STORY: BFC conducts consultative

workshop for developing strategic

framework on federalism
TRT: 3:34
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 9/2/2016, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
SHOT LIST
1. Wide shot, commissioners of the boundaries and federalism
commission (BFC) attending the workshop
2. Med shot, federalism and state building process consultative
workshop banner
3. Close up shot, commissioners of the BFC at the meeting
4. Close up shot, commissioner of the BFC at the meeting
5. Med shot, Member of the Commissioner reading
6. Close up shot, chairman of the BFC Khalif Abdikarim Mohamed
speaking at the workshop
7. Med shot, participants listening to the Chairman of the
Commissioner at the workshop
8. Wide shot, members of the commission listening
9. Close up shot, participant attending the workshop
10. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Khalif Abdikarim Mohamed, the
Chairman of the commission
This is not a pre-determined exercise. Therefore, the outcome of this BFC
consultation should come from the public. The recommendations of the
members of the public will be executed in order to create boundaries for the
federal states and the best model of federalism for Somalia as it is for the
public to decide which model they prefer. The consultation is going well and in
the right direction and that is basically what todays workshop was all about.
11. Close up shot, participant taking notes
12. Med shot, participants in a discussion
13. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Akopyan, Deputy Country
Director UNDP
Of course we are going to support this process. Because the commission
and you respectively from line ministries perspectives need to talk with your
counterparts in different states. To use a very simple example, a school
should be managed in local level but the Somali language textbook should be
written at the federal level. Ministry of education should set standards on the
language on the text book but the management of the school should happen

locally.
14. Med shot, Shakti Sinha, an expert on federalism at UNDP
speaking at the workshop
15. Close up shot, participants listening
16. Med shot, participants listening
17. Med shot, participants listening
18. SOUNDBITE: (English) Shakti Sinha, an expert on
federalism at UNDP
To create a functioning state, is a very important duty. But to do that, they
have to accept the federal model so that there is inclusiveness. The people
from different parts of the country feel they are part of one government. So in
other words, dividing the state is actually unifying the state.
19. Close up shot, member of the commission speaking at the
workshop
20. Med shot, participants listening
21. Close up shot, Participant listening
22. Med shot, participants attending the workshop
23. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Saadia Sheikh Omar a participant
from, the Somali marine research resource center
We acquired a lot of knowledge on federalism from the workshop that we
were not aware of initially. I have understood the various types of federalism
and how some countries have adopted the system. I therefore hope we will
also understand better the model we choose as well as educating the
community.
24.Wide shot, Participants in a group discussion
25.Med shot, Participants and members of the commission in a discussion
24. Med shot, Participants in a group discussion
BFC conducts consultative
framework on federalism

workshop

for

developing

strategic

Mogadishu, 11 February 2016 - A second consultative workshop bringing

together key stakeholders to discuss the role of the Boundaries and
Federalism Commission (BFC) was held on February 9 in the Somali capital,
and participants urged Somalis to work together to find a federal model that
suits the needs of the country.
The workshop is part of a series of initiatives that seeks the opinions of
stakeholders and leaders on the Commissions role in the federalism process
and promotes cooperation with other actors engaged in the formation of
federal member states.
The Chairman of the Commission, Khalif Abdikarim Mohamed, said the
workshops were important in helping Somalis to understand the federal
system and develop collectively key priorities to be addressed by BFC in its
work. The outcome of this BFC consultation should come from the public,
said the chairman. Their recommendations will be executed in order to create
boundaries for the federal states and [criteria] for federal member states in
Somalia.

David Akopyan, Deputy Country Director of the UN Development Programme

(UNDP), stressed there is no single model that addresses the needs of all
countries and encouraged the workshop participants to devise a federal
system that is appropriate for Somalias unique circumstances.
By way of illustration, Mr. Akopyan noted that the federal ministry of education
should establish nationwide standards for textbooks, but the management of
an individual school should be handled at a local level.
Shakti Sinha, a UNDP expert on federalism issues in Somalia, said there is a
need for the BFC to develop synergies and clarity of purpose on federalism
issues through an inclusive process that is people-driven.
The workshop was attended by BFC Commissioners, top officials from
various Federal Government ministries, development partners, academics
drawn from a number of Somali universities, and representatives of civil
society.
The series of workshops was organized by the Ministry of Interior and Federal
Affairs with the support of the UNDPs Somalia office and the United Nations
Assistance Mission in Somalia.
The Boundaries and Federalism Commission was established in July 2015 to
help the country devise a suitable federal model.

ENDS