetary constraints and Somalia’s inability to access international financing for large-scale infrastructure projects have also limited the possibilities of investment in the sector. Because of the lack of a centralized coordination and regulatory mechanism, haphazard sector development activities hamper the realization of a big picture development.

The volatile security situation in large parts of the country poses specific security threats that hinder expansion of the infrastructure sector: ensuring security of workers, materials and works during rehabilitation works in insecure areas, safeguarding long infrastructure networks/ pipelines after completion, creation of critical but vulnerable infrastructure assets in particular with regards to energy plants and securing large scale immobile investments.

As security challenges continue, investment in the development of private and public infrastructure will struggle to take off.

  1. Infrastructure Sector’s Development Objectives

Overcoming the challenges to infrastructure rehabilitation and connecting investment in infrastructure to the long-term development of Somalia is the overarching long-term objective of the infrastructure development sector. However, at the same time there is need to put in place practical and cost effective infrastructure sub-sector programmes that consider poverty reduction (SDG1), build resilient infrastructure (SDG9), ensure access to affordable energy (SDG7), achieve equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water (SDG6) and make cities safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG11), improve food and nutrition security through the use of more reliable and accessible cooking fuels (SDG2) and sustainably manage forest, combat desertification and protect biodiversity through substitution of biomass (SDG15). Through an integrated approach to infrastructure development, economic, socio-political and environmental sustainability will be achieved.

 

Key among the infrastructure sector’s development objectives include:

 

  1. Strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks at the Federal Infrastructure Ministries among other infrastructure sub sectors to guide, plan and implement infrastructure development in Somalia;

 

  1. Strengthening institutional and technical capacities of different infrastructure sectors to be able to plan and implement sector specific infrastructure development ;

 

  • Sector specific objectives include:
    1. Improving mobility and connectivity throughout Somalia and to the neighboring region,
    2. Strengthening urban and regional planning processes,
    3. Improving access to clean energy systems and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water,
    4. Increasing access to adequate and affordable housing in particular for IDPs, returnees, the urban poor and other persons in vulnerable situations,
    5. Providing telecommunication networks that ensure free and rapid flow of information.

 

  1. The Infrastructure Sector Strategic Policies

Development of several sector specific policies will provide a strong legal framework to support infrastructure system development in Somalia. Key among the policies needed to facilitate this include:

 

National Urban/ Land Policy

Land related conflict is by far the largest driver of conflict across Somalia. Lack of clear land tenure system with customary and formal land ownership systems operating together affects not only infrastructure development but also reintegration of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Destruction of land registries, related information and lack of a functional legal system makes land administration even harder. Unresolved occupation of land and property requires sustainable solutions before medium and large-scale infrastructure investments, proper urban planning and sustainable housing solutions are possible. A functioning system of land administration needs to be re-built. A land policy that creates institutions and laws to meet claims for property restitution and that shapes future social and economic structures is needed, without which infrastructure and other investment will be deterred. Urban land policies would prevent overcrowding, public health risks and the development of slums. As a first step a practical and functional solution based on successful local interventions and best practices needs to be developed to accommodate the instant need for urban planning and serviced land.

National Housing Policy

Housing rights challenges are common in Somalia like in other post conflict countries. Post  conflict  housing  reconstruction  would play an  important  role  in  establishing  the  Somali’s development  and prospect  of peace. A National Housing Policy addressing widespread property destruction, mass population return, reconstruction needs of the post conflict communities, and innovative housing finance mechanisms is needed.

National Policies of Transport and Civil Aviation

Policies and regulatory frameworks for the transport sector are required to ensure development of effective, efficient, and safe land, air and see transport systems. Regulations need to steer both public and private investments in line with the national priorities and support economic growth through the provision of better access to employment and enhance social service provision.

 

Sustainable Energy Investment Policy and Energy Strategy

The Federal Government of Somalia does not have any energy sector policy to regulate the sector.  The Energy Sector Management Department of the Federal Ministry also lacks human and financial capacity. Little capacity is available to develop legal and regulatory frameworks; hence the sector operates in a vacuum. However, Somalia is endowed with renewable energy resources to increase affordable energy supply for Somalia. Capacity development strategies towards an Energy Policy development with clear laws and regulation on renewable energy will greatly promote efficiency in the sector.  As a first step a Sustainable Energy Investment Policy focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as the development of an energy strategy for the whole country are essential.

Water and Sanitation Sector Policies

The water supply and sanitation sectors in Somalia are generally driven by a vibrant private sector with complementary services from the public sector. Despite the public sector playing a facilitative role, the sector lacks a policy and regulative framework hindering adequate and systematic sector development. Urgent institutional strengthening and sector capacity building to address institutional and organizational development and capacity deficiency challenges is needed.

ICT Policy

The area of policy and regulation is the number one priority for development of Somalia’s ICT sector to harness the potential of further investments, job creation and expanded e-service provision

  1. The Infrastructure Sector Development Priorities

Infrastructure development in Somalia currently takes place on land only. Capacity and institutional development in land and urban policy development including reconstitution of land registries provides a foundation for land based infrastructure system development. Somali cities are growing quickly, as a first step a simple and basic planning framework is needed to plan for urban growth and identify and plan city extension areas to accommodate and integrate IDPs and refugee returnees and provide housing strategies for the urban poor and rural – urban migrants.

Somalia’s road networks are nearly all earthen. Those paved are mostly in poor to very poor condition.  Maintenance and the need for reconstruction or resurfacing of existing paved roads need to take priority. However, this needs to go hand in hand with institutional and technical capacity development.

A safe, secure and cost effective aviation regulatory system will underpin the future development of air services and instill confidence to operate and invest. Somalia needs to establish a credible regulatory platform from which to develop, service, and fill gaps in the current aviation system.

Somalia port’s tonnage is expected to increase to around 3.3 million tons by 2025, an almost 65% increase. Given the present berth occupancy rates of 20% at below par handling speeds and high costs, improvement in specialized handling capacity, hinterland connectivity and port information system to track its performance is of great priority.

The improvement and increased access to energy through use of renewable energy and to substitute biomass fuels in households is vital. Actual investments should focus on providing affordable, consistent and renewable energy at scale. However, technical capacity development for the sector authorities is needed to roll-out basic regulatory framework to guide development.

The area of policy and regulation is the number one priority for development of Somalia’s ICT sector. This would include developing a regulatory framework for the telecommunications sector and building an ICT infrastructure in Somalia. Technical assistance in establishing an independent regulator (preferably a converged regulator for telecommunications and broadcasting) and identification of key regulatory issues would be of great importance. Furthermore, there is also need to ensure that Somalia complies with the international cut-off date for migration from analogue to digital transmission.

In short to medium term, strategic interventions in water and sanitation will be rehabilitation and/ or extension of rural and urban water and sanitation infrastructure systems to improve service delivery and ensure sustainable management. Institutional strengthening and sector capacity building to address institutional and organizational development and capacity deficiency challenges is needed as well as ground water resource mapping to provide updated and more reliable data on aquifers, including aquifer monitoring and management to avoid over exploitation.

  1. The Main Infrastructure Sector’s Programmes during the Plan Period

 

  1. Institutional Capacity Building Programme for the Infrastructure Ministries
  • Support in development of policies and regulatory frameworks governing the sector and linking them to those of international and regional associations and bodies such as COMESA, NEPAD etc.,
  • Undertake technical trainings on effective reconstruction, planning, managing, maintenance and procurement of public infrastructure works in Somalia,
  • Support the ministries capacity to develop and implement National Development Plan Pillar 3.
  1. National Land, Physical Planning and Urban Solutions Programme
  • Develop national land and urban policies with a focus on climate change prevention and natural disaster planning,
  • Lay-out foundation or road map for reconstruction of national land cadaster and registry,
  • Develop national public land inventory – to facilitate infrastructure system development,
  • Strengthen institutional and technical capacities (human resource and technical skills) of national and regional planning institutions,
  • Facilitate planning of regional development corridors and settlement systems,
  • Develop regional and urban strategic plans with special focus on urbanization and local economic development, and develop spatial strategic plans for all state capitals and other urban centers which guide city extension and other urban development plans,
  • Undertake urban renewal/ reconstruction and expansion including rehabilitation of public space,
  • Develop and implement Urban Regulatory Frameworks for new states and for Mogadishu.

