in Somalia

Part 3:  Warring Factions Unite to Protect Somalia TB Programme:

Q. In a country where three different political factions are fighting for natural resources, is this also the case when sharing funds across Puntland, Somaliland, and Southern Central Somalia?

Absolutely! This is something which comes up over and over again, and it’s a challenge not only to TB but to all other humanitarian interventions. Let me say that we try to discuss and be transparent. We share all information possible including the budget. In our case where the total budget and summary of the Global Fund is on the website, it is not very difficult… However, we gather all the authorities in a round table- (Q. Yes, really?) Yes! an example is in May (2006) we had the 3 ministers Of Health discussing the budget of year 3.

Q. During international conflict resolution efforts, the three political factions have rarely able to share the same room; do they really agree to sit on the same table and plan TB services?

Yes ! They do, like in TB, the technical people who represent the ministry meet together and we arrive at consensus, sometimes after long, long discussions.

On the TB we have been a bit luckier than other sectors, but what we probably have done is to be as transparent as possible, and go the extra mile and reach out to them.

Q. I think we have got the general idea – we were discussing how you manage to provide services successfully to nomadic and warring populations; is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, yes, let me mention that, with all the insecurity, especially in the South and Central Somalia, when a service has good results, it’s appreciated even by the warring factions and they try as much as possible to protect it. We have a Slogan in this place that ‘Good projects are a security by themselves’, so if the beneficiaries- the communities see the good results, they will do anything to protect the activities and the projects. TB is one example, I would say- even Malaria for that matter for the Global Fund… they are all protected really, because they see the benefits. They would not like to interfere…if there is a problem arising in relation to these programmes, they will work towards getting a solution, as much as possible. Like even when we are moving, for example in the last 3 days we have been driving around, they provide security and … We are in the North, (Somaliland) we have a team which is in Puntland, we are in touch with them and all is okay, though requirements are that we go with police escort. Of course, we provide a cost!