Somalia

Policy snapshots, In-depth policy analysis, Policy status updates, and Legal insights for Citizens, Policymakers, Researchers, Development Professionals, Infrastructure Development Enthusiasts.

The Ninth National Development Plan (NDP-9) coordinated by the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development covers a five year (5) period from 2020 to 2024. NDP-9 builds on the achievements of the preceding Eighth National Development Plan (NDP-8), which concluded in December 2019. Since 1962, Somalia has formulated and implemented eight national development plans, and NDP-9 continues this tradition by providing a clear roadmap for economic growth and poverty alleviation. The Plan aligns with the requirements of the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), ensuring comprehensive and compliant development policies.

This Plan builds on lessons learned from previous development strategies, with a central objective distinct from earlier iterations: the reduction of poverty across the nation. NDP-9 identifies three critical national priorities necessary for achieving this objective: Inclusive and Accountable Politics, Improved Security and the Rule of Law, and Enhanced Economic Development. These priorities were established through extensive consultations and poverty analysis, positioning them as essential prerequisites for the government’s ability to deliver on broader social development and public services.

A key theme of NDP-9 is resilience, which is integrated into each policy area to ensure sustainable progress. By addressing the root causes of poverty, the plan aims to improve the well-being of households and individuals, guiding the nation toward significant poverty reduction over the next five years. 

Some of the key reforms identified under the Plan in relation to infrastructure development are:

Transportation
  • Reconstruction and maintenance of existing transport infrastructure (including airports, seaports and roads/corridors) to support economic growth and access public services
  • Rehabilitation and building of urban infrastructure
  • Maximise employment creation during infrastructure development, with a particular focus on young people and the displaced
  • Strengthening of policy and legal frameworks, and institutional and technical capacity
  • Integration of databases and systems for vehicle registration and driving licences across Somalia
  • Ensuring environmental protection is adequately factored into intervention design and implementation
Energy
  • Developing renewable and non-renewable energy sources to increase supply
  • Establishing a national regulatory authority for energy market governance
  • Strengthening the administrative and technical capacity of the Federal and State Ministries of Energy
  • Ensuring the needs of vulnerable groups – particularly women, the youth and displaced persons in intervention design and implementation.
ICT
  • Extension of the national backbone infrastructure to connect all major urban centres with redundant/duplicate links (to ensure reliability), as well as addressing last mile challenges to ensure universal access to broadband, including efficient interconnection and expansion of the existing 3/4G mobile coverage;
  • Develop a regulatory framework for telecom operators to take part in (within and cross sector) infrastructure sharing and dig-once policies, supported by other utility network development
  • Ensuring critical infrastructure is protected – establishing a Cybersecurity and Privacy group to oversee the development and enforcement of national cybersecurity policies, and develop a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  • Develop a postal services policy to establish digital addressing and spatial data infrastructure.
Water & Sanitation
  • Provision of safe drinking water and sanitation services to vulnerable communities, including under-served schools and health clinics.
  • Building human and institutional capacities for sustainable water supply.
  • Promoting good hygiene practices and behaviour
  • Building of  partnership with the international community and development partners to support water and sanitation related infrastructure
  • Establishment of policy and legal framework to support the sector and also establishment of Private-Public Partnership.

Commentary

The Ninth National Development Plan (NDP-9) is a comprehensive policy that effectively addresses Somalia’s pressing needs, especially in poverty alleviation, economic growth, and infrastructure development. The Ninth National Development plan demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusive development by prioritising essential services, such as energy, clean water, and ICT. The successful implementation of NDP-9 relies heavily on capacity-building, international partnerships, and the development of legal and regulatory framework which might be challenging given Somalia’s socio-political landscape. The impact of this policy will depend on sustained commitment and effective execution in the years to come.

To read the full policy, click here.