Press release

UK will help Somalia plan a safe and prosperous future

Justine Greening announces new support to boost Somalia’s economy and create jobs at the New Deal for Somalia conference in Brussels.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
A malnourished baby receives treatment in an intensive care ward at Dadaab refugee camp.

A malnourished baby receives treatment in an intensive care ward at Dadaab refugee camp. Picture: Sven Torfinn/Panos

Britain has pledged further support to boost Somalia’s economy and create jobs as the country recovers from 20 years of civil war, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced today.

The new package of support comes as Somalia’s government is set to agree its first strategy to coordinate its development and plan a more peaceful future at the New Deal for Somalia conference in Brussels.

The UK’s support will ensure 8,400 children are treated for malnutrition and 5,300 babies receive life-saving immunisations. The UK will also pledge new support to boost Somalia’s economic development by encouraging more investment and generating thousands of new jobs across the country.

Speaking at conference, the UK also called on other countries to follow the UK’s lead and support Somalia’s own plans for its future reconstruction. International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

Britain is already forging a new and special relationship with Somalia.

It is right that we help Somalia to get back on its feet and stop the country falling back into the arms of terrorism, famine and insecurity.

This new roadmap for reconstruction is a once in a generation opportunity to support Somalia’s plans for a safer and more prosperous future. We must give ordinary Somalis the support they need to make this a reality.

The UK’s new £50 million package will support Somalia’s New Deal Compact. It will help to:

Notes to editors

  1. The New Deal for Somalia conference will take place on 16 September 2013 in the Egmont Palace in central Brussels, Belgium. The conference will set out a set of key priorities and new support for the reconstruction of Somalia over the next three years.
  2. The UK’s new pledge of a further £50 million to Somalia is in addition to DFID’s existing annual £80 million programme in Somalia.
  3. The Brussels conference will bring together Somali and international partners to agree a ‘New Deal Compact’ to ensure support for Somalia is properly coordinated and supports the plans of the Federal Government and the people of Somalia for the future. This will include: * A New Deal Compact setting out political, security and development priorities * The Somalia Development and Reconstruction Framework, a new aid architecture setting out the financing mechanisms and how to coordinate these with Somali priorities identified in the Compact; * Partnership Principles to guide the relationship between Somalia and donors; * An Economic Recovery Plan setting out the immediate priorities to kick start the economy over a two to three year period. This is the first step to a longer-term re-engagement with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

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Updates to this page

Published 16 September 2013