By Goth Mohamed Goth
HARGEISA, June 22, 2026 (WM&HDh) – The Minister of Finance and Economic Development of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Abdillahi Hassan Adan, today officially opened a two-day review conference at the Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa to assess the implementation of the Public Financial Management Strengthening Project (SERP). The conference focuses on evaluating the project’s current status, progress achieved across its various components, and planning the necessary steps to ensure the project’s goals are met before its conclusion.
The Minister was joined at the opening ceremony by the Director Generals of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the Accountant General of the Government. Also in attendance were senior officials from key beneficiary institutions, including the Auditor General, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, the Chairman of the Good Governance Commission, the Chairman of the National Procurement Board, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Oversight and Protection of Public Assets, the SERP Project Manager from the World Bank, and the SERP Project Coordinator for Somaliland.
The conference also includes a high-level delegation from the World Bank, who arrived in Somaliland yesterday. The delegation is led by the SERP Task Team Leader at the World Bank, Ms. May Ololia, to monitor and support the project’s implementation and the ongoing public financial management reform process.
Speakers at the opening session delivered in-depth remarks on the importance of the SERP Project in enhancing operational efficiency, accountability, and the quality of public resource management. They highlighted tangible progress made in areas such as overall public financial management, domestic revenue mobilization, civil service administration, national procurement management, and the strengthening of accountability institutions—all of which are integral components of the project.
Minister Abdillahi Hassan Adan welcomed the World Bank delegation and expressed gratitude for their continued support to Somaliland. The Minister specifically commended the additional funding and the extended timeline for the SERP Project, which, he noted, provide Somaliland with a significant opportunity to further strengthen government institutional reforms, modernize financial management systems, and improve public service delivery.
Throughout this review conference, special attention will be given to assessing the progress of the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) implementation, the development of the Ministry of Finance’s Data Center, the Government Financial Management Information System (SLFMIS), the enhancement of Civil Service Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) data, and the rollout of the Government Human Resource Management System. Additionally, participants will analyze existing challenges, lessons learned, and priority actions needed to ensure the project’s objectives are achieved.
The two-day conference is expected to produce a concrete action plan and practical recommendations for strengthening inter-agency collaboration, accelerating national public financial management reforms, advancing public resource management, and sustaining the critical gains that the SERP Project has brought to government institutions.
