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MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Mohamud Abdirahman Beene-Beene, held an official meeting today in Mogadishu with Dr. Mary Otieno, the UNFPA Representative to Somalia, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in developmental and social programs.
The high-level talks focused on deepening the partnership between the ministry and the UN agency, particularly in strategic development planning, project coordination, and the enhancement of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to ensure the field efficiency of implemented programs.
Both sides agreed on the critical need to align all current and future projects with Somalia’s National Transformation Plan (NTP) and the UNFPA’s Country Programme Document, ensuring the integration of efforts and the direction of resources toward urgent national priorities.
The meeting emphasized a commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability in executing development initiatives, focusing on creating a sustainable impact that benefits Somali citizens and improves the quality of life and essential services across various regions.
The Minister and the UN Representative underscored the importance of maintaining close and continuous communication channels to accelerate social development, noting that effective collaboration is the key to overcoming logistical challenges and expanding access to vital services.
This coordination falls within the UNFPA’s efforts to support the Somali government in population data collection and analysis, improving reproductive health services, and launching comprehensive development initiatives that serve long-term stability and economic growth.
The two parties also reviewed ways to enhance the institutional capacities of national staff in statistical analysis and population modeling, which serves as a fundamental pillar for building evidence-based development plans reflecting the actual needs of Somali society.
The Minister praised the pivotal role played by the UNFPA in supporting Somalia’s development agenda, confirming that the ministry will work to remove all obstacles to ensure the success of the UN partnership and the achievement of the National Transformation Plan’s objectives.
The meeting concluded with an affirmation that the coming phase will witness intensified field visits and technical meetings to follow up on joint projects, thereby bolstering international donor confidence in the Somali development system and driving social investment forward.
The link between “population data” and “economic planning” constitutes the core of the new cooperation between Mogadishu and the UNFPA. Somalia seeks to leverage its youth population and human resources through well-studied programs, transforming international aid from temporary relief into sustainable human investments that support state sovereignty and developmental stability.
