Diaspora Support Initiative to the Reconstruction of jubbaland28 - 31 2009, Columbus, Ohio
The Somali Development Foundation (SDF) and Diaspora members of the Columbus, Ohio, hosted a Somali Diaspora conference. Delegates from the US, Canada, Europe (Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark and Holland), Middle East (Egypt) and Africa (Kenya) gathered, May 28 - 31 2009 at the Hilton, Columbus, Ohio. The conference was joined by Pamela Fiest from the US Department of State. The objective of the conference was to engage Diaspora to support initiatives for the reconstruction of Somalia with focus on Galgadud, Gedo and Jubba Land (GGJ) regions. Mr Abdinour Sheikh Abdisalam, on behalf of SDF Chairman, Warsame Ali, welcomed the delegates. Other Dignitaries including former Somali government Deputy Prime Minister, Somali MPs and prominent community elders joined the welcome and wished communities in the GGJ regions to unite and to engage in the reconstruction of their country and regions.In the second day of the conference delegates discussed agenda about the political, security and humanitarian circumstances in Somalia. Diaspora delegates discussed the particular situation in GGJ regions and the critical need for Diaspora to help efforts in GGJ regions. In the discussion Diaspora delegates identified priority interventions in the short, medium and long term. Delegates decided interventions towards assistance to GGJ Somali regions to be framed under a Diaspora Support Initiative (DSI). DSI will address and coordinate efforts and activities to assist reconstruction of GGJ regions through four pillars: Pillar I: Reconciliation, Peace and Governance buildingPillar II: The capacity of the GGJ to benefit from the Transitional Federal GovernmentPillar III: The capacity of the GGJ to more effectively benefit from donor resources Pillar IV: Diaspora financial, technical and institutional support to the GGJ reconstructionFinally, Diaspora delegates decided the structure of the DSI which includes a president, a council of elders mandated to provide overall leadership and an executive Committee tasked to run the everyday activities of DSI. Delegates elected 38 Diaspora members for the Executive Committee and Abdinour Sheikh Abdisalam for president.The conference was concluded by a statement from the delegates on GGJ Diaspora communities support to the ongoing national reconciliation efforts in Somalia
Conference Pictures
http://www.allgedo.com/Galged/natiijadii%20shirka%20mw3%20news.htm
Plans for a new state between the Juba River and the Kenyan border
No comments:
Post a Comment