Somali Public Private Dialogue PEACE, PROSPERITY & DEVELOPMENT FOR SOMALIA

Transcription

1 Somali Public Private Dialogue PEACE, PROSPERITY & DEVELOPMENT FOR SOMALIA

2 PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE & About Somali Public Private Dialogue What is Public Private Dialogue? Public Private Dialogue is a structured inclusive discussion between a set of relevant and local stakeholders that identify, prioritize, and recommend consensus and fact-based solutions to a specific need, challenge, or problem. A balance of private and public sector participants is required, with the right mix of leadership and technical support from the relevant ministries and business associations. Public Private Dialogue is a way of structuring the partnership between government and business so that it can achieve both development impact and business benefits, going beyond what could have been achieved individually. Key to its success is an environment where private actors and public officials can discuss the regulatory and competitiveness environment in a systematic fashion. When the private sector has input into policy design, the business community develops a sense of reform policy ownership, making policies more likely to succeed in practice. Three World Bank Group studies of over 30 PPDs implemented around the world (in 2005, 2006, 2009) have shown that structured dialogue between government and the private sector are beneficial in improving business environments, stimulating competitiveness, increasing trust and fostering governance through coordination, and increasing accountability. PPD will encourage a culture of transparency and accountability within the public sector, while improving and empowering the private sector activities throughout the country. Abukar Mohammed Dahie, PS Ministry of Commerce and Industry The design of the Somali Public Private dialogue The desire to establish a Public Private Dialogue forum for Somalia emerged through the National Development Plan consultations in early During this process, key recommendations were agreed, including the establishment of a Somalia National Public Private Dialogue (PPD) that would start by focusing on key strategic economic sectors, and its enabling environment. Private Sector leaders from each State met in Garowe and adopted a communiqué on how they could work together to deliver vital reforms in Somalia that will lead to economic growth and increased foreign and domestic investments. In brief, the declaration agreed on the following: The name of the forum will be the Somali Public Private Dialogue The meeting adopted the Vision for economic development which was articulated in the NDP. Private Sector partners with Public Sector to Accelerate Somalia's Economic Recovery : 'WE WILL s' London May 10th GUIDING PRINCIPLES WE WILL.. WE WILL: PPD Somalia Declaration WE WILL o o o o o o WE WILL A strong growing national economy, driven by a competitive vibrant private sector and based on sound a sound public regulatory framework, which delivers jobs and prosperity for all, and enhanced revenues for government and affordable services for citizens. The growth will be accompanied by high levels of private sector investment in strategic sectors, and public private partnership to deliver essential services -Vision for Economic Development 1

3 Private Sector-led growth and development The window of opportunity now open to Somalia in the form of gains in security, international recognition, and reconciliation must not be allowed to close. Ending Somalia s years of conflict will require economic recovery to complement strengthened governance, continued focus on security, and justice for Somalia people. Tangible benefits are required by communities and their households to alleviate poverty, recover incomes, engage the growing youth population, build trust in government, and encourage social cohesion and integration. Sustainable growth will be solidified through strengthening state capacity and legitimacy, identifying longer-term infrastructure priorities, more sustainable management of natural resources, building systems for the regulation and delivery of services, and improving revenue collection to finance security and service delivery. It also requires the support and engagement of Somalia s entrepreneurial private sector community, which is one of the country s primary assets. Throughout the years of conflict and fragility, Somalia s private sector helped maintain economic activity and services. Some entrepreneurs flourished by providing money transfer, transport, energy, and telecommunications services as well as other critical goods and services. While the achievements are impressive, further growth is constrained by underinvestment, insecurity, and inappropriate or absent regulation.. PPD is a bridge that brings together public and private sector to resolve our common problems and help us move forward. Chairman SCCI Mohamud Abdi Ali ( Gabeyre) PPD is a platform where government and business can easily create a common understanding, which is all we need to tackle the challenges and opportunities in front of us. Mr. Farah Elmi Co- chair of the ICT Working Group The National Development Plan of Somalia (NDP ) provides a common vision on development with prioritized action as well as a coherent framework for coordination. The long-term vision is to develop a Strong, peaceful, democratic and stable state capable enough of delivering basic services to its citizens and committed to protect their fundamental rights while creating a vibrant, robust and competitive private sector that contributes to the sustainable economic development and poverty alleviation, founded on responsible macroeconomic management, infrastructure rehabilitation and equitable access to services. In the short-term the NDP focuses on providing stability, strengthening the state in all its core functions (including Security, Rule of Law, Service Delivery, Inclusive Governance) as well as creating a solidly enabling environment for economic recovery. This means investment in maintenance of Rule of Law, in establishing a transparent and level playing field for investors, in key business-oriented services, in critical infrastructure energy, roads, ports, airports - in support of productive sectors (specifically pastoralism, farming and fisheries); all expanding opportunities for engagement of the population in productive activities and creating employment. In line with the inclusive approach outlined in the NDP, it is essential to ensure that all parties in society are heard and in the position to engage in building a strong, peaceful and prosperous nation. The establishment of the Somali Public Private Dialogue mechanism is an important step in this direction. Fishermen carry the day s catch at Mogadishu s Hamarweyne fish market on December 31, 2016 in Somalia. AMISOM Photo / Ilyas Ahmed 2

