Statement of Commitment

Hon Sadik Hirsi Warfa, Minister for Labour & Social Affairs, Government of Somalia

At

Institutional Commitments to close the funding and coverage gaps

26th November 2019: Geneva

Respected Organizers,

Thank you for providing me the opportunity to speak on this occasion – to express Government of Somalia’s institutional commitment to promote sustainable Social Protection System in Somalia.

At present, there are no government-led social protection programmes in Somalia primarily because of decades-long security issues, natural disasters, lack of basic capacity in Government to identify and support the poorest and most vulnerable community members; and limited fiscal space.

With the support of our development partners, we have initiated some very important capacity development projects to put in place a sound Social Protection System – in line with National Social Protection Policy.

Regarding fiscal space, I am pleased to see that in July 2019, the Executive Board of the IMF met to conclude Article IV consultation on Somalia. They agreed that the macroeconomic and structural policies of Somali Government – outlined under the fourth SMP – meet the policy standards associated with upper credit tranche arrangements. Our Prime Minister’s effective advocacy for deft relief for Somalia featured prominently at the World Bank fall meetings happened inOctober 2019 and there are good indications that Somalia will reach HIPC Decision Point in Quarter-2 of 2020. Achieving the HIPC Decision Point will result in a very significant reduction in debt, creating unprecedented fiscal space. The Office of Prime Minister (Social Development and Economic Development Roadmaps) has already indicated that investment in social sectors, especially social protection and water will receive substantial budgetary allocations after debt relief.

Before we get this fiscal space, we expect that our technical partners like ILO, will help us identify feasible and most appropriate Social Protection Programmes where Government should invest its resources and create a real impact on poverty.

In line with our National Social Protection Policy, the Government of Somalia is fully committed to promote a sustainable and predicable social protection system in Somalia – and will avail all resources at its disposal to ensure the achievement of principles of ‘Leave No One Behind’ and ‘benefit the neediest first’.

Thank you.