British Somali NGO Meeting

The Humanitarian Forum held in cooperation with the Muslim Charities Forum a meeting for the British Somali NGOs on Monday, 31st January 2011.

The aim of the meeting was to bring together and create a dialogue among Somali NGOs to address the challenges they face, and discuss about next steps to take in order to address the humanitarian crisis in all regions of Somalia.  It was said that Somali NGOs should collectively co-ordinate themselves in order to benefit those in need and to have an impact within the western UK society and societies in Somalia.

Organisations that attended the meeting included:

  1. HARDO
  2. Access for support and development centre;
  3. Women of the Horn
  4. MUFED;
  5. Saada
  6. UK Somali students
  7. Bandev development organisation
  8. Hirda UK
  9. African Relief fund
  10. Somali Orphan charity - Umul Quraa
  11. African development trust
  12. Read Horn of Africa
  13. Horn of Africa Aid
  14. Jigjiga Rehabilitation Centre
  15. Pupil Parent Partnership
  16. Human Relief Foundation

 

The needs of Somali NGOs that have been identified are:

  • Peace building
  • Capacity building
  • Networking and Collaboration
  • Synergy of Approach
  • Coordination
  • Mapping
  • Agreeing priorities
  • Communication about the Diaspora
  • Professionalism
  • Practical steps/setting up forums
  • Agreement to work across all borders
  • Information / Experience sharing
  • Links needed between Somali community / government/ international communities
  • Community instigating at grass roots
  • Commitment/ trust
  • Use of Somali professionals to work within Somalia
  • Youth Rehabilitation & Skills training.

Interesting themes have come up within this meeting; crucial element is commitment to making this happen with the bursting initiative of these Somali NGOs. Western governments view of Somalia being a failed state can be reversed by working together therefore the impossible can be made possible.

Next steps

  • Structure a group/ consortium of members
  • Unless Somali NGOs are organised, they can't be recognised
  • Facebook pages, Blogs, twitter/ all these social networks are essential for connecting and communication/ creating awareness
  • Meet and communicate regularly / Builds confidence
  • MCF (Muslim charities forum) will send details of all NGO participants to one another
  • Creating another event for Somali NGOs to create a platform
  • Unification/ commitment needed to move on
  • Each organisation should list their strengths and weaknesses on a word document to circulate among the Somali NGOs
  • Need to identify potential donors/ create winning proposals (training courses)
  • Identify the core values.

Ending quote: "You have to be the change you want others to be, start with yourself".