Somaliland Health Sector Support (MIDA Finnsom IV)

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

IOM MIDA Finnsom IV project focuses on contributing to improved health outcomes in Somaliland, and particularly its remote regions. To achieve this, the project supports the capacity of public sector institutions to provide quality health services. Three outputs have been defined: 1.) Local health professionals have skills/capacity to deliver quality health services 2.) Local health training institutions have improved competence and ability to train local health professionals 3.) Ministry of Health has increased capacity to steer, manage and coordinate the health sector The Somali diaspora experts, particularly the Finnish Somali diaspora experts, are the actors in the capacity building efforts. They train the local health professionals and participate in developing strategies, plans, standards, and curricula for health sector. Particular attention is given to women's and child health. In the long term the project is expected to contribute to better health outcomes for Somaliland population, and especially the health outcomes for women and children. The first Finnish funded MIDA project was initiated already in 2008. The project has been evaluated twice, and the findings suggest that the project has significantly strengthened public health institutions’ ability to provide quality services in Somaliland. The findings and recommendations of evaluations have been duly notified in the planning of the Finnsom IV phase: For example, the project now focuses on the more remote regions in Somaliland, where service provision is poorer than in the capital Hargeisa. Similarly, following the recommendations, the length of the assignments of diaspora experts has been increased for Phase IV. To support the implementation of the project, the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) also implements tailored trainings for the Ministry of Health. The duration of the Phase IV is four years, from March 2017 until February 2021. The budget for the project is 4 300 000 Euros. Somalia is considered an LDC country.