UNESCO works in Somaliland through various initiatives with a particular focus on education, culture, and digital learning. For instance, UNESCO is promoting digital learning and developing strategies to promote education, to achieve inclusivity. It also collaborates with the Government in developing and implementing national strategies for safeguarding and promotion of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Importantly, it provides support to integrate digital technologies into education for the development of open digital resources and textbooks.
UNICEF has a particular focus on health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child education, social protection, community engagement and work to strengthen the local government to deliver services.
It pays special attention to saving children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
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In 2018, UNICEF reported that the Government of Somaliland launched a joint program with United Nations to improve the lives of its people and promote peace through accountable and effective local government.
On the other hand, UNODC has emphasis on strengthening criminal justice system, technical support to the security institutions, supporting to improve judicial system and in training and mentoring for various justice sector professionals.
It also works to provide technical support to the Somaliland Police in developing a Comprehensive Education Programme designed to provide a ‘knowledge’ bank across a range of skills and competencies to meet all training needs of the NPF.
Key aspects of Peacebuilding in Somaliland
One of the approaches is localized and culturally rooted peacebuilding: It has been observed that the peacebuilding process is deeply embedded within Somaliland’s culture and utilizes traditional systems, including clan elders and reconciliation conferences.
Also, many peace initiatives began at the local level and gradually built a national network of peace conferences, showcasing a bottom-up approach.
The system acknowledges and leverages the clan structure, with elders playing a crucial role in mediation and reconciliation.
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Moreover, the National Peacebuilding Policy (NPP) is also important. Somaliland has formalized its peacebuilding initiatives and efforts with the NPP, which institutionalizes the existing structures.
Efforts to achieve peace
After the collapse of the previous regime, Somaliland has focused on reconciling militant groups, as a key goal of the Somali National Movement (SNM).
Notably, the peace conferences and the use of traditional institutions performed a vital role in restoring the existing situation and normalizing inter-clan relations.
At the same time, Somaliland has a functional government that is seen as legitimate by its population, as evidenced by regular elections and peaceful power transitions.
Challenges
While Somaliland has achieved peace. The situation in Somalia looks to be complex because of the ongoing conflict and the threat of groups like al-Shabaab.
Furthermore, Somaliland is seeking international recognition as a distinct nation, but the United States and other international actors have been hesitant to grant it, fearing the impact on regional stability and the conflict in Somalia.
Lastly, despite the relative peace, Somaliland has faced internal conflicts, including the recent fighting in Las Anod.
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