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Somalia

EU supports model school and a program to improve livelihoods and economy in Jubaland

KISMAYU, Somalia, March 7 - The European Union jointly with the Federal Government of Somalia and Interim Juba Administration launched the second phase of education support for regions in south and central Somalia. The new programme is implemented by ADRA Somalia, together with its consortium partners CISP, Trocaire, Save the Children and Centre for British Teachers, and in close coordination with the Federal and State ministries of Education.

The programme which is worth 6 million Euros aims to expand public education opportunities in newly liberated areas, particularly Banadir, Galmudug, Mudug, Bay, Bakool, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Lower Jubba, Galgadud, Gedo and Hiraan. It builds on the gains made by the recently concluded support to education in Galmudug, Banadir and Bakool, also funded by the EU.

“The expanded peace in more regions of south and central Somalia has created a greaterdemand for education and consequently theneed to extend education services.Our recently concluded education support in these regions hasdemonstratedthe positive role education can playinthestabilization of the country. It is for these reasons that the EU tripled its support to education in targeted regions in 2015 and more funding is expected in 2016, with specific focus on the newly liberated areas,” said the EU Ambassador and Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso.

Through this new investment from the EU, primary and secondary education opportunities will be expanded, teachers will be trained and youth will be equipped with vocational skills. 10 new model schools and 3 TVET centres will be built and equipped in order to make education and vocational training attractive for the catchment population and returning refugees.

The model school design will integrate rain water harvesting, solar power and efficient building technology to allow for natural movement of air to cool the classrooms. Renovations will also be undertaken in 12 existing primary schools. With a view of developing the physical, mental, social and emotional aspects of the target children, co-curricular activities will be promoted in all the 22 targeted schools.

“The key drivers for this action are the growing demand for education services from newly liberated regions, the need to expand and entrench the gains made so far and the need to support Somali authorities to overcome the unique challenges of a post-conflict situation”, observed ADRA Somalia’s Country Director Mr. Luiz Carmago, further adding that the program will ensure that equal education opportunities will be provided to all.

Meanwhile the European Union,jointly with the Federal Government of Somalia and the Jubaland State, have on Monday 7 signed a "Social Safety Net Programme Consortium" worth 11 million Euros to build household and community level resilience to drought and other hazards in the Afmadow, Dhobley and Kismayo. Targeted communities will benefit through the delivery of predictable and regular cash transfers to vulnerable households, alongside investment in diverse livelihood bases. In addition, community-led disaster risk reduction activities will be supported. Resilience will be strengthened not only at the household level directly, but through implementing improvements in terms of disaster preparedness.

The program will be implemented by ACTED, Adeso and SADO over a three year period in order to maximize the impact for targeted households, communities, local authorities and institutions. "The program will reach 5,000 households with regular cash transfers and livelihood support. Further, the overall communities, an estimated 15,000 households, will benefit from improved access to early warning messaging, disaster risk reduction and a scale-up of cash transfers in the event of a shock or disaster event" indicated Moalin Mohamed Hussein, Minister of Social Affairs of the Jubbaland administration.

The project will also support a body of research on Social Safety Net Programming, enabling service providers to continue to deliver better designed Safety Net interventions into the future. "highlighted" Abdi Ahmed Mohamed, the focal point for resilience