The Effects Of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Leadership Initiatives On Political Stability In Somalia

Abstract

This study examined the Effects of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) key leadership initiatives in Somalia. The institutional arrangement support such as Somalia Institutional Support programme (SISP), the Rule of law and security projects as well as the Governance and leadership programmes. The Institutional support projects financed and provided both the technical and financial support to the top leadership of the Somali Executive such as the President and the prime minister. The Programme supported group and individual members of parliament as well as technical expatriate that supported the offices. The Rule of law and security provided evidences of documentation and improvement in Human rights respect, dignity and safety of all officials working for the institutional arrangements. This study adopted the descriptive design and targeted ten key informants from the international expatriates and UNDP officials running the programmes, in affirmation jointly with five other government top officials, who affirmed the technical and financial support provided by UNDP to enhance the transitional institutions and its leaders. The interviews targeted both the direct and indirect officials of the programme and the beneficiaries. The Direct targets being the head of programme that are the expatriates and international staff and the indirect being government officials. The sample size was achieved through cluster sampling of UNDP staff and top government legislative and the executive members. Purposive sampling and other Non-probability sampling methods such as snow-ball, were also used. The research methods were preferred since detailed and private project information to be revealed, needed honesty and trustworthiness hence referencing through Snow –ball approach using the Interview guide tool. Analysis of the study was done through emerging patterns, themes, documentation, vivo coding of key concepts provided such as Institutional strengthening, Rule of law& Security, Governance and leadership as well as effective and non-effective leadership qualities. The Results obtained in the finding indicated donor good will and proper information sharing stakeholder consultation and constant communications. Donors wait and see attitudes, leadership capacity building, respect for rule of law and security as well as dignified human rights provisions as well as general political agreements between the leaders and the programmes head improved the general implementation and donor support and funding opportunities. Findings of the study revealed responsive and timely intervention of donor project support can help institutionalize peace building in Somalia. Also UNDP projects have a bearing on overall leadership, peace building initiatives and positive technology use. Similarly; team building, honesty and relationship building between different stakeholders including the Private sector, the UNDP staff, the Executive government officials has strongly contributed to political stability of the process. Effective leadership of the Somali Government and implementation of lessons learnt also remain major findings for the study. Other aspects such as cultural disintegration, globalization, clan conflict and poor leadership also strongly contributed to overall lack of peace building in Somalia.