In brief
- On 30 January 2020, Horn Diplomat reported that the EU, Somaliland government, Berbera municipality and UN-Habitat launched the €7.5 million Berbera Urban Development Project.
- The project is funded through the European Development Fund’s Regional Indicative Programme 2014–2020 and aims to improve waste management infrastructure, build feeder roads and strengthen municipal capacity.
- The report gives no evidence of implementation, disbursement or progress since the launch date.
On 30 January 2020, the European Union, Somaliland’s Ministry of Planning and National Development, the Municipality of Berbera and UN-Habitat launched the Berbera Urban Development Project, according to a report published that day by Horn Diplomat.
Who and what was announced
The €7.5 million project is funded from the European Development Fund under the Regional Indicative Programme 2014–2020 for Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, Horn Diplomat reported. The project objective, as stated in the report, is to contribute to inclusive and sustainable urban development and economic growth in Berbera through improved waste management infrastructure and services.
Planned physical works include a network of 20 km of feeder roads connecting to a new dumpsite, internal roads in prioritised community areas, and an “innovative, well designed landfill site and recycling facility” at a strategically selected location. The report also says the intervention aims to strengthen inclusive governance and create related employment for the urban poor.
What officials said
EU Ambassador Nicolas Berlanga Martinez said the project would help Berbera move toward sustainable development goals on resilient infrastructure, industrialisation and innovation, and would “hopefully” address waste management challenges, according to Horn Diplomat. Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail Saylici highlighted that the project would contribute to the first goal of the National Development Plan II, which is to reduce poverty through increased economic opportunities. Minister of Planning and National Development Hassan Mohammed Ali (also cited in the report as H.E Hassan Mohamed Ali) said Somaliland’s development trajectory requires resources beyond its own revenues and thanked the EU for financing development priorities.
UN-Habitat’s Officer-in-Charge for Somalia, Ishaku Maitumbi, said the agency’s support reaffirms its commitment to promoting sustainable urbanization.
What the report does not establish
The Horn Diplomat article does not provide a signed agreement document, contract terms, a specific signing date, or a timeline for construction start, completion or milestones. It gives no details on procurement, contractor or implementing agency, and no confirmation of fund disbursement or project expenditures. There is no identification of the landfill site location, and no information on project status or progress since the launch.
Frequently asked questions
What are the specific project components and timelines?
The report lists 20 km of feeder roads, internal roads, a landfill site and recycling facility, and municipal capacity strengthening. No timeline is given.
Who will implement and supervise the project?
The Horn Diplomat report names the EU, Somaliland Ministry of Planning, Berbera Municipality and UN-Habitat as partners, but does not identify a contractor or implementing agency.
What are the expected outcomes for Berbera’s infrastructure?
The stated objective is improved waste management infrastructure and services, contributing to inclusive urban development and economic growth, according to the report.