Somalia Stability Fund- The Learning Paper

Throughout SSF’s second phase (2016–21), it has learnt a number of lessons that can provide helpful insights to strengthen the design and delivery of future programmes. This document shares key lessons that are most relevant for future programming, in the following areas:

• The Fund’s strategy, including thinking and working politically and flexible and adaptive programming
• Management and coordination, including risk management, decision-making based on research and analysis, collaboration between lead donor and implementing partner, and a gradually more streamlined approach
• Addressing political fault lines (output 1) through close coordination with elders, constructive dialogue, and acting only when the timing is right
• Enhancing popular participation in governance (output 2), including strengthening the role of women, preparing the ground through preliminary work on investments, enhancing women’s socio-political influence, and amplifying local voices
• Increasing government visibility (output 3) including encouraging inclusive dialogue, pre-existence of local governance structures, sustainability, and adapting to shocks
• Reducing community vulnerability to conflict, including supporting transparent and inclusive community processes, reconciliation through social healing, and district council formation
• Infrastructure

The document includes implicit recommendations throughout, and in many cases explicit recommendations are also indicated with the intention of enabling greater effectiveness of future stability programming in Somalia and other similar contexts.