EU Commission Assistance to Somalia: Fact and Figures

Humanitarian Aid from the European Commission

• € 45,8 million for 2008 alone
• € 87 million since 2005
• Focused on nutrition, water and sanitation, livestock, food security, shelter and assistance to internally displaced populations and assistance to Somali refugees in Kenya

Additionally, since 2006 the European Commission has allocated €13 million to assist Somali refugees in Kenya.

Development Aid from the European Commission

€ 278 million of Development Aid from 2003

Projects focus mainly on three sectors:

1. Governance and security, including support to institutional building, reconciliation, rule of law, human rights and capacity building for Somali Non State Actors;
2. Social sectors, including support to primary and secondary education, adult literacy, teacher and vocational training, health systems strengthening and maternal health care and improved access to safe water in urban and rural areas;
3. Agriculture, livestock, food security and early warning.

€ 215.4 million for 2008-2013

Five programmes were approved in the course of 2008 worth a total €87 million:

Additionally, the EC Somalia Operations Unit contracted a number of projects worth a total €12.78 million. For the latter, a breakdown is provided below:

Three new programmes presently in the pipeline in 2009:

€ 190 million of Development Aid is currently being disbursed through an estimated 100 projects implemented in Somalia

Main implementing partners are international organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union, as well as Non Governmental Organisations working closely with Somali counterparts.

Development Aid for Security from the European Union

€ 13.3 million for the Rule of Law since 2003

The European Commission has been financing a multi-donor funded project implemented by UNDP. Under the project, 2,700 police officers have been trained and their incomes provisionally secured. Special police committees have been set up to monitor allegations of police abuse and protect the rights of prisoners. In Somaliland and Puntland community policing initiatives have been launched and two model prisons built (one in Hargeisa and one in Gardo). In addition, 1,500 former combatants have benefited from a Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) component in Somaliland and Puntland, including financial support for family businesses. A further €16 million allocation is in the pipeline.

€ 35.5 million for the African Union Peacekeeping Mission AMISOM

The European Union is currently supporting the African Union Peacekeeping Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) with around 3400 forces on the ground. AMISOM's main objective is to provide support to the Somali Transitional Federal Institutions in their effort to stabilise the country and further dialogue and reconciliation. The EU has supported AMISOM since its inception through bilateral contributions from Member States and a total of €35.5 million from the European Development Fund funded African Peace Facility (APF). A €4.75 million contribution from the Instrument for Stability (IfS) is additionally assisting operations management through the Strategic Management Planning Unit, whilst other non-EU donors contributed to cover other costs of the mission. The most recent contribution from the APF (with a six-month duration up to 31 May 2009) should cover allowances of three battalions and construction works for the mission headquarters in Mogadishu

General Information on Somalia

• Population : estimated 7.7 million
• Area : 638 000 km²
• Life expectancy : 46.2 years (2005)
• Access to clean water : 29% (2004)
• Internally displaced persons : 1,300,000

• EU Council conclusions on Somalia (18/5/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council: Situation in Somalia (13/5/2009)
• Somalia: EUHR Solana reiterates his solidarity and support for transitional government (12/5/2009)
• EU Naval force intercepts pirates and mothership off East African coast (3/5/2009)
• Somalia: EU Commission pledges to commit €72 million at the International Donor Conference (24/4/2009)
• "We will not end piracy on the high seas of Somalia unless we bring development to the towns and villages" - Speech by EU President Barroso (23/4/2009)
• Somalia: EU Commission to pledge at least €60 million to help boost security (22/4/2009)
• EU-UN-AU Conference on Somalia, 22-23 April (21/4/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations 5th Committee: Financing activities arising from Security Council Resolution 1863 on Somalia (25/3/2009)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council: Debate on the situation in Somalia (20/3/2009)
• EU Commission, with UN, hosts key international meeting on Somalia (26/2/2009)
• Somalia: EUHR Solana comments on election of new President (1/2/2009)