 

  • National Housing Programme: Adequate, Affordable and Sustainable Housing
  • Develop resettlement and integration solutions that are durable and at the same time upgrade conditions of temporary IDP shelter to meet minimum living standards through participatory pilot projects,
  • Develop National Urban Housing Sector Profile and National Housing Policy,
  • Facilitate access to land for housing development,
  • Identify and promote suitable alternative construction techniques, and specifications from local and international examples, which make use of local raw materials and labour, are affordable and of low embodied energy, and spur local economic development in the short and long term,
  • Identify and, if necessary, establish supply chains,
  • Establish municipal housing programmes (including rental subsidy programmes or owner driven incremental reconstruction using micro-credits for purchase of building materials).
  1. Roads and Social Services Improvement Programme
  • Develop policies and regulatory frameworks to guide future roads expansion and related service delivery,
  • Strengthen institutional and technical capacity to design, build and maintain roads,
  • Plan, rehabilitate and expand inter-state and inter-regional road corridors,
  • Create employment opportunities through labour-intensive approaches to roads rehabilitation,
  • Prioritize use of locally produced construction materials to enhance private sector development and employment creation,
  • Rehabilitate key social facilities such as schools, hospitals, markets, police stations and key public institutions to enhance social service provision.

 

  1. Ports Upgrading Programme
  • Establish Somali Maritime Administration/Authority,
  • Develop detailed Somalia Ports Development Strategy, update Somali Merchant Shipping Act and localize International Conventions for shipping and seafarers,
  • Institutional strengthening of authorities responsible for managing different ports,
  • Expand/ upgrade the four (4) existing deep-sea ports and construct one (1) new port, incl. rehabilitation of seamarks and lighthouses,
  • Rehabilitate and expand existing cost barge berths,
  • Harmonize port charges as a source of government revenue and facilitate sustainable use by local exporters,
  • Conduct feasibility studies and technical assessments for planning future investments,
  • Extend network of secondary ports and jetties to facilitate development of local fisheries and improve sea-based transport links.
  1. Aviation Infrastructure Programme
  • Reform Aviation Sector Policies and relevant Acts,
  • Carry out infrastructure rehabilitation at the main regional state airports, including rehabilitation of terminals,
  • Construct new international airport in Mogadishu,
  • Develop capacity and capability of regulatory and operators personnel,
  • Improve basic air navigation services and reconstruct the airport infrastructure to provide safe passenger and freight services to/from/via Somalia.
  • Utility Service Expansion and Affordability Programme
  • Develop sustainable energy investment, water and sanitation policies, and national energy provision strategy,
  • Establish a regulatory framework to guide public-privatepartnerships in energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors,
  • Develop institutional capacity to build, operate and maintain energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors utility infrastructure,
  • Rehabilitate and expand energy, water distribution and solid waste collection and management systems,
  • Expand access to clean energy (solar, wind, biogas) and reduce biomass based energy sources like fuel wood and charcoal,
  • Increase efficiency of energy systems, in particular: cooking system, reforestation programme, provision of alternative cooking fuel,
  • Promote decentralized energy systems, in particular solar mini grids,
  • Undertake assessment and map renewable energy resources, incl. wind pattern maps to harness wind energy,
  • Develop interregional and urban electricity grids,
  • Expand access to modern energy, especially electric power, using mainly renewable energy sources,
  • Extend modern and renewable energy products and services for lighting and cooking to rural and nomadic communities,
  • Map ground water resources to provide updated and more reliable data on aquifers, including aquifer monitoring and management to avoid over exploitation,
  • Implement rural and urban water supply and sanitation infrastructure programs to improve delivery and ensure sustainable management,
  • Promote sustainable and regular solid waste management based on user fees, develop respective legislation and implement pilot projects targeting bio-medical waste, recycling, waste to energy transformation and public awareness raising campaigns. Scale up existing best practices from previous pilot projects and provide solid infrastructure systems for environmental friendly waste disposal and recycling.
  • ICT Programme
  • Develop ICT Policy and Strategy for Somalia,
  • Technical assistance to establish an independent regulator and identification of key regulatory issues,
  • Develop National Broadband Plan,
  • Develop National e-strategy,
  • Develop National Digital Migration Strategy,
  • Connect Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa to the Broadband network.
  1. Aggregated Resources Requirement

(See table below on infrastructure programme

  1. Milestone of Infrastructure Sector development
  • Infrastructure sector institutions capacities are strengthened (skilled human capacity injected, the necessary sub-institution, structures & legislation established) and can lead the country’s infrastructure development progress,
  • Flagship programs in the infrastructure of each sector (e.g. ICT, transport, energy, livestock, agriculture, water & sanitation, housing and vital (state) government infrastructure) are initiated and/or under implementation.
  • Infrastructure strategy, master and investment plan is presented and leads to financial inflows to enable implementation and SITF is functional, including spatial plan for post NDP development programmes (2020).
  1. Coordination aspects and requirements with other Sectors/activities/regions

Inter-ministerial Infrastructure Steering Committee (IMISC) consisting of Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction, Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Ports & Marine Transport, Ministry of Energy & Water, and Ministry of Post &Telecommunication will be the leading entity to guide development of policies, strategies, legislation and implement infrastructure programs. Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction & Housing is the lead ministry and is chairing the IMISC. IMISC will soon include regional state members, international development partners and interested investors. IMISC will function as a platform where the infrastructure development ideas will be raised, planned and executed. Ministry of Public Works will, in close cooperation with Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) be responsible for the coordination with the other sectors (e.g. productive sector, agriculture, fishery, industry & tourism), national and international stakeholders, donors and investors to discuss infrastructure development ideas and strategies to develop Somali infrastructure systems.

There is also a need for inter-sectorial integrated infrastructure strategy to enhance economic growth and to increase nationwide economic development. The key ministry to coordinate the nationwide economic development programs and to combine sectorial strategies and program is the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC). The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is responsible for ensuring that adequate financial resources will be available for the Main Infrastructure Development Programmes outlined above.

  1. Conclusion (to be written once draft has been reviewed by all stakeholders)


Infrastructure Sector Intervention Programmes
Main Programmes Programme Description Time Frame Actors Involved SDG Estimated Costs (USD)
Institutional  Capacity Building Programme

 

Support development of policies and regulatory frameworks governing the sector and linking them to those of international and regional associations and bodies such as COMESA, NEPAD etc. Short to medium term All infrastructure ministries SDG 9  SDG 11
Undertake technical trainings on effective reconstruction, planning, managing, maintenance and procurement of public infrastructure works in Somalia Short term All infrastructure ministries SDG 9  SDG 11
Support the ministries capacity to develop and implement National Development Plan Pillar 3 Short to medium term All infrastructure ministries

 

SDG 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
National Land, Physical Planning and Urban Solutions Programme

 

 

 

 

 

Develop  national land and urban policies with a focus on climate change prevention and natural disaster planning Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Lay-out foundation or road map for reconstruction of national land cadaster and registry Short to long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Develop national public land inventory – to facilitate infrastructure system development  Short to medium term  Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Strengthen institutional and technical capacities (human resource and technical skills) of national and regional planning institutions Short to long term  Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction, State ministries SDG 11
Develop regional and urban strategic plans with special focus on urbanization and local economic development, and develop spatial strategic plans for all state capitals and other urban centers which guide city extension and other urban development plans Medium to long term  MPWR&H, State ministries SDG 11
Undertake urban renewal/ reconstruction and expansion including rehabilitation of public space Short to long term  MPWR&H, states municipalities SDG 11
Develop and implement Urban Regulatory Frameworks for new states and for Mogadishu Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction, State ministries SDG 11
National Housing Programme Develop resettlement and integration solutions that are durable and at the same time upgrade conditions of temporary IDP shelter to meet minimum living standards through participatory pilot projects Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Develop National Urban Housing Sector Profile and National Housing Policy Short term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Facilitate access to land for housing development Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 1

SDG 11

SDG 16

Identify and promote suitable alternative construction techniques, and specifications from local and international examples, which make use of local raw materials and labour, are affordable and of low embodied energy, and spur local economic development in the short and long term Short term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13
Identify and establish supply chains Medium to long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 1

