Work on the Burao municipal offices wrapped up in May 2011 and included a new council meeting hall, upgraded sanitary facilities, and general improvements of the municipal premises. The new Burao Council Hall is one of the first buildings in Somaliland with an improved roof design that incorporates locally manufactured concrete tiles. Compared to the commonly used iron-sheet roofs, the tiles offer much better protection against local weather conditions, provide better air circulation, and are more durable. They also have green credentials, being produced in Burao in an environmentally sustainable way.

During a visit to Burao in March 2011, Mark Bowden, the UN Resident Coordinator, particularly noted the aesthetic value of the roofing materials as he congratulated the Burao District Council and UN-HABITAT on the innovative design of the Burao Council Hall. The formal inauguration of the revamped offices took place on 5 September, to coincide with the 3rd Quarter Progress Meeting of the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery, which was held in Burao for the first time.

Undertaken by Urban Construction Company, the rehabilitation work cost USD 51,500. This included USD 4,000 from the Burao local government and USD 47,500 from the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery. 

The improvement and expansion project for the Bossaso local government offices was completed at the end of June. Works include a new upper floor (the approximate building area is 160 m²), roof replacement for the main building (the mayor’s office), general rehabilitation of the existing ground floor, additional sanitary facilities, and the repair of the water supply system. Various repairs were undertaken at adjacent departmental offices, while the council meeting hall also underwent a major rehabilitation.

Bossaso’s Hodan Construction Company completed the works to a good standard, at a cost of USD 61,800. The local government contributed USD 4,500, while the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery funded the core USD 57,300. Concrete roofing tiles were used for the main building, to provide adequate cooling and protection against the harsh climate of Bossaso.

In a letter of appreciation, Hassan Abdalla Hassan, the newly elected Mayor of Bossaso, stated, “I am grateful and would like to thank UN-HABITAT for the construction and rehabilitation of the Bossaso Local Authority premises. In fact, we are very happy with the beautiful job that has been done.”