MOGADISHU, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has launched a five-year initiative to address Somalia's complex development challenges.
The UNDP Somalia Country Program Document (CPD) for 2026-2030, developed in close collaboration with the Somali government, outlines five years of cooperation among Somalia, its federal member states, and international partners.
At the launch in Mogadishu on Sunday, UNDP Resident Representative in Somalia Lionel Laurens said the organization aims to mobilize and invest about 306.7 million U.S. dollars through 2030 to implement the initiative.
"This CPD marks a clear shift toward a portfolio approach, moving from isolated interventions to connected solutions that address root causes. This positions the UNDP to address complex development challenges more effectively, deliver results at scale rather than in silos, and support long-term systems transformation," Laurens said.
The new program also commits to allocating at least 15 percent of project budgets to gender-focused work, beyond standard gender mainstreaming.
According to Laurens, the UNDP will focus on three core strategic areas: transformational governance and institution-building; economic transformation, livelihoods, and jobs; and resilience, climate adaptation, and durable solutions.
By 2030, the program aims to provide jobs and livelihood support to over 50,000 people, more than doubling the previous cycle's reach, Laurens added.
Abdifatah Abdulkadir Farah, director-general at the Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, said the launch is a significant milestone for Somalia's development, underscoring a collective commitment to creating a prosperous, resilient, and inclusive future.
He added that the government will continue to lead coordination efforts to ensure development remains aligned with national priorities, noting that it highly values the UNDP's ongoing support for national planning and institutional growth. ■