Transition Initiatives for Stabilization Quarterly Report: January - March 2012

The program operates in six regions of Somaliland, five regions in Gedo and Lower Juba, and an additional five districts in Puntland. Key stabilization results include supporting 22 sub-national government institutions to improve service delivery, strengthening six national and regional peace structures involved in peace and reconciliation efforts, awarding 18 contracts to local companies through a consensus building process, and facilitating two scenario building sessions in Hargeisa and Entebbe to map the plausible futures of Somalia and the Self-Declared Republic of Somaliland. A diverse group of Somalis, including poets, artists, government officials, and clan elders, participated in these sessions. The TIS program also supports Somali women through a Women's Leadership Academic Cohort program, which targets Somali peacebuilding practitioners in Somalia and Kenya who are recognized for having leadership potential. The two-year program will officially commence at the Eastern Mennonite University in America in May 2012, and four women were granted visas to attend the program. In Somaliland, a stabilization session was held in Hargeisa from March 24-28, 2012, facilitated by TIS. Over 40 participants from Somaliland attended, including private sector and government representatives and civil society members. The session aimed to map the plausible future of Somaliland and identify key actors and drivers for change. Promoting strategic communication as a tool for conflict mitigation and reconciliation is also a key objective of the TIS program. A two-day forum was organized to brainstorm strategic ways to communicate messages of stabilization in Somaliland. The dialogue sessions brought together 40 representatives from media houses and government officials across Somaliland, including the Ministry of Information, Interior, and Finance. In Puntland, community consultations were facilitated by TIS to verify, accept, or challenge grants and budgets prioritized during a planning session in Djibouti in December 2011. The consultations provided a space for communities to critique the priorities identified by their representatives in Djibouti. The community in Jariban and Garacad decided against the purchase of fishing boats and fishing equipment, instead opting for awareness raising on anti-piracy and the construction of a road. Collaborative efforts between the Government, civil society, and the private sector were solidified via a road construction survey in Eyl and Jariiban. The Puntland Highway Authority covered the cost of a 60km road survey worth $2,000 in Eyl, while in Jariiban the local government contributed $2,000 for a private consultant surveyor. This shows active participation from Government and highlights their desire to improve services for the Somali people. The TIS program has achieved significant results in promoting peace and security, conflict mitigation, and reconciliation in Somalia. The program's focus on collaborative partnerships, strategic communication, and community engagement has contributed to increased stability and improved service delivery in the regions where it operates.