THE WORLD BANK PLANS TO REVIEW PUNTLAND-BASED PROJECTS

[Deeq A.]

Garowe (PP News Desk) — The World Bank Somalia office is planning to conduct a review of projects it funds in Puntland State. Concerns about lack of transparency in World Bank projects in Puntland State emerged after Puntland Post reported on the controversyabout Human Resource Management System that Puntland Ministry of Labour, Youthand Sports views as technically inadequate.

The review will look into how the project funded under Capacity Injection Project had been implemented. One of the areas on which the World Bank review will concentrate is the alleged gap between project specifications and project delivery. The Human Resources Management System for Puntland State is one of the projects introduced before the incumbent President of Puntland State Said Abdullahi Deni was elected in January 2019.

Hugh Riddell: World Bank Somalia Country Representative 

The new Puntland administration launched anti-corruption campaign ranging from eliminating phantom civil servants and soldiers to ending the special expense privileges of Ministers. President Deni has retained the Office of the Presidency privileges to co-sign agreements with multilateral organisations and foreign development agencies.  “Persistent corruption that the current administration grapples with dates back to 2016” says a former Puntland civil servant. Puntland system does not empower an incoming government to investigate corruption allegations against a predecessor government. “The harmony of the political class matters more than good governance” added the retired civil servant. 

The continuity of the policy not to investigate corruption allegations does limit the impact anti-corruption measures could have upon Puntland institutions. The World Bank review will put more pressure on the beleaguered Puntland administration struggling to protect itself against the ever-increasing centralism encroachment of the Mogadishu-based Federal Government of Somalia.

If the outcome of the impending World Bank review turns out to be negative, Puntland’s quest to have a Special Arrangement similar to Somaliland’s could become quixotic.                                               

© Puntland Post, 2020

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