Ministry of Planning and CARE International Discuss NTP Implementation, MOU Finalisation

MOGADISHU – Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development has held talks with CARE International to strengthen collaboration on the implementation of the government’s flagship National Transformation Plan (NTP 2025–2029), with a particular focus on bolstering monitoring and evaluation systems, building institutional capacity, and accelerating the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding.

The meeting brought together the Director General of the Ministry of Planning, Abdifatah Abdulqadir Farah (Abdifatah Hared), and the Country Director of CARE International Somalia, Ummy Dubow. Discussions centred on how CARE’s ongoing programmes in health, education, livelihoods and humanitarian assistance could be more closely aligned with the government’s national priorities as set out in the NTP.

A Partnership Rooted in National Priorities

The engagement follows a similar high-level meeting in September 2025, when Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre received Apollo Gabzira, CARE International’s Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa. During that meeting, the Prime Minister thanked CARE for its support in health, education, reconstruction, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance, while Gabzira reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to expanding projects and ensuring they responded to community needs while aligning with government priorities.

The latest meeting deepens that commitment. Both sides agreed to reinforce cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the National Transformation Plan and to align international support with national priorities. The discussions also emphasised the importance of strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems, building the capacity of government institutions, and promoting data-driven decision-making.

CARE International’s Footprint in Somalia

CARE International has been active in Somalia for decades, providing emergency relief, strengthening livelihoods, and supporting health and education. The organisation has implemented a wide range of programmes, including the Somali Girls Education Promotion Project, the Waxbar Caruurtaada project which aims to enrol 30,100 out-of-school children in primary education, and various climate resilience initiatives. CARE also serves as the host of the Somali NGO Consortium, providing the legal framework and administrative support for the consortium’s personnel.

The organisation’s work is guided by a strategic plan for the period 2024–2030, which reinforces a commitment to locally-led and gender-transformative work while embracing an enterprising approach and climate-smart actions. CARE operates under memoranda of understanding with regional ministries of health in Somaliland, Puntland, Galmudug and Jubaland, directly supporting a network of health facilities and building institutional capacity in service delivery, monitoring and coordination.

The National Transformation Plan: A Blueprint for Change

The National Transformation Plan (NTP 2025–2029) is a comprehensive five-year strategy designed to accelerate Somalia’s progress toward economic growth, good governance, social development, and environmental resilience. Officially launched in March 2025, the plan replaces the previous National Development Plans and represents a strategic shift from traditional development to large-scale national transformation[reference:0].

The NTP is structured around four core pillars: Transformational Governance, Sustainable Economic Transformation, Social and Human Capital Development, and Environmental and Climate Resilience[reference:1]. It aligns with Somalia’s Centennial Vision 2060 and aims to establish a peaceful, democratic, and economically thriving nation[reference:2]. A key commitment of the NTP is to expand electricity coverage from 69.1% to 80% and cut electricity costs by half nationwide[reference:3][reference:4].

From Alignment to Implementation

The talks in Mogadishu represent a significant step toward translating the government’s partnership with CARE International from broad alignment to concrete implementation. Both sides are now working to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding that will define the framework for cooperation, ensuring that CARE’s programmes directly advance Somalia’s national priorities and contribute to measurable results.

This engagement is part of a broader push by the Ministry of Planning to align all development partnerships with the NTP. The ministry has held similar strategic dialogues with the World Food Programme (WFP) to harmonize the WFP’s Country Strategic Plan with the NTP[reference:5]. Discussions with UNICEF have also focused on aligning the agency’s Country Programme (2026-2030) with the NTP[reference:6]. The Director General, Abdifatah Hared, has also engaged with the EU and German Cooperation to ensure the GEED green energy programme aligns with the NTP[reference:7].

However, the gap between policy and practice remains wide. While the NTP provides a comprehensive vision and the partnership with CARE offers a mechanism for delivery, Somalia’s development challenges, including weak institutional capacity, limited resources, and ongoing security concerns, continue to constrain progress. The success of this partnership will ultimately depend on whether the government can translate its ambitious plans into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Somalis.

Way Forward

The meeting between the Ministry of Planning and CARE International reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to align international support with its national development priorities. As both sides work to finalise the Memorandum of Understanding and accelerate the implementation of the NTP, the challenge will be to ensure that these commitments translate into lasting improvements in service delivery, institutional capacity, and economic opportunity for the Somali people.