SDG 11

Establish municipal housing programmes (including rental subsidy programmes or owner driven incremental reconstruction using micro-credits for purchase of building materials) Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 1

SDG 11

Roads and Social Services Improvement Programme

 

 

 

 

Develop policies and regulatory frameworks to guide future roads expansion and related service delivery Short term to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction; Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 8  SDG 9
Strengthen institutional and technical capacity to design, build and maintain roads Short term to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction; Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 8  SDG 9
Initiate rehabilitation and extension of inter-state and inter-regional corridors:

1. Mogadishu-Afgooye – Baidoa-Beled Hawo corridor

2. Mogadishu- Balad -Jowhar – Beledweyne-Galkayo Corridor

3. Mogadishu – Marka – Kismayo – Liboi Corridor (Kenya Border)

4. Mogadishu-Mesegowaay-Hobyo-Ayl  Corridor (inter-city coastal connection)

5. Berbera-Addis Ababa Corridor

6. Conduct assessment of Baidoa-Luuq Ganane-Dolow and Mandera road (Kenya/Ethiopia/Somalia tripoint)

7. Repair Kismayu-Bibi- Belesh Gogani-Liboi road (Kenya border)

8. Borama-ZaylacLoyada (Djibouti)

Long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction; Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 8  SDG 9
Undertake road / transport corridors planning and development Short/medium   term Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation,

Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction

SDG 8

SDG 9

Create employment opportunities through labour-intensive approaches to roads rehabilitation Short to long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 8
Prioritize use of locally produced construction materials to enhance private sector development and employment creation Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 8
Rehabilitate key social facilities such schools, hospitals, markets, police stations and key public institutions to enhance social service provision Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction and line ministries SDG 3

SDG 4

SDG 8

SDG 10

SDG 16

Ports Upgrading Programme

 

 

 

 

 

 

Establish Somali Maritime Administration/Authority Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport SDG 14
Develop detailed Somalia Ports Development Strategy, update Somali Merchant Shipping Act and localize International Conventions for shipping and seafarers Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport SDG 14
Institutional strengthening of authorities responsible for managing different ports Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport SDG 14
Expand/ upgrade the four (4) existing deep-sea ports and construct one (1) new port, incl. rehabilitation of seamarks and lighthouses Medium Term  Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport and MPWR&H SDG 8

SDG 9

SDG 14

Rehabilitate and expand existing cost barge berths Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport, MPWR&H SDG 8

SDG 9

SDG 14

Harmonize port charges as a source of government revenue and facilitate sustainable use by local exporters Short term  Ministry of Ports and Marine transport SDG 14
Conduct feasibility studies and technical assessments for planning future investments Short term  Ministry of Ports and Marine transport and MPWR&H SDG 9

SDG 14

Extend network of secondary ports and jetties to facilitate development of local fisheries and improve sea-based transport links Medium to long term Ministry of Ports and Marine transport and MPWR&H SDG 8

SDG 14

 

Aviation Infrastructure Programme Reform Aviation Sector Policies and relevant Acts Short term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 9
Carry out infrastructure rehabilitation at the main regional state airports, including rehabilitation of terminals Short to long term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 9
Construct new international airport in Mogadishu Medium to long term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 9
Develop capacity and capability of regulatory and operators personnel Short to medium term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 8

SDG 9

Improve basic air navigation services and reconstruct the airport infrastructure to provide safe passenger and freight services to/from/via Somalia  Short term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 9
Utility service expansion and affordability

 

 

 

 

 

Develop sustainable energy investment, water and sanitation policies, and national energy provision strategy Short term Ministry of Energy & Water

 

SDG 6

SDG 7

Establish a regulatory framework to guide public-private-partnerships in energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water,

MPWR&H

SDG 6  SDG 7
Develop institutional capacity to build, operate and maintain energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors utility infrastructure Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6  SDG 7
Rehabilitate and expand energy, water distribution and solid waste collection and management systems Long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6

SDG 7 SDG13

Expand access to clean energy (solar, wind, biogas) and reduce biomass based energy sources like fuel wood and charcoal Long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7

SDG 9

SDG 12

SDG 13

Increase efficiency of energy systems, in particular: cooking system, reforestation programme, provision of alternative cooking fuel Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7  SDG 9  SDG 12

SDG13

Promote decentralized energy systems, in particular solar mini grids Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7

 

Undertake assessment and map renewable energy resources, incl. wind pattern maps to harness wind energy Short term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7  SDG 9

SDG12

SDG13

Develop interregional and urban electricity grids Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7
Expand access to modern energy, especially electric power, using mainly renewable energy sources Medium to long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7

SDG12

SDG13

Extend modern and renewable energy products and services for lighting and cooking to rural and nomadic communities Medium to long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6

SDG12

SDG13

Map ground water resources to provide updated and more reliable data on aquifers, including aquifer monitoring and management to avoid over exploitation  Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13
Implement rural and urban water supply and sanitation infrastructure programs to improve delivery and ensure sustainable management Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6
Promote sustainable and regular solid waste management based on user fees, develop respective legislation and implement pilot projects targeting bio-medical waste, recycling, waste to energy transformation and public awareness raising campaigns. Scale up existing best practices from previous pilot projects and provide solid infrastructure systems for environmental friendly waste disposal and recycling Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6

SDG11

ICT Sector Programme

 

 

 

 

Develop ICT Policy and Strategy for Somalia Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Technical assistance to establish an independent regulator and identification of key regulatory issues Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Develop National Broadband Plan Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Develop National e-strategy Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Develop National Digital Migration Strategy

 

Medium term Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Connect Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa to the Broadband network Medium Term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9

 

[1] Compare ‘Transport Sector Needs Assessment’, Federal Government of Somalia and UNOPS, Dec 2015

[2] Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosasso, Galkayo, Berbera, Jowhar, Beledweyn, Merca, Kismayo and Baidoa

[3] Compare ‘Water and Sanitation Needs Assessment’, Federal Government of Somalia and African Development Bank, July 2015

[4] Compare ‘Energy Sector Needs Assessment’ , Federal Government of Somalia and African Development Bank, August 2015

[5] Compare ‘needs Assessment of ICT Sector in Somalia’, Federal Government of Somalia and African Development Bank, July 2014

Somalia National Development Plan

PILLAR 3: Infrastructure

Background

Infrastructure is subjected to damage and destruction during the course of any conflict with resultant decreased per capita access. As a result, restoration of infrastructure can be a major dividend of peace and is a critical factor in the success of post-conflict recovery. In conflict-sensitive environments, the effectiveness of infrastructure is a contributor to and a barometer whether a society will slip back into violence or make a peaceful transition out of the conflict cycle.

Infrastructure encompasses institutions and human capabilities, as well as material and physical processes, systems and structures. Thus restoration of infrastructure systems must include economic (transport, energy and communication) social infrastructure (water, sanitation, housing, schools and hospitals) and institutional infrastructure including the facilities, equipment, and personnel required for governance at the local and national levels. A vision and framework for planning, reconstruction and development of such infrastructure systems requires national and local in-depth stakeholder consultation to achieve legitimacy and ownership.

Infrastructure systems in its broadest sense can be described by three main constituent components: assets, knowledge and institutional capacity. Infrastructure systems are acting as the vehicle needed to deliver goods and services to ensure the effective functioning of society. Without any one of the above three elements there will be neither a functional asset nor capacity (knowledge and institutions) to manage (develop, own, operate or maintain) the assets. Infrastructure systems can be described as the enabler through which delivery of goods and essential services to the economy and society as a whole are provided. The inability for infrastructure to perform effectively as the enabler to supply goods and services not only limits the economic development of a country or region but can stifle recovery and reconstruction in a post conflict environment.

Infrastructure development does not stop with the provision of built facilities; service provision that actually makes the physical infrastructure accessible to the citizens is likewise important. Roads are rehabilitated to provide access to markets and employment, hospitals are built to provide health services,  government buildings are rehabilitated to provide the preconditions for good governance and service delivery and housing projects are needed to provide adequate living conditions to IDPs, returnees, urban poor and other vulnerable groups. Demands placed upon infrastructure systems resulting from protracted displacement, migration and rapid urban growth have been neglected for decades and strained existing physical infrastructure to and beyond their functional limits.

