Identifying local people’s security and justice priorities in Somalia

FCP led a year-long research project working with Consilient Research to inform the design of the second phase of the UK-funded Somalia Security and Justice Programme (SSJP II). In the unstable Somali context, the programme is part of the UK Government’s wider stabilisation approach and aims to contribute to the development of a political settlement at federal and member state levels.

The research started with a literature review and gendered political economy analysis and then included comprehensive field research in four large cities. This focused on four themes: reducing human rights abuses by security forces; increasing the accountability of the security forces; improving the resolution of land disputes; and tackling sexual and gender-based violence. The research included focus group discussions, key informant interviews and large-scale quantitative surveys with the public and the police. The research identified local security and justice needs as well as highlighting the social norms and institutional challenges which impact on security and justice delivery. A specific focus was on the needs of women, internally-displaced people (IDPs) and other marginalised groups.

The research reports can be found herePDF Summary – and provided the evidence for the new programme’s design and theory of change. The programme is now being implemented by the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS).