Introduction
Gondoob Research and Social Justice Advocates have concluded a one day Forum on Understanding Federalism for 100 participants (65 male and 35 female). The participants were selected from the Universities and the local civil society organizations (CSOs) as well as Baidoa District Youth Associations.
UNDERSTANDING FEDERALISM FORUM REPORT
SUMMERY
The forum was chaired by Omar Mustaf Noor, the guest panel on the stage included academics and government officials. Our distinguished guest were
Moderators: Fowzi Abdinoor, Chairman of the Academics of South West Somalia.
Panelists: Mr. Mustaf Sheikh Abdullahi, Director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Reconciliation and Local Government.
Mr. Ali Yussuf Abdirahman, CRD staff for District Council Information.
Mr. Abdi Adow, Former Southwest Non-state Actor’s Chairperson.
The forum was very exciting and interesting for the participants, but unfortunately the director of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Reconciliation and Local Government, Mr. Mustaf Sheikh Abdullahi, was not able to attend the forum. He was the right person to asked question and explains more in details about the meaning of federalism, its advantages and disadvantages for the Southwest state community.
Objectives
- The importance of the forum is understands of federalism and the community that participated in the exchange of knowledge in the forum
- Organizing more debates and increasing the capacity of the civil society organization and university students on understanding of federalism?
- Organizing more forums on understanding federalism and what is physical federalism and many more other benefit of federalism?
- As southwest state how profligate losses do we have in the federalism?
Topics Discussed
During the Discussion session, a range of themes were discussed. The forum has covered the following topics:
- What is federalism?
- How many types of federalism are there in the world?
- What kind of federal system is there in Somalia?
- What kinds of federalism do the people of the southwest need?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of federalism?
- To speed up the federal system, why the federal government did has limited the power of the government to itself alone and enters into agreements without the knowledge of the regional government and other government agencies.
- If the country is federal, who is independent to take the exams in high schools and primary schools in the country? is it a mechanism that has been devolved in the interest of federal government system
- Who deserves more power, the federal government or the state governments?
- The interim constitution gave the federal government four powers: (1) money (2) defense (3) foreign affairs and immigration and citizenship.
- There are agencies and ministries in the country, such as the National Communications authority and the Ministry of National Communications authority. Why was it created?
- Who has the overall responsibility for the security of the districts is it the federal government or state governments?
- Finally, how can we get a federal system that will satisfy the Somali community in different parts of the country?
The moderator and the panelist explained in details the above topics during discussed and used audio-visuals to showcase some aspect of understanding federalism
Methodology
The moderator used the forum methodology that was engaging and interactive and encouraged active participation of the participants throughout the session of the forum.
Brainstorming
This method was used to generate ideas and allow the participants of the forum to share their experience and knowledge on the topics discussed. Particularly, it was aimed at activating the participants’ thinking on a given subject or topic before the moderator started the forum topics in details. Every participant had the chance to raise his or her understanding on a given brainstormed question during the sessions.
Q&A Session
Participants had the chance to ask questions about the subjects that had just been covered at the conclusion of each session over the course.
This approach was intended to give participants the opportunity to exercise their opportunity to ask questions on pertinent subjects and in areas where they needed more clarification
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Forum Outcome
100 participants were engaged on the forum of understanding Federalism, The purpose of the forum was to give CSOs and Youth Associations the knowledge they needed to improve their capacity on federalism. Its impact and their participation in the process are significant as Community and Gondoob Research and Social Justice Advocate Partners in order to achieve understanding federalism process at Baidoa District level.
Conclusion
One day discussion session was concluded in good atmosphere. Participants have had access to all the forum materials including the slides, notebooks, pens and other necessary items to be provided to the participants
Recommendations
The participants recommended the following
- Southwest economic development
- Advanced Human Rights, Gender and Child protection
- Government engagement (on service delivery)
- The role of justice in stabilization the regions of southwest state
- Sustainability on production chain
- Sufficiency on health service (mother and child)
- Climate change
- Peace and security
