Management Response

: Somalia
: 2024 - 2025 , Somalia (CO)
: Somalia Country Portfolio Evaluation 2022-2025
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Somalia

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Management acknowledges the evaluation’s findings concerning the capacity limitations, programming challenges, and resource mobilisation constraints experienced by the UN Women Somalia Programme Presence during the previous Strategic Note period. The evaluation accurately highlights the misalignment between the expanding expectations placed on the office, particularly in its coordination and normative roles and the limited human and financial resources available to fulfil these responsibilities. These gaps have, at times, constrained the office’s ability to deliver on its mandate and ensure sustained programme outcomes fully. Management concurs with the recommendations and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the Programme Presence through a comprehensive review of the staffing structure, enhanced access to technical expertise, and the development of a sustainable resource mobilisation and communications approach. Priority areas will include the recruitment of dedicated gender expertise, improved cross-thematic programming, and the expansion of joint programming efforts to promote coherence, scalability, and greater inclusion of marginalised populations. Furthermore, Management will collaborate closely with the Regional Office and headquarters to ensure that future programmatic and coordination responsibilities are realistically aligned with available capacities and that partners maintain a consistent and accurate understanding of UN Women’s role and comparative advantages. These measures are expected to contribute to a more strategically positioned, resilient, and effective Programme Presence capable of advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Somalia.

