APD Press Release 11.11.2006

On Tuesday 14 November 2006, over one hundred people will attend a meeting organized by the Academy for Peace and Development to conclude two years of participatory research and to explore opportunities for the coming two years.

In November 2004, the Academy for Peace and Development organized a National Project Group Meeting (NPGM) held at Ambassador Hotel, attended by approximately 100 participants from government, national institutions, political parties, National Electoral Commission (NEC), civil society and representatives from the regions of the country. It was also attended by aid agencies, international organizations and WSP, the principal partner of the Academy, now renamed International Peacebuilding Alliance (Interpeace).

The NPGM was officially opened by the vice president of Somaliland, His Excellency Axmed Yuusuf Yaasiin. Over two days, the Academy presented Working Notes and brief documentary films on various entry points of national significance. After discussions on the issues raised, it was decided that further in-depth research be carried out on the selected entry points:

1. Parliamentary elections,
2. Resource-based Conflicts (Charcoal),
3. Decentralization.

Following a two-year research on these entry points in thorough collaboration with government, national institutions, political parties, National Electoral Commission (NEC), civil society, regional and district authorities, local councilors and all stakeholders the final products of this process are to be displayed. The Academy produced three publications and three documentary films both in English and Somali on the selected entry points mentioned above. These will be presented on 14-15 November 2006 at Ambassador Hotel. (As all the papers are printed in English, a translated Somali Executive Summary will be provided with each publication.)

One hundred participants from all regions of Somaliland have been invited to the event. The participants of the NPGM will attend to the agenda of the NPGM, including the opportunity to brain-storm their contributions and proposals for new entry points that will be dealt with by APD in its future activities over the coming two years.

The APD Board of Director members, management team, researchers and staff welcome the NPGM participants and thank Interpeace, the donors, other national and international institutions, civil society and friends that have provided sustained support and collaboration for the Academy.

In partnership with Interpeace, this research has been supported through contributions from: Denmark, DfID (UK), the European Commission, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and USAID.

» Bayaan Saxaafadeed

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