4 Goals for the PPD-Somalia Initiative Growth in priority sectors (measured by number of jobs, GDP growth) Increased private sector investment in priority sectors Increased trust between government and private sector Meetings of the Senior Somali Business Council and public private consultations to prepare for the London event prioritised the following sectors for immediate attention : Financial Sector, Energy, Water, Roads, Agribusiness (Fisheries, Livestock) The remarkable resilience of the private sector has proved that it is the backbone of the Somalia economy Mette Knudsen, Danish Ambassador Designate to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and The Seychelles SRSG for Somalia, Michael Keating, flanked by H. E. Abdirashid Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Commerce and Industry of the Somali Federal Government, Mr. Mohamed A. Abdi (Martello), President of Galmudug Chamber of Commerce and Harriet Mathews, British Ambassador to Somalia speaks during the Launch of the Somali Public Private Dialogue in Mogadishu on June 27, UN Photo / Ilyas Ahmed Somali Public Private Dialogue Forum High Level Forum (Biannual) SENIOR SOMALI BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL Financial Sector Working Group ICT Working Group Agribusiness Working Group Electricity Working Group Doing Business Working Group Supported by a secretariat of private sector and government officials with technical assistance from the development community 3

5 Make up of forum Roles of different organs of the PPD Highly public forum where progress calibrated and monitored Builds support and accountability for the forum BIANNUAL HIGH LEVEL FORUM ADVISORY COUNCIL Guidance and support Senior private sector figures who are working to support the Chambers and Government implement the PPD Above Politics, beyond reproach SECRETARIAT WORKING GROUPS Engine of the PPD Calls meetings, prepares agendas, monitors and communicates progress Provides technical support Private and Public Sector Led by Chambers & Government Set priorities, develops solutions, monitors progress Calls on Development Partners for technical support Milestones of the PPD JUNE 2016 PPD Launch 2017 Advisory Council Meetings Secretariat Training ICT Working Group meetings London Forum APRIL-MAY 2016 Public Private consultation on NDP leads to launch of PPD NOVEMBER 2016 Garowe Meeting-agreement on sructure, vision and priorities. Establishment of Financial Sector Working Group Upcoming Milestones Milestones over next 6 months Establishing coordination unit with Government and formalizing mandate of the Somali PPD. Operationalising Private Sector Secretariat Holding Working Group meetings Implementing 2-3 reforms to be announced at the next High Level Forum Somalia s entrepreneurial private sector community is one of the country s main assets, and the private sector has a critical role to play in the peace, stability and development of Somalia. Hashim Duale, Deputy DG, Somalia Chamber of Commerce and Industry 4