In the case of Somalia, several consultations with stakeholders ranging from civil society, national and local authorities and international development partners have been undertaken, including assessments of the current state of infrastructure, the priority needs for reconstruction and practical requirements to achieve priority improvements in the country. It is on this basis that this National Infrastructure Development Plan has been developed.

National infrastructure planning in Somalia involves at least five key federal ministries

  • Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction (incl. roads authority)
  • Ministry of Ports & Marine Transport
  • Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation
  • Ministry of Energy & Water
  • Ministry of Post &Telecommunication

 

Introduction

In line with the Federal Government of Somalia’s endorsement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will act as a guiding framework for the infrastructure sector development priorities with due consideration given to localizing the SDGs with the needs of the Somali people.

The consequences of over two decades of a civil war, that has had adverse effects on the political and economic systems of the country and culminated in complete institutional collapse which can be directly felt by many Somalis who as a result have no access to fundamental public services.

The lack of an effective federal government since 1991 has significantly hindered the country’s development in particular with regards to reconstructing the public infrastructure and the necessary regulatory and governance frameworks. This has left Somalia faced with the complex and pressing challenges of state building and reconstruction in the absence of endogenous sources of public revenue, and with hardly any institutional capacity.

Development and rehabilitation of transport infrastructure (roads, ports and airports) will help re-establish the physical links destroyed by war, facilitate the strengthening of social links, and expand regional trade. In the road sub-sector, there is need to re-establish regional interconnectivity with countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti, and between the various regions within Somalia with the aim of supporting efforts towards peace and reconciliation and regional linkage. Agriculture and livestock account for 65% of the Somali economy, and employ around the same percentage of the Somali labour force. This value chain requires specific attention from the perspective of trade, transport and development corridors when planning the transport sector in the country, also with regard to exporting livestock through Somali ports.

This chapter addresses some of these key challenges beginning with capturing both the short and long term vision of the Federal Infrastructure Ministries, then progressing on to analyse the present conditions of the infrastructure sector, the main challenges facing the infrastructure sector’s growth and expansion, highlighting the sector’s development objectives, strategic policies and sector development priorities. This chapter will also highlight the infrastructure sector’s main programmes needed to achieve the defined sectorial objectives for 2017 to 2019 while also assessing the aggregated resources required and planning the milestones for infrastructure development. Finally, it will engage in a discussion on the coordination mechanisms required to successfully implement the strategic objectives and activities across Somalia.

Vision for Infrastructure Development: 

The short term (3 years) vision for Somalia’s infrastructure is to lay out the foundations of resilient infrastructure systems that will provide the necessary services for all (setup the organizational structures & capacity, infrastructure standards, legislations, priorities, strategies, mobilize resources and planning for long term infrastructure development, land and urban planning), while simultaneously rehabilitating, (re)constructing, upgrading and developing the existing infrastructure systems in compliance with SDGs to create infrastructure that enhances the employment, increases food security, buildup resilience, respect Somali cultural heritages and is sustainable.

In the long term (15 years/2030) Somalia is envisioning to have its infrastructure serve Somalia and the people of the Horn of Africa, to facilitate economic and social development (interconnecting the nation and the region, with modern telecommunication, so that Somali citizens have access to affordable (renewable) energy, water and advanced waste disposal systems, adequate and sustainable housing, under the guidance of proper urban planning and financed in a sustainable manner.

 

Overall Objective for the infrastructure sector in 2017 to 2019:

Revitalize essential infrastructure and services to set foundations for social, economic and sustainable development.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Situation Analysis of the Infrastructure Sector

The collapse of the Somali State during the civil war culminated in the destruction of public and private infrastructure assets and systems including roads, factories, hospitals, laboratories, schools, businesses and ministries as well as the loss of legislative and other key documents that provided regulatory or planning frameworks for the infrastructure sector. Protracted displacement, internal migration and rapid urbanization pose an additional challenge to service delivery and planning in the infrastructure sector. This impact can be felt when analysing the present conditions of key infrastructure components.

 

Land and urban planning

 

The urbanization process in Somalia has happened haphazardly, with no spatial planning or

urban management. While some urban centers of the main settlement are relatively structured in terms of lay-out, based on pre-civil war planning attempts, much of the urban space, including vacant space within the formal urban fabric, holds pockets of ‘nomadic’ tents (‘buuls’) belonging to internally displaced communities or recent arrivals of refuge returnees. In some areas former farmland is being converted into ‘urban’ land by tracing a grid with a bulldozer, subdividing it into plots, leaving no space for public infrastructure.

While the Somali construction sector is booming due to the current reconstruction activities in the country, the infrastructure ministries at federal and state level are operating in a grey zone without any up to date urban legislation. The majority of legislation for the infrastructure sector dates to a pre-war period and its status is either not clarified or not existing. Regional and local governments lack guidance through policies, norms and standards and the few current infrastructure rehabilitation projects are not built hand in hand with planning of related service provision.

 

Housing

 

Access to adequate housing is a challenge growing fast with Somalia’s high urbanization rate. Around 10% of Somalis are IDPs of which most live in camps and informal settlements.  An increasing number of urban dwellers, especially the most poor and vulnerable groups (not only IDPs, but also women-headed households, refugee returnees, persons with disabilities and youth) are living in precarious conditions, addressing their housing needs informally, lacking access to basic services, isolated from livelihood opportunities and vulnerable to forced evictions or homelessness. Somalia’s public and private housing stock has after more than 20 years of conflict been largely destroyed. Adequate housing is not affordable to IDPs and the urban poor, and affordable housing is not adequate. The funding gap is greatest in the shelter sector with less than 7% of the urban poor having access to adequate housing.

 

 

Transport (Roads, Ports and Airports)[1]

 

Efficient transport infrastructure is essential within an economy as it dictates the type of economic and social activities that can be conducted within a particular section of the country. One of the most important factors for making investment decisions is the availability of proper transport networks that facilitate the movement of goods, services as well as workers. Moreover, a well-developed transport network enables the underdeveloped communities to access essential goods and services. The transport infrastructure is also particularly important in enabling connectivity which will enable the efficient delivery of other infrastructure programs and other development plans. There is the potential to link Somalia with land-locked countries in the region (Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda and Central Africa) through rehabilitation of inter-state and inter-regional road corridors and development of transit service facilities.

 

Roads

The road networks in Somalia are mostly in poor to very poor condition as 90 percent of the roads have deteriorated and are well past their designed life-span. With a huge maintenance backlog, there is a significant need for reconstructing or resurfacing these existing paved roads throughout all of Somalia.  Within the country, only 2,860 km (13%) of a total 21,830 km of roads are paved. The rest of the network is earthen or gravel. A major part of the investment in the roads and transport program can deliver livelihoods and cash transfer benefits while improving the infrastructure. Overall in Somalia, approximately 80% of the population living in settlements, towns and cities resides in only 10 large cities[2], this is 50 per cent of the total Somali population. Thus priority also needs to be given to roads serving main cities, towns and settlements. This will help create employment, link markets, and reduce the cost of doing business, making Somali enterprises more competitive. Somalia is also not well connected to its neighbours. This limits economic activities such as trade within the region.

 

Ports

Somalia’s strategic location at the Horn of Africa on the Suez Canal shipping route and the longest country coastline (3,025 km) in Africa offers a great advantage to port operators. Despite the long shoreline Somalia has only four deep-water ports. Built in the 1980s, these four major operational ports in Somalia are situated in the economic centres of Mogadishu, Berbera, Kismayo and Bosasso, with only Mogadishu and Berbera handling significant volumes of traffic. All these ports were originally under the control of the Somali Ports Authority, which no longer exists.

Somalia’s ports are important for the country’s exports, which are heavily concentrated around livestock that makes up 81% of all the total exports, oil seeds (10.5%) and animal hides and skins (2.4 %) with Saudi Arabia being the largest trade destination accounting for over 55% of all exports by value. Largest import sector s are the construction sector and related industries as well as food items (vegetables, flour, cereals, dairy products and tobacco), together comprising 62% of total imports. Though there is easing of security situation, Somali ports had been badly affected by piracy with 237 cases reported in 2010, 75 in 2012 and 15 in 2013.

