SLU news

Partnering workshop for livestock sector in Puntland, Somalia

Published: 20 June 2018

On Thursday 7th June SLU Global invited to a workshop for discussion of possibilities for improvement of the livestock sector in Somalia and how, and if, SLU can contribute in a “post conflict country”.

H.E. Burhan Elmi Hirsi, Puntland State minister for planning and international cooperation and Mohamud Said Samantar, Professor of Economics, Puntland State University (PSU), represented the Puntland state. Many other actors, like Sida, the business sector, civil society and Swedish politicians, also attended the meeting. SLU Global will continue to consider what type of cooperation could be forwarded with PSU.

The meeting was planned to coincide with a new Swedish bilateral strategy for cooperation with Somalia. The launch of the strategy has been delayed, but some major relevant aspects of the new strategy were verified. The cooperation intends to double its resources and add components for “climate and environment” where natural resource management and agriculture for resilient food production will be very relevant.

H.E. Burhan Elmi Hirsi stressed the importance of livestock management both for state income and for income and resilience for pastoralists, as being the dominant group in society. Mohamud Said Samantar described the difficulties and importance to assess both the number of pastoralists and to understand the system of resources use to be able to improve without undesired effects.

Ulrika König (SLU), Ulf Magnusson (SLU) and the minister H.E. Burhan Elmi Hirsi.

Apart from presentation, there was time for discussion among the 20 participants. The need for improved trade was stressed, but noted to be dependent on both improved management and quality of production, as well as building more stable local value chains. The latter was also emphasized by participants from Forum Syd’s Swedish Somali business program, where cooperation with the ACCELERATE network for young entrepreneurs in agriculture (where SLU Global is active) is under consideration. Several participants stressed the need to strengthening the pastoral system, rather than going straight over to working on high production in enclosed units. The system should rather be improved by more efficient prevention and diagnostics of disease, sustainable breeding and more efficient water use.

Vice chancellor Peter Högberg hosted the lunch, and the day after SLU Global invited to another small meeting where more targeted discussions between PSU and SLU were held. A first step might be to formulate a letter of intent and a MOU. Practical activities may include training, curricula development and other support from a regional hub and/or web-based.

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