Somaliland conducted a long-awaited parliamentary election on 31 May 2021 and most of the 82 elected members of the Somaliland House of Representatives began serving in this capacity for the very first time. The leadership of the House requested for international partners to provide legal and technical support, as well as capacity building for the new House members.
Therefore, the EU Delegation for Somalia requested the Foundation to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to establish current issues and challenges of the Somaliland Parliament and to develop ideas for future support. The needs assessment mission was organised under the EU-funded project Legal Capacity Building and Technical Support for the Somali Federal Parliament and supported by the EU Partnership Facility with UNOPS.
The Foundation conducted the needs assessment mission for the Somaliland Parliament from 12 to 22 October 2021. For that purpose the Head of Projects and the Project Coordinator for Somalia travelled to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland and seat of the Parliament, to meet with stakeholders in- and outside of Parliament. Included in the meetings were two Speakers’ Offices, honourable Members, Committee Chairs, parliament administration, the Ministry of Parliamentary Relations and Constitutional Affairs and the Solicitor General.
The Head of Projects and the Project Coordinator for Somalia had the opportunity to visit the Somaliland Parliament premises and relevant government offices. More importantly, they conducted several interviews to assess current issues, challenges, and opportunities of the Somaliland Parliament to identify baselines for a future project. Based on this needs assessment, the Foundation plans to develop a comprehensive legal capacity building and advice support project for the Somaliland Parliament.