Despite the devastating effects of the civil war, these major ports are in reasonably good condition. However, the ports face considerable challenges in augmenting their operating performance, which is poor for two main reasons: First, the ports have limited equipment, with most of the cargo handling being carried out using the gear of the ships themselves. Second, they are operated by the government with a large pool of unionized dockworkers and based on outdated working practices. These challenges limit the capacity of the port to meet the demands of economic growth. As the primary mode of importing and exporting economic goods into the country, the capacity of ports needs to be enhanced in order to strengthen the potential for economic growth. To facilitate exports rehabilitation of feeder and coastal roads linking the ports to interior agricultural productive zones of the country are needed.

 

Airports

Somalia has an estimated number of 60 airstrips, airfields and airports evenly spread across the country and developed since independence mainly for military strategic reasons. There are 7 major feeder airports, and 23 other important airstrips. The 6 main airports include Mogadishu, Berbera, Hargeisa, Bosasso (recently upgraded), Garowe and Kismayo. Almost all other major urban centres also maintain at least one airstrip that is capable of handling a small aircraft.

With its thin population, spread out over a large area with only a few large urban centers and with a roving pastoral population of 40%, airports are critical for national and international connectivity, access and mobility. Airports and the aviation industry are a critical backbone of the national economy due to its important role in delivering critical humanitarian and emergency assistance to large vulnerable population groups, ensuring high value trade benefits for the economy and as a generator for revenue and job creation. Somalia’s per-capita income is among the lowest in the world. As a result, the ability of Somalis to pay for commercial aviation is low. Somalia’s aviation sector is underdeveloped in comparison with other African states, as well as with the rest of the world. Somalia has very low levels of commercial aircraft activity and passenger movements, and some inherent limitations with regard to the operating environment, political instability and internal conflicts. The various regions and governments need to have a well-defined role as regulators and facilitators of growth in the aviation environment.

The absence of a Somali Aviation Authority is a major challenge to control and develop of the aviation sector, as well as the lack of aviation equipment and skilled human resources.

 

 

 

Water, Sanitation and Solid Waste Management[3]

 

Water

A large portion of Somalia’s population relies on uncontrolled, low quality shallow-wells for its water supply. Majority of the water sources in rural areas are dug wells (62%) and boreholes (19%) complemented by surface water sources. Urban areas depend mainly on boreholes complemented by dug wells for water supply. Overall access to improved water supply in Somalia increased from 21% in 2000 to 30% in 2011. However, proportion of rural dwellers with access to water and sanitation significantly decreased from 15% to 7%, while that of urban areas increased from 35% to 66% in the same period. Existing urban and rural infrastructure systems are aged and in some cases destroyed during the prolonged civil war. About 60% of existing water supply infrastructure assets require rehabilitation, expansion or replacement in both urban and rural areas to meet the increasing demand. Provision of urban water supply services by the private sector is uncoordinated and unregulated resulting in inefficiency and non-optimal use of available resources.

The water supply sector is confronted with the challenges to accelerate delivery of improved water infrastructure services while lacking institutional and organizational capacities, policies and regulatory framework, adequate sector financing, and skilled labour, who would be key to building up the capacity of the sector, enhancing its operation, maintenance and delivery mechanisms. Absence of adequate infrastructure for harnessing the available surface and ground water potential hinders easy, reliable and equitable access to water supply for domestic and agricultural uses.

 

Sanitation

Access to improved sanitation in urban areas jumped from 45% in 2000 to 52% in 2014. About 3% of the urban dwellers resort to open defecation. On the other hand, access to improved sanitation in rural areas decreased from 10% to 6% over the same period. This is highly attributed to open defecation as currently approximately 83% of the rural population practises open defecation. This explains the observed high incidence of water and sanitation related diseases. About 40% of sanitation infrastructure systems require rehabilitation in both urban and rural areas.

 

Solid Waste Management

Urban residents are, after more than 20 years of conflict, used to irregular city clean up campaigns based on cash for work type activities and lack understanding of the importance of sustainable and regular solid waste collection and management. While some pilot initiatives have explored sustainable approaches towards solid waste management, most urban areas are characterized by informal dump sites, dirty streets and absence of sustainable solid waste collection systems and facilities. In Somalia, municipalities have limited human and technical capacity and skills to carry out sustainable and systematic solid waste collection and management. In some cities small private companies are involved in waste collection and disposal but contracts with municipalities are often of short duration, a fact that hinders larger investment in technical equipment. Urban communities are used to disposing off household, business and hospital waste on the streets or informal dump sites and are reluctant to pay for regular waste collection and management. Urban poor, in particular women and youth, often collect household and business waste for a small fee and dispose it unregulated and uncontrolled. The few existing formal waste disposal sites do not meet minimum environmental standards.

 

Energy[4]

 

The limited availability, reliability and the high cost of energy are major constraints on economic growth in Somalia. The energy mix in Somalia is reliant upon locally available charcoal and firewood as the core sources of energy, meeting nearly 80 to 90% of the energy needs of the whole country and resulting in excessive exploitation of these primary sources. Annual consumption of charcoal is estimated at around 4 million tons per year, equivalent to about 400 kg/capita/annum, a rate that is fast exhausting Somali’s few forests. The prevalence of charcoal and wood for cooking also has serious health impacts at the household level that can be mitigated by the introduction of cleaner, more efficient and cost-effective end-use devices and modernand environmentally friendly cooking fuels.  Petroleum products, essentially for transport, electricity generation, cooking and lighting account for about 10% of the total energy use. Electric power generation (almost entirely diesel-fueled) accounts for about 2 of these 10%. Several cities (Garowe, Hargeisa, Bosaaso, Berbera, Qardo) have small, generally dilapidated grids which are not always in use. Overall, the total installed and operational generating capacity in Somalia is estimated to be 80 to 85 MW at estimated 250,000 connections. Drops in voltage are frequent and supply is limited to 5 to 6 hours per day. The low tension (480/220 V) over sometimes long distances leads to tension and technical losses with most small generators reporting 40% to 50% power loss.

On the other hand, renewable energy potential is abundant. The solar energy potential ranges from 5 to 7 kWh/m2/day with over 310 sunny days in a year or 3,000 hours of sunshine per annum. Somalia is also characterized by strong wind regimes with annual average speeds of 1.5 to 11.4 m/s with potential for small hydro power (around 100 to120 MW) along the Shabelle and Juba rivers.

Due to the lack of investment, the volatile security situation and the absence of public resources and public oversight, the potential to cultivate electricity and expand electricity infrastructure systems and markets has been hampered over the past two decades.  Renewable and alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, present substantive opportunities to diversify and expand the energy infrastructure systems of Somalia but so far has not been harnessed, due to both security and funding problems. Developing both fossil and renewable resources will require a functioning transport and logistics sector. Major challenges experienced within the energy sector include inadequate qualified personnel, limited access to and supply of electricity power, exploitation of biomass, and low penetration of modern and environmentally frielndly energy, especially in the rural areas.

 

 

 

Information Communication and Technology (ICT)[5]

 

The ICT sector in Somalia has flourished under a self-regulated private sector regime and is known to be a key contributor to the economy. Somalia’s ICT market consists of 11 operators and 4 million mobile connections, but teledensity is only about 7% and the proportion of Internet users is only about 1%. However, ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors and the third largest industry by employment in the country. The sector employs around 25,000 Somalis, generates substantial profit and has enabled a mobile penetration rate of 7 subscriptions per 100 people. Most readily available ICT media are radio and mobile phones. The TV and press sectors are weak, with radio being the dominant medium. The country has around 20 radio stations. 86% of households have access to radio and 26% to TV. Radio and TV sub-sectors need to be further developed as employment and revenue generating sectors.

However, Somalia lacks an ICT policy and regulation to guide infrastructure roll-out as well as the development of ICT applications such as mobile money transfer. The country’s volatile security and lack of stable energy sources greatly hinder growth in the ICT sector. Low literacy and ICT skill levels among vast groups of the population limit demand for ICT services in the country.

