Somalia Programmes of Assistance
Assisting Somalia in buiding its governance frameworks for a sustainable and secure ocean
About the Programmes
In November 2013, the Federal Government of Somalia requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations for technical assistance in the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In response, the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) developed two projects with funding from the United Nations Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.
- Project 61: Building the knowledge and capacity of Somali legislators and technical officials regarding the rights and duties of the maritime zones set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) (2 September 2014 - 28 February 2018).
In June 2018, the Federal Government of Somalia requested additional assistance through a second project so as to reinforce the outcomes of project 61 and to address priority capacity gaps identified in ocean affairs within the civil service of Somalia.
- Project 89: Providing assistance to Somali legislators and technical officials to facilitate the development of an effective legal framework for the governance of Somalia’s maritime zones and the sustainable development of its marine resources in conformity with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments, in furtherance of Somalia’s national interests and priorities (June 2019 - July 2021).
Donor and Partners
Objectives
Both projects built an understanding amongst key decision-makers of the relevant provisions of UNCLOS to facilitate the development and adoption of a contemporary and effective national legal framework for sustainable ocean management.
Project 61 built the knowledge and capacity of Somali legislators and technical officials regarding the rights and duties in the maritime zones set out in UNCLOS, including in relation to the repression of piracy, in order to assist Somalia in developing an overarching legal framework for the effective governance of its maritime domain and the sustainable development of its resources in conformity with UNCLOS.
Project 89 built the understanding and capacity of Government officials from various entities actively working on ocean issues and relevant technical officials drawn from all the regions of Somalia, with regard to the international legal framework under UNCLOS and other international legal instruments for the repression of piracy, and the management and sustainable use of marine resources and activities.
Outputs (click Activity to expand)
Project 61
Activity 1: Briefings for Somali Parliamentarians
A series of law of the sea briefings for Parliamentarians were delivered by DOALOS in Mogadishu in October 2014. Participation and topics were established in consultation with the Presidency and the Speaker of the Parliament.
A second briefing on the law of the sea for Parliamentarians was delivered in Mogadishu on 12 and 13 September 2017. This activity was originally scheduled for the fall of 2015 but postponed due to election in Somalia and the subsequent formulation of a new Government.
Activity 2: In-depth training programme
DOALOS delivered a five-day in-depth training programme for mid-level to senior-level officials of the Federal Government of Somalia and regional authorities across various relevant ministries and agencies in July 2015.
Activity 3: Preparation of a substantive gap analysis and ocean governance study
Somali Research Consultant researched and provided source materials and the information necessary for the analytical framework of a gap analysis of the Somali legislative and institutional frameworks in relation to ocean affairs and the law of the sea.
An International Legal Expert Consultant, working with the Somali Research Consultant, undertook a substantive gap analysis and prepared a study with the results of that analysis.
On the basis of the work of the two consultants, DOALOS prepared the overview study of the legislative and institutional framework for ocean affairs and the law of the sea in the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Activity 4: Strategic fellowships for Somali officials
Two Somali ocean affairs professionals successfully completed a four-month Strategic Fellowship for Somalia from March to July 2016 hosted by DOALOS at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Project 89
Activity 1: Online virtual training modules
Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, an in-person course was replaced by a series of virtual training modules that were delivered from 15 May to 30 June 2021. Topics addressed specific needs identified by the Federal Government of Somalia in of ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including: International Fisheries Law, Maritime Regulation and Enforcement, and Law of the Sea. The online modules were procured through the Wollongong University (Australia). The course was delivered to 19 Somali participants from Government and academia.
Activity 2: Technical Training Programme for Maritime Law Enforcement Authorities
The Technical Training Programme in Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for Maritime Law Enforcement Authorities was delivered from 10 to 25 November 2020 in Mogadishu. The Programme was delivered virtually by a number of lecturers from DOALOS, UNSOM, FAO, UNODC, IMO and the Indian Ocean MoU on Port State Control. The Programme was attended by 33 civil servants from the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States. It was delivered through a blended format, with the majority of participants, including those from the Federal Member States, attending in-person at a conference facility in Mogadishu. Owing to the extended duration of this Programme, participants from the Federal Member States followed the final two days of lectures remotely, with assistance in internet connectivity provided by UNSOM. The Programme provided an introduction to the key aspects of law of the sea relevant to law enforcement officials, as reflected in UNCLOS and other related instruments.
