The Government of Somaliland has kicked off a high-level technical workshop to overhaul public spending on critical social services, with the aim of making health care, education, water supply, and sanitation more efficient, transparent, and accessible across the country.
The three-day review session was officially opened yesterday by the Director General of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Mohamed Hassan Saleban. Speaking at the opening, he stressed that the workshop is a key step in ensuring every shilling allocated to social services reaches the people who need it most.
“We are here to map every expenditure, whether it comes directly from the national budget or through our development partners,” Mr. Saleban said. “Our citizens deserve to see real improvements in hospitals, schools, clean water points, and sanitation facilities, especially in rural districts.”
The first day focused heavily on health and education spending, where participants analyzed current funding levels, identified gaps, and examined historical trends. The remaining two days will shift attention to social welfare programs, water supply, and sanitation.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance’s Budget Department, the Ministries of Health Development and Education, as well as technical experts from UNICEF, presented the latest data and proposed measures to increase efficiency and accountability.
A statement from the Ministry of Finance emphasized that the review is part of wider reforms to strengthen budget planning and ensure public funds deliver tangible results for Somaliland’s citizens, regardless of region or district.
Participants expressed optimism that the outcomes of the workshop will lead to clearer funding pathways, reduced waste, and faster improvements in essential services in the coming fiscal year.