Somalia has access to the East Africa Sub-marine Cable System (internet) with Mogadishu so far being the only landing point that also connects to local optic-fibre cable lines. Somalia is, however, extremely close to several major undersea cable networks which connect Europe, the Gulf Region in Middle East and India trough the Gulf of Aden and transfer a major share of the globalized Information Economy of the 21st century, for example through the Europe-India-Gateway (EIG) or India-Middle East-Western Europe (I-ME-WE) network. The strategic position of Somalia has not been explored when it comes to investment opportunities for the growing number of educated young people who do not find adequate jobs at the domestic labor market.

 

  1. The Main Challenges hindering the Infrastructure Sector growth and expansion

Despite the progress made towards peace and stability, Somalia continues to face major challenges in revitalizing the infrastructure sector. Systemic challenges include the absence of an integrated national infrastructure plan that is grounded in a sustainable approach to development for all the regions in the country.

The absence of and lack of funding to enforce harmonized policies and regulatory frameworks at the federal and local levels of government including basic standards such as building codes also inhibits the development of the sector as it prevents the capacity of government structures to effectively regulate ongoing projects. This challenge is further exacerbated by a dearth of infrastructure professionals and a skilled labour force, who can substantively contribute their technical capacity to the development of the sector. The absence of both is adversely impacting the capacity to adequately deliver, monitor and maintain quality infrastructure systems.

The extremely limited capacity of Somalia’s existing four deep-sea ports combined with the high percentage of imported construction materials (hardly any in-country production) does not only lead to high construction and transportation costs but also creates a serious bottle neck for scaling up construction and rehabilitation investments and efforts.

Gaping budgetary constraints and Somalia’s inability to access international financing for large-scale infrastructure projects have also limited the possibilities of investment in the sector. Because of the lack of a centralized coordination and regulatory mechanism, haphazard sector development activities hamper the realization of a big picture development.

The volatile security situation in large parts of the country poses specific security threats that hinder expansion of the infrastructure sector: ensuring security of workers, materials and works during rehabilitation works in insecure areas, safeguarding long infrastructure networks/ pipelines after completion, creation of critical but vulnerable infrastructure assets in particular with regards to energy plants and securing large scale immobile investments.

As security challenges continue, investment in the development of private and public infrastructure will struggle to take off.

 

 

  1. Infrastructure Sector’s Development Objectives

 

Overcoming the challenges to infrastructure rehabilitation and connecting investment in infrastructure to the long-term development of Somalia is the overarching long-term objective of the infrastructure development sector. However, at the same time there is need to put in place practical and cost effective infrastructure sub-sector programmes that consider poverty reduction (SDG1), build resilient infrastructure (SDG9), ensure access to affordable energy (SDG7), achieve equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water (SDG6) and make cities safe, resilient and sustainable (SDG11), improve food and nutrition security through the use of more reliable and accessible cooking fuels (SDG2) and sustainably manage forest, combat desertification and protect biodiversity through substitution of biomass (SDG15). Through an integrated approach to infrastructure development, economic, socio-political and environmental sustainability will be achieved.

 

Key among the infrastructure sector’s development objectives include:

 

  1. Strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks at the Federal Infrastructure Ministries among other infrastructure sub sectors to guide, plan and implement infrastructure development in Somalia;

 

  1. Strengthening institutional and technical capacities of different infrastructure sectors to be able to plan and implement sector specific infrastructure development ;

 

  • Sector specific objectives include:
    1. Improving mobility and connectivity throughout Somalia and to the neighboring region,
    2. Strengthening urban and regional planning processes,
    3. Improving access to clean energy systems and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water,
    4. Increasing access to adequate and affordable housing in particular for IDPs, returnees, the urban poor and other persons in vulnerable situations,
    5. Providing telecommunication networks that ensure free and rapid flow of information.

 

 

  1. The Infrastructure Sector Strategic Policies

 

Development of several sector specific policies will provide a strong legal framework to support infrastructure system development in Somalia. Key among the policies needed to facilitate this include:

 

National Urban/ Land Policy

Land related conflict is by far the largest driver of conflict across Somalia. Lack of clear land tenure system with customary and formal land ownership systems operating together affects not only infrastructure development but also reintegration of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Destruction of land registries, related information and lack of a functional legal system makes land administration even harder. Unresolved occupation of land and property requires sustainable solutions before medium and large-scale infrastructure investments, proper urban planning and sustainable housing solutions are possible. A functioning system of land administration needs to be re-built. A land policy that creates institutions and laws to meet claims for property restitution and that shapes future social and economic structures is needed, without which infrastructure and other investment will be deterred. Urban land policies would prevent overcrowding, public health risks and the development of slums. As a first step a practical and functional solution based on successful local interventions and best practices needs to be developed to accommodate the instant need for urban planning and serviced land.

National Housing Policy

Housing rights challenges are common in Somalia like in other post conflict countries. Post  conflict  housing  reconstruction  would play an  important  role  in  establishing  the  Somali’s development  and prospect  of peace. A National Housing Policy addressing widespread property destruction, mass population return, reconstruction needs of the post conflict communities, and innovative housing finance mechanisms is needed.

National Policies of Transport and Civil Aviation

 

Policies and regulatory frameworks for the transport sector are required to ensure development of effective, efficient, and safe land, air and see transport systems. Regulations need to steer both public and private investments in line with the national priorities and support economic growth through the provision of better access to employment and enhance social service provision.

 

Sustainable Energy Investment Policy and Energy Strategy

The Federal Government of Somalia does not have any energy sector policy to regulate the sector.  The Energy Sector Management Department of the Federal Ministry also lacks human and financial capacity. Little capacity is available to develop legal and regulatory frameworks; hence the sector operates in a vacuum. However, Somalia is endowed with renewable energy resources to increase affordable energy supply for Somalia. Capacity development strategies towards an Energy Policy development with clear laws and regulation on renewable energy will greatly promote efficiency in the sector.  As a first step a Sustainable Energy Investment Policy focusing on energy efficiency and renewable energy as well as the development of an energy strategy for the whole country are essential.

Water and Sanitation Sector Policies

The water supply and sanitation sectors in Somalia are generally driven by a vibrant private sector with complementary services from the public sector. Despite the public sector playing a facilitative role, the sector lacks a policy and regulative framework hindering adequate and systematic sector development. Urgent institutional strengthening and sector capacity building to address institutional and organizational development and capacity deficiency challenges is needed.

ICT Policy

The area of policy and regulation is the number one priority for development of Somalia’s ICT sector to harness the potential of further investments, job creation and expanded e-service provision.

 

  1. The Infrastructure Sector Development Priorities

Infrastructure development in Somalia currently takes place on land only. Capacity and institutional development in land and urban policy development including reconstitution of land registries provides a foundation for land based infrastructure system development. Somali cities are growing quickly, as a first step a simple and basic planning framework is needed to plan for urban growth and identify and plan city extension areas to accommodate and integrate IDPs and refugee returnees and provide housing strategies for the urban poor and rural – urban migrants.

Somalia’s road networks are nearly all earthen. Those paved are mostly in poor to very poor condition.  Maintenance and the need for reconstruction or resurfacing of existing paved roads need to take priority. However, this needs to go hand in hand with institutional and technical capacity development.

A safe, secure and cost effective aviation regulatory system will underpin the future development of air services and instill confidence to operate and invest. Somalia needs to establish a credible regulatory platform from which to develop, service, and fill gaps in the current aviation system.

Somalia port’s tonnage is expected to increase to around 3.3 million tons by 2025, an almost 65% increase. Given the present berth occupancy rates of 20% at below par handling speeds and high costs, improvement in specialized handling capacity, hinterland connectivity and port information system to track its performance is of great priority.

The improvement and increased access to energy through use of renewable energy and to substitute biomass fuels in households is vital. Actual investments should focus on providing affordable, consistent and renewable energy at scale. However, technical capacity development for the sector authorities is needed to roll-out basic regulatory framework to guide development.

 

The area of policy and regulation is the number one priority for development of Somalia’s ICT sector. This would include developing a regulatory framework for the telecommunications sector and building an ICT infrastructure in Somalia. Technical assistance in establishing an independent regulator (preferably a converged regulator for telecommunications and broadcasting) and identification of key regulatory issues would be of great importance. Furthermore, there is also need to ensure that Somalia complies with the international cut-off date for migration from analogue to digital transmission.

