Press Release<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs and Family (MESAF) has concluded its annual strategic review of the 2022\u20132026 Strategic Plan, reaffirming its commitment to advancing decent employment, strengthening social protection, promoting gender equality, and improving the welfare of vulnerable communities across Somaliland.<\/p>\n
The review assessed progress made in implementing the Ministry’s five-year strategic priorities and examined achievements, ongoing challenges, and priority actions for the remaining implementation period. The Strategic Plan is aligned with Somaliland’s National Development Plan III (NDP III) and provides the framework for national interventions in employment, labour, social affairs, family welfare, and human rights.<\/p>\n
The review highlights significant progress in strengthening Somaliland’s legal and policy framework through the approval and implementation of key national policies, including the National Employment Policy, National Internship Policy, Somaliland Labour Law, National Child Protection Policy, National Gender Policy, Work Permit Regulations, and Labour Dispute Regulations. Additional legislative reforms relating to disability rights, child rights, family law, and social protection continue to advance through the national legislative process.<\/p>\n
The Ministry also reviewed major programme achievements delivered in partnership with government institutions, development partners and civil society organizations. These include support for income-generating activities benefiting approximately 200,000 women from 32,000 households, the creation of approximately 65,000 employment opportunities through the Coursera\u2013MESAF programme, the delivery of food assistance, non-food items and cash transfers to more than 700,000 households, expansion of regional service delivery, strengthened labour institutions, and increased support for persons with disabilities and survivors of gender-based violence.<\/p>\n
The strategic review also identified priority challenges requiring sustained national attention, including youth unemployment, the impacts of climate change and recurrent drought, the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, limited access to social protection services, barriers to women’s participation in leadership, and the need to further strengthen institutional capacity for effective service delivery.<\/p>\n