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Bringing Rights-Based Programming
to Puntland, Somalia
Discussing rights-based training in Puntland
can be sensitive. In this very traditional society, roles
are clearly divided between men and women, as theyhave been
for hundreds of years. Women are often as uncomfortable with
the idea of change as the men are. Gender issues in Somalia
are seen as political, as western ideas forced on to Somali
culture by NGOs. So it was not surprising that there were
concerns raised by the local administration when USAID's partner,
CARE, decided to hold a gender training in Bosasso.
The training was intended to teach the local
partners how to incorporate gender issues into program planning.
Unfortunately, the government stopped the training with partners,
claiming that the content was not appropriate for the Somali
society. Even CARE's field staff was hesitant about rights-based
programming. Consequently, CARE decided to start the process
with its own staff.
The training began with a discussion of the
different roles of women and men in society, an exploration
of who enjoyed performing which tasks, and if there were any
tasks normally assigned to the other gender that men or women
would like to try out. In this way, participants in the training
began to understand that rights-based programming is not about
inserting women into predetermined roles, but rather, building
a program around the strengths and interests of the group.
CARE staff came away from the training with a new perspective,
and became strong advocates for the new approach with the
government.
After two months of careful negotiations,
the Puntland government agreed to a training in Ghardo. In
addition to local NGOs, members of the Puntland government
were invited, to show that this was an open and transparent
process. Representatives from the Puntland regional government,
the Ghardo local government, the Bari regional administration,
the director of the Department of Environment, and the director
of the Department of Agriculture attended.
The training was an overwhelming success in
changing perspectives and attitudes. In fact, the Puntland
government has now decided to use this approach to rights-based
training as the model for future gender trainings. They stated
that this approach "respects the culture and considered
gender within the Somali context." Acceptance of the
concept of rights-based programming is a significant step
forward in a place as traditional as Puntland, and the new
understanding and interest shown by the government has opened
a new door for all Somalia stakeholders.
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New Economic Opportunities for
Women in Hargessa, Somaliland
Committee of Concerned Somalis (CCS) in Hargessa,
Somaliland, is one of USAID's partners in the employment generation
sector. The organization was started in 1992, and targets
women head of households. One of their main projects is a
revolving loan fund where the women can borrow funds to start
an income generating activity or strengthen an existing one.
This partnership started in 1997 when CCS
was selected for the capacity building program to implement
the Skills Development Center Project. With a budget of $110,411,
CCS was expected to train 180 women in tailoring and tie and
dye skills over a 22-month period. Ultimately CCS trained
a total of 300 women in basic business management skills,
and, when necessary, basic literacy and numeracy. After completing
the training, the women were able to take loans from the revolving
loan fund and start businesses.
Tie and dye is a new skill in Hargessa, and
the students approached the training-and the employment opportunities
it created-with unexpected zeal. They were optimistic about
their business opportunities, because they were introducing
a new product to the market. An unexpected challenge faced
by the women was that, in order to have a good quality product,
the dyes and fabric needed to be imported into Somalia. The
loans provided from the loan fund, however, were too small
to address this quality control issue. One group of three
women, managed to pool additional family resources and find
a relative in Kenya to assist with the importing of raw materials.
All of the loans taken by the tie-dye trainees have now been
repaid and the women are surviving on the profit they make
from sales.
CCS has opened a shop in the center
of Hargessa to sell the new tie-dye products. The site also
continues to function as a production and training center.
CCS participated in the Hargessa Trade Fair March 3-6, 2001,
with a booth showing the variety of products produced by the
women's groups associated with their organization. The trade
fair received coverage from the international press, and increased
awareness of the diversity of products and resources available
for further development in Somaliland.
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