 

In short to medium term, strategic interventions in water and sanitation will be rehabilitation and/ or extension of rural and urban water and sanitation infrastructure systems to improve service delivery and ensure sustainable management. Institutional strengthening and sector capacity building to address institutional and organizational development and capacity deficiency challenges is needed as well as ground water resource mapping to provide updated and more reliable data on aquifers, including aquifer monitoring and management to avoid over exploitation.

  1. The Main Infrastructure Sector’s Programmes during the Plan Period

 

  1. Institutional Capacity Building Programme for the Infrastructure Ministries
  • Support in development of policies and regulatory frameworks governing the sector and linking them to those of international and regional associations and bodies such as COMESA, NEPAD etc.,
  • Undertake technical trainings on effective reconstruction, planning, managing, maintenance and procurement of public infrastructure works in Somalia,
  • Support the ministries capacity to develop and implement National Development Plan Pillar 3.

 

  1. National Land, Physical Planning and Urban Solutions Programme
  • Develop national land and urban policies with a focus on climate change prevention and natural disaster planning,
  • Lay-out foundation or road map for reconstruction of national land cadaster and registry,
  • Develop national public land inventory – to facilitate infrastructure system development,
  • Strengthen institutional and technical capacities (human resource and technical skills) of national and regional planning institutions,
  • Facilitate planning of regional development corridors and settlement systems,
  • Develop regional and urban strategic plans with special focus on urbanization and local economic development, and develop spatial strategic plans for all state capitals and other urban centers which guide city extension and other urban development plans,
  • Undertake urban renewal/ reconstruction and expansion including rehabilitation of public space,
  • Develop and implement Urban Regulatory Frameworks for new states and for Mogadishu.

 

  • National Housing Programme: Adequate, Affordable and Sustainable Housing
  • Develop resettlement and integration solutions that are durable and at the same time upgrade conditions of temporary IDP shelter to meet minimum living standards through participatory pilot projects,
  • Develop National Urban Housing Sector Profile and National Housing Policy,
  • Facilitate access to land for housing development,
  • Identify and promote suitable alternative construction techniques, and specifications from local and international examples, which make use of local raw materials and labour, are affordable and of low embodied energy, and spur local economic development in the short and long term,
  • Identify and, if necessary, establish supply chains,
  • Establish municipal housing programmes (including rental subsidy programmes or owner driven incremental reconstruction using micro-credits for purchase of building materials).

 

  1. Roads and Social Services Improvement Programme
  • Develop policies and regulatory frameworks to guide future roads expansion and related service delivery,
  • Strengthen institutional and technical capacity to design, build and maintain roads,
  • Plan, rehabilitate and expand inter-state and inter-regional road corridors,
  • Create employment opportunities through labour-intensive approaches to roads rehabilitation,
  • Prioritize use of locally produced construction materials to enhance private sector development and employment creation,
  • Rehabilitate key social facilities such as schools, hospitals, markets, police stations and key public institutions to enhance social service provision.

 

  1. Ports Upgrading Programme
  • Establish Somali Maritime Administration/Authority,
  • Develop detailed Somalia Ports Development Strategy, update Somali Merchant Shipping Act and localize International Conventions for shipping and seafarers,
  • Institutional strengthening of authorities responsible for managing different ports,
  • Expand/ upgrade the four (4) existing deep-sea ports and construct one (1) new port, incl. rehabilitation of seamarks and lighthouses,
  • Rehabilitate and expand existing cost barge berths,
  • Harmonize port charges as a source of government revenue and facilitate sustainable use by local exporters,
  • Conduct feasibility studies and technical assessments for planning future investments,
  • Extend network of secondary ports and jetties to facilitate development of local fisheries and improve sea-based transport links.

 

  1. Aviation Infrastructure Programme
  • Reform Aviation Sector Policies and relevant Acts,
  • Carry out infrastructure rehabilitation at the main regional state airports, including rehabilitation of terminals,
  • Construct new international airport in Mogadishu,
  • Develop capacity and capability of regulatory and operators personnel,
  • Improve basic air navigation services and reconstruct the airport infrastructure to provide safe passenger and freight services to/from/via Somalia.

 

 

  • Utility Service Expansion and Affordability Programme
  • Develop sustainable energy investment, water and sanitation policies, and national energy provision strategy,
  • Establish a regulatory framework to guide public-privatepartnerships in energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors,
  • Develop institutional capacity to build, operate and maintain energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors utility infrastructure,
  • Rehabilitate and expand energy, water distribution and solid waste collection and management systems,
  • Expand access to clean energy (solar, wind, biogas) and reduce biomass based energy sources like fuel wood and charcoal,
  • Increase efficiency of energy systems, in particular: cooking system, reforestation programme, provision of alternative cooking fuel,
  • Promote decentralized energy systems, in particular solar mini grids,
  • Undertake assessment and map renewable energy resources, incl. wind pattern maps to harness wind energy,
  • Develop interregional and urban electricity grids,
  • Expand access to modern energy, especially electric power, using mainly renewable energy sources,
  • Extend modern and renewable energy products and services for lighting and cooking to rural and nomadic communities,
  • Map ground water resources to provide updated and more reliable data on aquifers, including aquifer monitoring and management to avoid over exploitation,
  • Implement rural and urban water supply and sanitation infrastructure programs to improve delivery and ensure sustainable management,
  • Promote sustainable and regular solid waste management based on user fees, develop respective legislation and implement pilot projects targeting bio-medical waste, recycling, waste to energy transformation and public awareness raising campaigns. Scale up existing best practices from previous pilot projects and provide solid infrastructure systems for environmental friendly waste disposal and recycling.
  • ICT Programme
  • Develop ICT Policy and Strategy for Somalia,
  • Technical assistance to establish an independent regulator and identification of key regulatory issues,
  • Develop National Broadband Plan,
  • Develop National e-strategy,
  • Develop National Digital Migration Strategy,
  • Connect Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa to the Broadband network.

 

  1. Aggregated Resources Requirement

(See table below on infrastructure programmes)

 

 

  1. Milestone of Infrastructure Sector development

 

  • Infrastructure sector institutions capacities are strengthened (skilled human capacity injected, the necessary sub-institution, structures & legislation established) and can lead the country’s infrastructure development progress,
  • Flagship programs in the infrastructure of each sector (e.g. ICT, transport, energy, livestock, agriculture, water & sanitation, housing and vital (state) government infrastructure) are initiated and/or under implementation.
  • Infrastructure strategy, master and investment plan is presented and leads to financial inflows to enable implementation and SITF is functional, including spatial plan for post NDP development programmes (2020).

 

  1. Coordination aspects and requirements with other Sectors/activities/regions

Inter-ministerial Infrastructure Steering Committee (IMISC) consisting of Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction, Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Ports & Marine Transport, Ministry of Energy & Water, and Ministry of Post &Telecommunication will be the leading entity to guide development of policies, strategies, legislation and implement infrastructure programs. Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction & Housing is the lead ministry and is chairing the IMISC. IMISC will soon include regional state members, international development partners and interested investors. IMISC will function as a platform where the infrastructure development ideas will be raised, planned and executed. Ministry of Public Works will, in close cooperation with Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) be responsible for the coordination with the other sectors (e.g. productive sector, agriculture, fishery, industry & tourism), national and international stakeholders, donors and investors to discuss infrastructure development ideas and strategies to develop Somali infrastructure systems.

There is also a need for inter-sectorial integrated infrastructure strategy to enhance economic growth and to increase nationwide economic development. The key ministry to coordinate the nationwide economic development programs and to combine sectorial strategies and program is the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC). The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is responsible for ensuring that adequate financial resources will be available for the Main Infrastructure Development Programmes outlined above.

