44
including references in the
National Development Plan
and in the bylaws that accompany the
NGO Act,
80
but has concluded that an amendment to the law would be premature.
81
Actors
The NGO Act empowers the Ministry of National Planning and Development as the leading
authority in civil society affairs and provides for the appointment of a registrar general to
oversee implementation of the NGO Act and the nomination of a consultative committee to
guide policy. In addition, Article 22 seeks to establish a “forum for national/local non-
governmental organizations” that would be “a focal point and common platform for all local
NGOs operating in Somaliland with the aim of achieving better coordination and networking
among these organizations.” These mechanisms remain under formation. A four-tiered
coordination structure includes monthly sector coordination forums, quarterly inter-sector
coordination forums, quarterly national aid coordination forums, and bi-annual high-level
coordination forums.
According to the
National Development Plan
, close to 1,800 local organizations have registered
with the Ministry of National Planning and Development since the 1990s.
82
As of 2012, 427
organizations were registered, with the following breakdown among their main areas of
activity:
83
Activity
Percentage
Development
31.87
Education
19.02
Health
11.56
Livelihood
11.08
Environment
5.41
Production (agriculture, livestock, fisheries)
4.88
Youth
4.38
Governance
2.05
Water and Sanitation
1.28
Others
1.54
Prominent local partners focusing on democratization issues include the Academy for Peace and
Development, the Social Research and Development Institute, the Forum for Peace and
Development, and the Candlelight for Health Education and Environment. In addition to
individual civil society organizations, a number of umbrella groups bring together related
organizations towards the promotion of common interests. These include the Somaliland Non-
State Actors Forum, which represents approximately 40 civil society organizations, professional
communities, and private businesses; Nagaad, which represents approximately 45 women’s
80
81
Hamdi Abdulahi, “Research Assessment of the Legal Framework for Civil Society in Somaliland and Puntland,”
International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, June 2011.
82
The NGO Act continues to leave some vagueness as to organizations operating outside of its scope, such as
grassroots or faith-based groups.
83
Based on data from the Somaliland
National Development Plan
, p. 251.
