Through the UN Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery, UN-Habitat is implementing the construction of an additional building for the Somaliland Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The Hargeisa building will have new offices for 24 staff, a conference room, the minister’s offices, and sanitary facilities. Taking into account the possible future expansion of the ministry, the design allows for the addition of a second floor, with office space for 24 more staff.
A ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the new office building was held on 31 January 2012. The ceremony was attended by the Director-General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Bashe Yusuf Ahmed, other officers from the ministry, UN-Habitat representatives, and the local press. The director-general thanked UN-Habitat for starting the construction of the building, which will provide this newly merged ministry with additional office space and a conference hall.
Abdirahman Adan Mohamoud, UN-Habitat National Programme Officer, explained that the project is part of joint programme activities in Somaliland. He said that he hoped the new office building, which will be provided with basic furniture and equipment, will give the ministry appropriate space to work. Joint programme donors, including the European Union, DANIDA, Sida, the UK Department for International Development, and the Norwegian Government, are funding the project, which is expected to be completed in June 2012. |
