Aid in Action

Ambassador Michael Ranneberger presents $3.9 Million to UNICEF for People of Southern Somalia

New agreement to deliver basic social services

Nairobi, Kenya  | Friday, September 07, 2007

 

On August 31, U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger presented a contribution of over $3.9 million to UNICEF to improve access to basic social services for the people of the southern region of Somalia.  The assistance package, provided through USAID, is known as the Social Service Delivery to Support Recovery and Stability in Southern Somalia. It reaffirms the U.S. government's strong commitment to support credible and legitimate governance institutions in Somalia and improve their ability to deliver basic social services to the Somali population. This new contribution brings the total USG contribution to the people of southern Somalia for water and social services to over $6.2 million.  

Specifically, the contribution will fund UNICEF for a 14-month period to:  

1. Increase the enrollment in primary schools in targeted areas of Central and Southern Somalia, placing a special emphasis on enrollment of girls and children from vulnerable communities.
2. Increase the capacity of education authorities at all levels to improve access to education.
3. Increase access to water supply and sanitation services in schools, related health care facilities, and communities (rural and urban). Provide textbooks and learning materials, and teaching activities focusing on health and hygiene promotion.
4. Increase access to and utilization of quality Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Care services.
5. Increased capacity of service providers in the delivery of quality health care services and improve capacity of health authorities and training institutions in the planning, management, setting standards and quality assurance of health care services.

Over the next 14-months, with the support of the United States, access to basic services for Somalis living in the southern region will increase, with a particular focus to be placed on expanding service delivery in Mogadishu, security permitting.