Somalia Affirms Commitment to Improving Country Portfolio Performance for African Development Bank Projects

29 July 2025
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)

Somalia's government has encouraged capacity building in procurement, financial management, disbursement and anti-corruption for the staff of agencies implementing African Development Bank-financed projects to improve portfolio performance and the disbursement rates.

The weeklong 2025 Somalia Country Portfolio Performance Review, held in Nairobi, concluded July 17 after examining delivery issues across the Bank's $245.7 million active portfolio of 22 projects in the country.

Saleiman Umar, Director General at Somalia's Ministry of Finance, expressed concern over the declining portfolio performance in opening remarks delivered on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Hon. Bihi Egeh. He called for stronger performance management of project implementing units, greater contextual understanding from Bank staff, and enhanced dialogue between the Bank and Somalia's government.

"The Federal Government of Somalia remains committed to collaborating with the Bank and other stakeholders to address the challenges in the portfolio," Umar stated.

Bubacarr Sankareh, East Africa Lead Operations Advisor, speaking on behalf of Dr. Alex Mubiru, African Development Bank Director General for East Africa, emphasized the workshop's importance as a platform to assess performance and develop actionable solutions to boost project delivery.

The review brought together representatives from of the Somali government's executing and implementing agencies, civil society organizations, development partners, and Bank staff to examine project progress. A subsequent fiduciary clinic held July 16-17 focused on enhancing capacity in procurement, financial management, disbursement, communication, and anti-corruption measures.

Project staff found the sessions valuable. "We have gained a lot of information relating to our projects and the guidelines to follow when implementing them," said Fatuma Faisal, an accountant with the Statistics Development Support Project at the Somali National Bureau of Statistics.

Dahir Warsame, a procurement consultant with the Somali Ministry of Finance, noted the importance of the exchange between different project implementing units and direct access to Bank officials.

Since joining the African Development Bank in 1964, Somalia has received financing for 69 projects totaling approximately $698.95 million. The current active portfolio focuses heavily on infrastructure--transport, energy, and water sectors--alongside agriculture, multi-sector programs, and social and financial sectors.

The sessions marked the first standalone review since 2023, incorporating the Bank's revised guidelines approved in 2024.

Workshop photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCmT9T

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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