  1. Conclusion (to be written once draft has been reviewed by all stakeholders)


Infrastructure Sector Intervention Programmes
Main Programmes Programme Description Time Frame Actors Involved SDG Estimated Costs (USD)
Institutional  Capacity Building Programme

 

Support development of policies and regulatory frameworks governing the sector and linking them to those of international and regional associations and bodies such as COMESA, NEPAD etc. Short to medium term All infrastructure ministries SDG 9  SDG 11
Undertake technical trainings on effective reconstruction, planning, managing, maintenance and procurement of public infrastructure works in Somalia Short term All infrastructure ministries SDG 9  SDG 11
Support the ministries capacity to develop and implement National Development Plan Pillar 3 Short to medium term All infrastructure ministries

 

SDG 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16
National Land, Physical Planning and Urban Solutions Programme

 

 

 

 

 

Develop  national land and urban policies with a focus on climate change prevention and natural disaster planning Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Lay-out foundation or road map for reconstruction of national land cadaster and registry Short to long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Develop national public land inventory – to facilitate infrastructure system development  Short to medium term  Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Strengthen institutional and technical capacities (human resource and technical skills) of national and regional planning institutions Short to long term  Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction, State ministries SDG 11
Develop regional and urban strategic plans with special focus on urbanization and local economic development, and develop spatial strategic plans for all state capitals and other urban centers which guide city extension and other urban development plans Medium to long term  MPWR&H, State ministries SDG 11
Undertake urban renewal/ reconstruction and expansion including rehabilitation of public space Short to long term  MPWR&H, states municipalities SDG 11
Develop and implement Urban Regulatory Frameworks for new states and for Mogadishu Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction, State ministries SDG 11
National Housing Programme Develop resettlement and integration solutions that are durable and at the same time upgrade conditions of temporary IDP shelter to meet minimum living standards through participatory pilot projects Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Develop National Urban Housing Sector Profile and National Housing Policy Short term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 11
Facilitate access to land for housing development Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 1

SDG 11

SDG 16

Identify and promote suitable alternative construction techniques, and specifications from local and international examples, which make use of local raw materials and labour, are affordable and of low embodied energy, and spur local economic development in the short and long term Short term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13
Identify and establish supply chains Medium to long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 1

SDG 11

Establish municipal housing programmes (including rental subsidy programmes or owner driven incremental reconstruction using micro-credits for purchase of building materials) Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction ;

municipalities

SDG 1

SDG 11

Roads and Social Services Improvement Programme

 

 

 

 

Develop policies and regulatory frameworks to guide future roads expansion and related service delivery Short term to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction; Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 8  SDG 9
Strengthen institutional and technical capacity to design, build and maintain roads Short term to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction; Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 8  SDG 9
Initiate rehabilitation and extension of inter-state and inter-regional corridors:

1. Mogadishu-Afgooye – Baidoa-Beled Hawo corridor

2. Mogadishu- Balad -Jowhar – Beledweyne-Galkayo Corridor

3. Mogadishu – Marka – Kismayo – Liboi Corridor (Kenya Border)

4. Mogadishu-Mesegowaay-Hobyo-Ayl  Corridor (inter-city coastal connection)

5. Berbera-Addis Ababa Corridor

6. Conduct assessment of Baidoa-Luuq Ganane-Dolow and Mandera road (Kenya/Ethiopia/Somalia tripoint)

7. Repair Kismayu-Bibi- Belesh Gogani-Liboi road (Kenya border)

8. Borama-ZaylacLoyada (Djibouti)

Long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction; Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 8  SDG 9
Undertake road / transport corridors planning and development Short/medium   term Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation,

Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction

SDG 8

SDG 9

Create employment opportunities through labour-intensive approaches to roads rehabilitation Short to long term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 8
Prioritize use of locally produced construction materials to enhance private sector development and employment creation Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 8
Rehabilitate key social facilities such schools, hospitals, markets, police stations and key public institutions to enhance social service provision Short to medium term Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction and line ministries SDG 3

SDG 4

SDG 8

SDG 10

SDG 16

Ports Upgrading Programme

 

 

 

 

 

 

Establish Somali Maritime Administration/Authority Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport SDG 14
Develop detailed Somalia Ports Development Strategy, update Somali Merchant Shipping Act and localize International Conventions for shipping and seafarers Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport SDG 14
Institutional strengthening of authorities responsible for managing different ports Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport SDG 14
Expand/ upgrade the four (4) existing deep-sea ports and construct one (1) new port, incl. rehabilitation of seamarks and lighthouses Medium Term  Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport and MPWR&H SDG 8

SDG 9

SDG 14

Rehabilitate and expand existing cost barge berths Short term Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport, MPWR&H SDG 8

SDG 9

SDG 14

Harmonize port charges as a source of government revenue and facilitate sustainable use by local exporters Short term  Ministry of Ports and Marine transport SDG 14
Conduct feasibility studies and technical assessments for planning future investments Short term  Ministry of Ports and Marine transport and MPWR&H SDG 9

SDG 14

Extend network of secondary ports and jetties to facilitate development of local fisheries and improve sea-based transport links Medium to long term Ministry of Ports and Marine transport and MPWR&H SDG 8

SDG 14

 

Aviation Infrastructure Programme Reform Aviation Sector Policies and relevant Acts Short term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 9
Carry out infrastructure rehabilitation at the main regional state airports, including rehabilitation of terminals Short to long term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 9
Construct new international airport in Mogadishu Medium to long term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 9
Develop capacity and capability of regulatory and operators personnel Short to medium term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation, Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Reconstruction SDG 8

SDG 9

Improve basic air navigation services and reconstruct the airport infrastructure to provide safe passenger and freight services to/from/via Somalia  Short term Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation SDG 9
Utility service expansion and affordability

 

 

 

 

 

Develop sustainable energy investment, water and sanitation policies, and national energy provision strategy Short term Ministry of Energy & Water

 

SDG 6

SDG 7

Establish a regulatory framework to guide public-private-partnerships in energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water,

MPWR&H

SDG 6  SDG 7
Develop institutional capacity to build, operate and maintain energy, water and sanitation sub-sectors utility infrastructure Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6  SDG 7
Rehabilitate and expand energy, water distribution and solid waste collection and management systems Long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6

SDG 7 SDG13

Expand access to clean energy (solar, wind, biogas) and reduce biomass based energy sources like fuel wood and charcoal Long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7

SDG 9

SDG 12

SDG 13

Increase efficiency of energy systems, in particular: cooking system, reforestation programme, provision of alternative cooking fuel Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7  SDG 9  SDG 12

SDG13

Promote decentralized energy systems, in particular solar mini grids Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7

 

Undertake assessment and map renewable energy resources, incl. wind pattern maps to harness wind energy Short term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7  SDG 9

SDG12

SDG13

Develop interregional and urban electricity grids Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7
Expand access to modern energy, especially electric power, using mainly renewable energy sources Medium to long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 7

SDG12

SDG13

Extend modern and renewable energy products and services for lighting and cooking to rural and nomadic communities Medium to long term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6

SDG12

SDG13

Map ground water resources to provide updated and more reliable data on aquifers, including aquifer monitoring and management to avoid over exploitation  Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 11 SDG 12 SDG 13
Implement rural and urban water supply and sanitation infrastructure programs to improve delivery and ensure sustainable management Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6
Promote sustainable and regular solid waste management based on user fees, develop respective legislation and implement pilot projects targeting bio-medical waste, recycling, waste to energy transformation and public awareness raising campaigns. Scale up existing best practices from previous pilot projects and provide solid infrastructure systems for environmental friendly waste disposal and recycling Short to medium term Ministry of Energy & Water SDG 6

SDG11

ICT Sector Programme

 

 

 

 

Develop ICT Policy and Strategy for Somalia Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Technical assistance to establish an independent regulator and identification of key regulatory issues Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Develop National Broadband Plan Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Develop National e-strategy Short term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Develop National Digital Migration Strategy

 

Medium term Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9
Connect Mogadishu, Garowe and Hargeisa to the Broadband network Medium Term  Ministry of Post &Telecommunication SDG 9

 

[1] Compare ‘Transport Sector Needs Assessment’, Federal Government of Somalia and UNOPS, Dec 2015

[2] Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosasso, Galkayo, Berbera, Jowhar, Beledweyn, Merca, Kismayo and Baidoa

[3] Compare ‘Water and Sanitation Needs Assessment’, Federal Government of Somalia and African Development Bank, July 2015

[4] Compare ‘Energy Sector Needs Assessment’ , Federal Government of Somalia and African Development Bank, August 2015

[5] Compare ‘needs Assessment of ICT Sector in Somalia’, Federal Government of Somalia and African Development Bank, July 2014