On December 1, 2024, a coordination meeting was held with civil society organizations (CSOs) working alongside Parliament. This marked the second quarterly meeting, aimed at strengthening the network among CSOs. Participants discussed their activities in Parliament over the past quarter and sought to better understand each other’s efforts.
The ISIR Institute, IPRT, the Center for Democracy (CDG), and Soydavo are all actively involved in various parliamentary initiatives, particularly debates and other related activities.
Two secretaries from the House of Representatives committees also participated in the meeting, sharing valuable insights into the workings of the House and the different sectors of its administration. They discussed challenges faced during previous debates, offering a perspective on their experiences.
ISIR
The ISIR Institute organizes events called NALA SHAAH, which facilitate informal discussions that allow MPs to meet with citizens and share current issues being addressed in Parliament. This event serves as a bridge between citizens and their elected representatives.
Honorable Mohamed Koodbur provided an overview of the House of Representatives, including its structure and the issues discussed over the past three years. This biannual event aims to address current issues in the House and provides citizens with a platform to meet their elected representatives.
IPRT
Nimco from IPRT shared that the organization plans to conduct a debate session this year, involving both the House of Elders and the House of Representatives, as well as focusing on debates for municipal councils across major districts.
CDG
Khadar from the Center for Democracy highlighted three debates conducted during the quarter, focusing on relations with Turkey, a memorandum of understanding between Somaliland and Ethiopia, and discussions regarding representatives.
Soydavo
Jimale from Soydavo mentioned that the organization continues to lobby for the passage of the FGM Act in the House of Representatives and plans to conduct several debates next year to invite representatives to engage with the public and provide information about Parliament and current issues.
Action Points
- Established terms of reference that CSOs have agreed upon for collaborative efforts.
- Strengthened the relationship between the Department of Planning and CSOs.
- Engaging in collaborative debates.
