Somaliland Non State Actors Forum
Location: Jigjga-yar, Badda As, Behind WHO Office
Tel: +252-63-570536, +252-63-4414335
Website:www.sonsaf.org___________________________________________________________
TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) -Draft
Thematic Working Group: Peace Building and State Building (SPTWG)
Introduction
Advocacy at various levels is central in achieving sustainable impact in Somaliland.
SONSAF has been at the centre of various advocacy initiatives in the past 5 years. However,
with a growing membership and widening forum for advocacy engagement, more targeted
actions and investment of resources are necessary. With this in mind, SONSAF has identified
areas of priority for its advocacy commitment over the next 12 months (2013 to 2014.).
The platform’s advocacy strategy recognizes the complexity and volatility of the context in
Somaliland. By the nature of their work, NSA members are always committed to sharing
information related to advocacy issues and support advocacy initiatives aimed at rectifying
outstanding policy issues. Agreement on consistent policy messages on the part NSA is thus
necessary if NSAs voices’ are to be strengthened through policy dialogue. To achieve the
purpose of the advocacy program, it is imperative that platform members formulate shared
understanding and consensus on issues requiring policy dialogue so that they will be able to
jointly identify and act on advocacy opportunities. To realize the objective of the advocacy
activities, it is essential that capacity building programs be provided to those undertaking
advocacy
activities
in
each
thematic
group.
An advocacy strategy was developed over the course of a four day workshop held in
Hargeisa, 15 – 19 January 2013. The SONSAF Advocacy Strategy Review Workshop
highlighted four main issues for SONSAF’s advocacy Strategy. Two of the issues are from
the platform’s previous advocacy strategy while the other two issues are new. Within each
thematic area, workshop participant identified their problems, causes, and most viable
solutions. They then developed influencing plans for the solutions in each issue area. The
four main issue areas include: Strengthening Somaliland’s Democratization System,
Environmental Protection, Aid effectiveness and Service Delivery and Peace Building
and State Building.
1
1.
Peace and state building activities
Somaliland has been an island of peace and stability since 1991 when it regained its
independence from Somalia after having withdrawn from the union it had entered with
Somalia in 1960. Somaliland has built its state from the scratch without any outside support.
Unfortunately the international community has yet to recognize Somaliland as an
independent country.
Despite above remarkable achievements, there are many factors that continue threatening
Somaliland’s fragile stability including:
a) Absence of strong foundation for the mechanisms aimed at strengthening the role of
traditional leaders who play considerable role in peace building and state building
efforts. It is imperative to keep in perspective that without the involvement of the
traditional leaders, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to strengthen peace building
and state building initiatives.
b) Absence of legal framework for distribution of natural resources (e.g. oil exploration,
minerals etc). To strengthen peace and state building initiatives, it is important to
provide communities living in areas where natural resources exploration activities
taking place with appropriate share of the natural resources obtained from the areas
where such communities are living.
c) Power devolution: The government must ensure that governmental institutions are
deployed in the eastern regions of the country which lack many government
institutions. The presence of government institutions is one of the pillars that can
contribute to peace building and state building efforts.
2.
State building and peace building working groups:
It is because of the above-mentioned problems that SONSAF is planning to establish state
and peace building thematic work group whose duties are to undertake consultative meetings
and bring together major stakeholders to generate discussions and ideas regarding ways to
advance peace building and state building initiatives. The participants of the consultative
meetings will include civil society actors, traditional leaders, religious leaders, media
groups, lawyers, women, youth, and academicians.
Upon the completion of these consultative meetings, SONSAF will issue a policy position
paper. Advocacy activities will then be instituted to influence policy recommendations.
3.
Roles and responsibilities of SPTWG: Specifically, SPTWG shall:

Identify priority activities

Undertake stakeholders' analyses.

Hold consultative meetings, gather appropriate information, and analyze information
collected, both freshly-generated ideas and information gathered from existing
literature.

Compile comprehensive report; and disseminate the report.
2

Formulate policy position and publicize and disseminate policy position paper
through advocacy and lobbying activities.

Meet with government officials and other stakeholders and follow up issues
addressed.

The duration of the thematic work group shall be two years; during this period,
SPTWG will meet once a month to review progress made and to plan for future
activities.

With Saferworld’s support, SONSAF will also provide SPTWG members with
capacity building training and logistical services
4) Composition and selection criteria of the SPTWG

SPTWG members will consist of 7 Somaliland NSAs members.

SPTWG members shall possess expertise in policy development area as well as in
mobilization of communities and advocacy activities.

In addition, SPTWG members shall be committed to advancing NSAs involvement in
public affairs especially as regards state building and peace building issues.

SPTWG members shall not use the SPTWG activities as a means to promote their
personal/organizational interests.
5) Focal Point: The thematic working groups shall have a liaison Focal Point/Resource
Person whose duties include:
Chairing SPTWG meetings
 Developing agenda of the meetings
 Acting as spokesperson for the SPTWG
 Organizing meeting with stakeholders including government officials, and civil
society groups
 Coordinating SPTWG activities with SONSAF Advocacy and Lobbying Officer
 Communicating and updating Saferworld Advocacy Advisor on progress of the
SPTWG activities.
6) Secretary: The SPTWG shall elect a Secretary from within their group. The SPTWG
Secretary will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

Willing to work as volunteer, and be proficient in filing, documentation and
communication skills;

Must have Secondary school certificate or university degree; and

Must have report writing skills.
7) Duties of the secretary:
3

Organizing SPTWG meetings

Recording the minutes of meeting

Maintaining SPTWG documents
4