2019 provides UNHCR with an opportunity to streamline all its partnerships in such a manner as to promote localisation of provision of services. This will build on one of the strategic priorities of designing programmes for PoC around the centrality of protection. Therefore, UNHCR will reach out to and engage non-traditional partners and host communities as well as focus on building capacities of civil societies including local NGOs to deliver services to persons of concern, as a long term strategy for promoting local expertise, as well as lower the costs of doing business in the country. In advancement of the principles of the CRRF, UNHCR will also advocate with government counterparts for the inclusion of refugees in the implementation of the national development plan and other government initiatives related to durable solutions. For this purpose, UNHCR will enhance its strategic links with key Government Ministries at the federal and regional levels. At Federal level, the main partners will continue to be the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation (MoIFAR), and the National Commission for Refugees and IDPs (NCRI). Main government interlocutors in South-Central are the local Ministry of Interior (MoI) in Jubbaland, Galmudug regional states and the Ministry of Resettlement and Diaspora Affairs in South-West State. The Office of the Governor for the Banadir Region and Mayor of Mogadishu has also been UNHCR’s strong partners, and thus the Sub-Office will ensure its engagement on all fronts that relate to implementation of refugee activities in Mogadishu. In Somaliland, UNHCR will continue to work closely with the Government and enhances its strategic link with the key Government Ministries to foster collaboration on the role out of CRRF. The main government counterpart in Somaliland will remain the National Displacement and Refugee Agency. Collaboration will be expanded to the Ministries of Education, Health, Interior and Justice and the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Authority. NGO partners Danish Refugee Council (Health and Reception Centre and mixed migration data collection/response), Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Somaliland (SGBV/Disabilities/ peaceful co-existence projects), Legal Aid Clinic (Legal protection), and the Norwegian Refugee Council (Education) and a partner on self-reliance and livelihoods will continue to work for delivery of protection and assistance services to PoCs. In Somaliland, UNHCR will engage in IDPs pillar through an NGO partner and continue to focus on its co-lead responsibilities jointly with IOM for the Mixed Migration Task Force. The Office will also continue to co-lead the Protection, Shelter/NFIs and CCCM sectors and also collaborate with CP, GBV and HLP AOR as well as with the inter-sector level. UNHCR’s coordination role will be supported by its agency response through provision of shelter/NFI and protection monitoring. UNHCR will also continue to engage with the drought response team and the New Arrivals Task Force, established to coordinate, plan and implement the New Arrivals’ Response from Yemen both in Hargeisa and Berbera. In Puntland, UNHCR will continue implementation of activities through partnership agreements with the Puntland Ministry of Interior (MOI) and local and international NGOs such as: the Danish Refugee Council (DRC); Galkayo Education Centre for Peace and Development (GECPD); Galkayo Medical Foundation (GMF); Gruppo per le Relazioni Transculturali (GRT); KAALO Aid and Development (KAALO); the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC); Relief International (RI), ASAL, PSA. UNHCR through these partners supported education, health, legal, livelihood, and other protection assistance for refugees and asylum seekers. Further discussions will be carried out with key UN sister agencies and international NGOs to fundraise and assume responsibilities in areas where gaps still exist, including the areas of shelter and infrastructure, education and livelihood. Efforts will be made for these partners to increase their ability to contribute both financially and technically more to the refugee operation for the delivery of quality services to refugees. In addition, UNHCR in Puntland will continue to collaborate with members of the durable solutions, HLP, GBV and child protection working groups under the umbrella of the Protection Cluster as well as the Shelter Cluster. In all parts of the country, UNHCR will also pursue close collaboration with other UN partners such as UNDSS, UNSOM, IOM, UNFPA, WFP, UN-HABITAT, UNCC, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO and UNOCHA in coordination of response to emergency, delivery of services, mixed migration, addressing drought, returnees, security and IDP related issues.