6 Sustaining Success Stories working model Strengthening the connection World Bank Group supports Public Private Dialogue on ICT to sustain Somalia s digital boom When you think of Somalia, you rarely think of ICT expansion. Yet Somalia may actually be Africa s best example of ICT s transformational impact. The country offers the continent s cheapest phone rates, full domestic mobile network coverage, an expanding 4G network, and more mobile money transfers than cash transactions. In Somalia 73 percent of the population over 16 years old use mobile money services as compared to 16 percent of the adult population in Sub-Saharan Africa and 2 percent of the global population. Sustaining working model If Somalia s ICT successes are significant, both the country s private ICT players and the Federal Government recognize the need to expand and to regulate the market. Somalia s ICT businesses are eager to secure their investments and to roll out technological advancements, which require spectrum management agreements. The government on its part, aims to generate revenue for investments, to support businesses, as well as contribute towards security and sustainability. Somalia s government currently collects only an estimated 2 to 3 percent of its GDP from revenues as compared to an average of 17 percent for other sub-saharan African countries. The Somali Public Private Sector Dialogue (SOMPPD), working with the Ministry of Post, Telecommunications and Technology recently brought leaders from Somalia s ICT industry and Somalia s Federal Government closer to an agreement on the future of the country s ICT sector. One of the meeting s outcomes was the signing, by public and private sector representatives, of a declaration of intent which highlights commitment to: 1. Trust building (robust consultation and engagement) and public sector capacity development; 2. Developing and operationalizing key frameworks (policy, laws, strategy, institutional structures) to promote sector growth and create a level playing field; 3. Enhanced public service delivery (security sector prioritized) and remittance of taxes by private sector; 4. Support roll out of a national ID system which will, amongst other objectives, facilitate sim card registration; 5. Telecoms interconnectivity to support public service delivery that addresses the national drought emergency. Somalia s Federal Government and the country s ICT sector importantly also agreed to enact a Communications Act by the third quarter of 2017 latest, which is to support spectrum management and the distribution of fibre optic connections, among others to enable improved internet services. Public-private dialogues are scheduled to continue up to September. Frank and constructive discussion can help to remove blockages that are currently holding up the passing of the Communications Act and which can advance Somalia s ICT industry as a whole DG of MPTT Mr. Ahmed Daljire. The Public Private dialogue aims to support ICT in Somalia to catalyse additional growth, and to formalize and deepen investments in the sector. Although mobile phone and mobile money usage in Somalia are among the highest in the region, internet use is still among the lowest Africa. Spectrum management and further deployment of fiber-optic infrastructure are examples of crucial actions that will make the internet more accessible and affordable. Public-private collaboration can help to address these matters, and remove bottle necks, keeping the momentum going to build on Somalia s ICT successes.

7 Gallery 6 Group Photo with Puntland Vice President, Somali Chambers of Commerce and Industries and Government officials Puntland Vice President pictured with Chamber leaders and Senior Government officials to discuss the priorities and design of the Somalia Public Private Dialogue. ICT Working Group forum meeting Public Private Dialogue Somalia, March Mr. Hashim Duale, Deputy DG (SCCI), at PPD consultative meeting, April. Looking on is Mahesh Mishra of DFID Mr. Abdirashid M. Abdi, Senior Advisor chairs the PPD consultative meeting, April in Mogadishu Mr. Mohammed A. Abdi (Martello), President, Galmudug Chamber of Commerce and Spokesperson of SCCI, with Mr. Abukar Mohammed Dahie-PS, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (right) Mrs. Nasra Malim, Director at Nationlink Telecommunications. Mr. Abdukadir A. Omar, Chairman Chamber of Commerce Hirshabelle S O M A L I P U B L I C P R I VAT E D I A LO G U E ( S O M P P D )

8 Reach out CONTACT Ministry of Commerce and Industry Special Adviser Mr. Ahmed Elmi Somalia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director General Mr. Abdi Dorre Website: Facebook: somaliappd/facebook Twitter: Somaliappd/twitter Somali Public Private Dialogue Senior Advisor Abdirashid Mohamed Abdi The Somali Public Private Dialogue is facilitated by the T&C Global Practice of the World Bank Group with support from USAID, DANIDA, IFC CASA Africa, SPIRA and the Multi Partner Fund for Somalia