Somaliland

Barwaaqo Voluntary Organization (BVO)
$37,215
To enhance the political participation and inclusion of women from schools and universities, and build a strong link between women’s coalitions and lo­cal communities throughout Somaliland. BVO will establish three student groups for women in Berbera, Hargeisa and Borama. BVO will also organize three, two-day coalition meetings and con­duct three, three-day advocacy trainings that build the capacity of the student groups to conduct mobilization actions.

Consortium of Somaliland Non-Governmental Organizations (COSONGO)
$45,610
To enhance the ability of COSONGO members to influence policy processes, promote citizen engagement in policy dialogue, and build information sharing mechanisms with civil society groups in East Africa. COSONGO will conduct a three-day training for 40 organizations, hold two dialogue sessions that bring together parliamentarians, members of key ministries and civil society leaders to discuss the need for civil society access, and visit counterparts in Uganda or Kenya.

Institute for Practical Research and Training (IPRT)
$63,980
To enhance the capacity of legislative staff and disseminate legislative pro­ceedings. IPRT will work with staff to produce the official House of Representa­tives electronic bulletin, provide English classes, maintain the Hansard System, the permanent record of legislative pro­ceedings, and broadcast eight recorded segments of legislative discussion. IPRT will host two town hall meetings for 70 leaders drawn from government, civil society, and the religious community to formulate benchmarks for Somaliland.

Somaliland Youth Development Association (SOYDA)
$35,577
To advance education, raise awareness and reduce human rights violations in the Mandhera, Gabiley and Central Pris­ons in Somaliland. SOYDA will provide vocational training to women prisoners, a two-day workshop on prison reform for prison and justice officials, weekly spraying of cells at two prisons and deliver math and reading classes to inmates.

Somaliland Youth Voluntary Organization (SOYVO)
$36,320
To educate youth about democracy and elections and encourage their active par­ticipation. SOYVO will conduct a three-day peace building workshop, a two-day train­ing on good governance and mobilization, six, one-day public forums to discuss and evaluate the work of elected politicians, and a two-day advocacy training workshop for secondary and university students. SOYVO will also produce six issues of Baraarug and organize a 16-day soccer tournament that promotes clan cohesion.

Togdheer Youth Voluntary Organization (TOGYOVO)
$36,084
To enhance communication channels and dialogue mechanisms for marginalized groups and victims of human rights viola­tions, and improve social awareness of human rights issues and mechanisms. TO­GYOVO will establish and train three district human rights committees, hold five discus­sions forums in rural and urban areas and facilitate human rights advocacy meetings. TOGYOVO will produce a quarterly news­letter, Unheard Voice, for human rights vic­tims and defenders to express their views.

United Toghdeer Associations
$30,975
To establish a women’s regional advocacy group in order to increase the number of women political representatives in Togdheer region and facilitate women’s access to information and improve their communication skills on issues related to women and democracy. United Trust Associations will establish an information and communication center for women in Burao, select and train 30 women com­munity advocates in creating a regional advocacy group, and conduct commu­nication and networking workshops.

Voices of Somaliland Minority Women Organization (VOSOMWO)
$33,790
To advance the civic and political par­ticipation of minorities in Somaliland and promote opportunities for education and employment for minorities through advoca­cy. VOSOMWO will hold a two-day national workshop to sensitize government officials, six civic education workshops for officials and activists in six districts, consulta­tions with human rights and democracy organizations and produce radio programs and develop articles for print that promote issues important to minority communities.

Women in Journalism Association (WIJA)
$44,900
To enhance the role and capacity of women as journalists and promote independent media. WIJA will conduct four one-day workshops for journalists, government officials and CSO leaders to discuss independent radio, develop­ment issues and women’s issues. WIJA will train 10 journalists in newspaper layout design and produce the monthly Almis newspaper in Somali and an English version called The Horizon.

The grant listings posted here are from the 2010 Annual Report, published in August 2011.