Tuesday January 2, 2024

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has joined forces with key stakeholders in Baidoa, the largest city of the South-West State of Somalia, to boost community participation and improve public services.

The UNDP said the partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Investment, and Economic Development and the municipality of Baidoa, aims to establish a user-friendly digital platform encouraging citizens, officials, organizations, and stakeholders to actively contribute to the city’s development.

“Encouraging active participation in decision-making and public services ensures that everyone’s voice is heard, fostering a more inclusive and participatory governance model,” the UNDP said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Sunday evening.

It said the core objective of the initiative is to empower the people of Baidoa, transforming them into active contributors to the shaping of their communities.

The UNDP said the initiative is part of the Saameynta UN Joint Program, jointly implemented by the UNDP, UN-Habitat, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The main aim of Saameynta, which means “impact” in Somali language, is to reduce the number of people living in forced displacement by providing large-scale, durable solutions suited to urban environments in Baidoa and two other Somali cities — Bossaso and Beletweyne.