Abdiaziz Ali Hussein
3 min readJan 11, 2020

Implementers of DFID’s Peace and Development Programme

DFID Basic Social Services under Peace Development Programme (BASES) was conflict-sensitive Programme Funded by Department for International Development (DFID) of United Kingdom here in Somali Regional State, Ethiopia which is implemented from 2013- 2017 through a consortium led by Save the children. The programme intended to support the development and reduce conflict in Somali Regional State by helping: 17,000 more girls and 39,000 more boys attend primary school, 75,000 more people access health services, 341,000 more people access improved water sources.

Former three Colleagues of Save the Children Who Implemented the large scale multisectoral Development programme of DFID met today here in Jigjiga. These three Individuals in the picture were among part and parcel of the hundredth staff across four agencies who employees provided cost-effective technical to managerial and coordination support of in a fragile and insecure environment in Somali Regional context under consortium members like; Save the Children, Islamic Relief and Ogaden for welfare and development in action and International Rescue Committee for successful implementation of sectors in 15 target Districts with the active involvement of government functionaries at regional, zonal, district and community levels as well as target communities. Like in the picture Ahmed and Kabdid are still working in Save the Children and Abdiaziz which is me the writer of this piece that you are reading is currently is United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

As usual, when former colleagues meet after some time they talk about the early days of their workplace, so our memories went back to the field days and our Social platform in Gode city when we were implementing BASES. We grabbed some cups of tea & finally took one picture together today after three solid years.

The Impact of the Development Programme that we implemented at that time is felt from the Somali Regional State in general and that of the 15 intervention Districts in particular. It improved the quality of Basis services delivery like; Education, Health, WASH and Institutional Capacity building given to the government officials and frontline from Regional to District level.

This programme was the first of its kind that the Donor funded and Implemented in Ethiopia if not East Africa. I wish if donors who are interesting to put their resources in Somali Regional State fund this kind of programmes which is very absolutely fit for this Regional context which is one of the Least Developed Regions in Ethiopia's like, Afar, Gambela and Benishangul-Gumuz regional States.

I wish to detail more about this programme and lobby for funding for the tiers of my good reason and cause of campaigning and Advocating lifting of Somali Region's eight Million Population from the dust. But still, this small piece is enough if for knowing one thing and two things of what DFID BASES under Peace and Development Programme was and good clue for readers. I will try to detail in the future Insha Aĺlah. Before that, if you are interested you can reach the Donor DFID of UK or the Lead of the programme Save the Children.

https://twitter.com/AbdiazizAlih/status/1201211588394594305?s=19

Abdiaziz Ali Hussein

Educationalist, Writer, Award-winning advocate and best Contributor, and Ex United Nations, INGO, and Govt. Email: abdiaziz172@gmail.com