: Approved
Recommendation: HUMAN RESOURCES CAPACITY AND STRATEGIC POSITIONING: UN Women Should Strive to Strengthen Its Human Resources Capacity in the Somalia Programme Presence to Ensure Strategic Positioning and Long-Term Programme Delivery
Management Response: Management acknowledges the findings regarding the need to strengthen the human resources capacity of the Somalia Programme Presence to ensure long-term programme delivery and stronger strategic positioning. Despite the identified staffing gaps, the office has continued to provide technical support and leverage its comparative advantage in normative and coordination work to the extent possible. Management agrees with the recommendation and is committed to working closely with the Regional Office and Headquarters to explore feasible options for enhancing human resource capacity. This will include reviewing the current organisational structure, identifying critical staffing and technical support needs, and assessing opportunities to strengthen operational efficiency. Management will also prioritise the development of a targeted resource mobilisation and communication strategy to support a more sustainable operational model. Furthermore, Management reaffirms the development of its SN Strategy, which is aligned with UN Women’s Global Strategic Plan 2026–2029 and the United Nations Cooperation Framework 2026–2030, positioning UN Women within the priorities of Somalia’s National Transformation Plan. This alignment is expected to create greater opportunities for resource mobilisation and thematic partnerships. The strategy emphasises strengthening inclusive and accountable governance, as well as supporting economic transformation and resilience, while ensuring that commitments remain proportionate to available resources. These actions will contribute to a more resilient, strategically positioned, and adequately resourced office capable of delivering impactful and sustainable results for women and girls in Somalia.
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Description: UN Women should strive to strengthen its human resources capacity in the Somalia Programme Presence to ensure strategic positioning and long-term programme delivery.
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Capacity development
Organizational Priorities: Partnership
UNEG Criteria: Sustainability
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
To address the identified human resource and strategic positioning gaps, Management will collaborate with the Regional Office and Headquarters to assess capacity needs to review the staffing structure and operational model, and identify critical gaps and required positions. Country Program Manager 2026/12 Not Initiated
Management will secure necessary technical support from the RO/HQ to obtain additional technical expertise that strengthens programme delivery Country Program Manager & Operations Manager 2026/12 Not Initiated
Management will conduct a resource-mobilisation assessment to carry out rapid donor mapping and funding analysis that informs a sustainable resource-mobilisation strategy. Country Program Manager Operations and Program Specialists 2026/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: SOMALIA PROGRAMME PRESENCE CAPACITIES: UN Women Somalia should devise sustainable strategies to recruit and retain the programme personnel required to implement long-term programmes. The office should consider recruiting gender equality expertise to contribute to the UNCT and other partners in advocating and advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women
Management Response: Management acknowledges the need for sustainable strategies to recruit and retain programme personnel to ensure effective long-term delivery in Somalia. It also recognises the importance of securing dedicated technical gender expertise to support UNCT processes and advance gender equality and women’s empowerment consistently. Management agrees with the recommendation and is committed to strengthening the Somalia Programme Presence through a more strategic and sustainable human-resources approach. In collaboration with the Regional Office and Headquarters, Management will review the current staffing structure to identify critical long-term capacity requirements. Discussions with the Regional Office on revising the office structure to better meet programme commitments have already been initiated.
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Description: UN Women Somalia should devise sustainable strategies to recruit and retain the programme personnel required to implement long-term programmes. The office should consider recruiting expertise in gender equality to contribute to the UNCT and other partners in advocating for and advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Alignment with strategy
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Relevance
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
The office will engage with the Regional Office to adopt localised processes that streamline workflows and accelerate implementation, strengthening internal systems to enhance programme tracking, reporting, and learning in support of its contributions to the UNCT and national partners. Country Programme Manager 2026/12 Not Initiated
The office will prioritise staff welfare and put in place a retention plan to ensure continuity. Country Programme Manager 2026/12 Not Initiated
If funding allows, the office will consider recruiting dedicated gender-equality expertise and M&E personnel. Country Programme Manager 2026/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: PROGRAMMING: UN Women Somalia should enhance programming by better linking cross-thematic areas; continuing to implement joint programmes; increasing its focus on normative and coordination work to ensure scalability of outcomes; and increasing its reach to the most marginalized populations.
Management Response: Management acknowledges the recommendation to strengthen programming by improving cross-thematic linkages, expanding joint programming efforts, enhancing normative and coordination work, and increasing outreach to marginalised populations. The findings accurately reflect the evolving needs of the Somalia context and highlight areas where greater integration, coherence, and strategic focus will enhance the scalability and sustainability of results. Management agrees with the recommendation and is committed to deepening cross-thematic programming approaches that maximise synergies across women’s leadership, WPS, EVAW, and WEE portfolios. Management also reaffirms the importance of continued engagement in joint programmes to leverage the strengths and resources of the wider UN system. Furthermore, the office will prioritise strengthening its normative and coordination roles to ensure that programme results are scalable, evidence-based, and aligned with national and UN priorities.
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Description: UN Women Somalia should enhance programming by better linking cross-thematic areas; continuing to implement joint programmes; increasing its focus on normative and coordination work to ensure scalability of outcomes; and increasing its reach to the most marginalised populations.
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Oversight/governance
Organizational Priorities: UN Coordination
UNEG Criteria: Impact, Human Rights, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Mapping out thematic engagement areas to identify synergies across portfolios and clarify UN Women’s comparative advantage, strengthening joint programming and promoting more coherent, integrated interventions. Country Program Manager & Program Specialists 2026/12 Initiated
Reinforce UN Women’s normative and coordination role within the UNCT and UNHCT to enhance system-wide coherence, advance gender equality priorities, and improve the scalability and sustainability of results across sectors. Country Program Manager, program specialists 2026/12 Initiated
Expand outreach to marginalised populations by designing targeted interventions and partnering with traditional leaders, grassroots women’s organisations, and marginalised community networks to ensure inclusive participation and equitable access to opportunities. Program Specialists 2026/12 Not Initiated
Develop long-term, results-focused, cross-thematic programmes that enhance integration across thematic areas, include clear sustainability and exit strategies, and align with national systems to strengthen ownership and long-term impact. Program specialists 2026/12 Not Initiated
Recommendation: RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: UN Women Somalia should invest in resource mobilization and communication by strengthening its relationships with current donors and building relationships with potential donors.
Management Response: Management acknowledges the recommendation to strengthen resource mobilisation and communication efforts to secure sustainable funding for UN Women Somalia’s programs. Management agrees that deepening engagement with existing donors while cultivating relationships with new and emerging partners is essential for long-term programme continuity and expansion. Strengthening communication, visibility, and evidence-based storytelling will also be prioritised to better demonstrate results and attract diversified funding. Management is committed to working with the Regional Office and headquarters to enhance resource mobilisation capacity and ensure that donor engagement is strategic, coordinated, and aligned with the country office’s priorities.
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Description: UN Women Somalia should invest in resource mobilization and communication by strengthening its relationships with current donors and building relationships with potential donors
Management Response Category: Accepted
Thematic Area: Not applicable
Operating Principles: Alignment with strategy
Organizational Priorities: Operational activities
UNEG Criteria: Effectiveness, Sustainability, Impact, Gender equality
Key Actions
Responsible Deadline Status Comments
Conduct a comprehensive donor mapping exercise, in collaboration with the Regional Office, to identify traditional and non-traditional partners interested in supporting Somalia. Country Program Manager 2027/12 Initiated
Develop and implement tailored engagement strategies, including customised donor visits, visibility events, and virtual engagements, while showcasing results and maintaining strong compliance standards. Country Program Manager and Program Specialists 2026/12 Not Initiated
Explore options for hiring dedicated communications personnel to enhance visibility, strengthen storytelling, and improve the presentation of UN Women Somalia’s achievements and impact. Country Program Manager 2026/12 Not Initiated