SAACID has been partnering UN-HABITAT in rural and urban community development programming since 2005. This has culminated in outputs of public infrastructure rehabilitation projects; leadership and management training for grassroots leaders; participatory budgeting and planning operations; conflict resolution training; and, gender and IDP inclusiveness.
Much of the programming has centred on Mogadishu City. The key component of programming was district-level ownership in identifying, selecting and rehabilitating public infrastructure that they perceived as a priority. This transfer of ownership has been critical in ensuring that the rehabilitated public infrastructure is not looted or destroyed. To date, in a city racked by ongoing conflict, not a single public infrastructure project completed since we first began in 2005 has been looted or destroyed - a real testament to the community ownership model.
These projects have continued throughout 2005-11. In 2011, SAACID signed a further 2 cooperation agreements with UN-HABITAT for 34 public infrastructure projects to be completed; as well as training 595 grassroots leaders in Mogadishu in core conflict management techniques; and completing a 2nd phase of public infrastructure audits for all 16 districts within Mogadishu City. This programme is due to be completed in mid 2012.
