HARGEISA – The Central Bank of Somaliland has concluded a landmark two-day workshop, equipping dozens of public finance officials with advanced tools to measure and manage the national economy. The training, fully funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), marks the first phase of a ambitious year-long program to strengthen economic self-reliance.
Central Bank Director General, Mr. Yasiin Jama Ahmed, characterized the workshop as “the first brick in a year-long bridge to economic self-reliance” during the closing ceremony.
A “Train-the-Trainer” Model for Sustainable Growth
The workshop employed a “train-the-trainer” model to maximize its impact. Sessions were led by five “master trainers” who themselves completed an intensive course in Nairobi, Kenya, last month. This approach is designed to create a cascade of expertise throughout Somaliland’s public finance institutions.
“Knowledge must flow, not freeze,” stated Director General Yasiin. “These officers will now coach colleagues in critical areas such as taxation, exchange-rate modelling, inflation forecasting, and purchasing-power analysis.”
Building a Unified Economic Dashboard
The initiative launches a comprehensive 12-month national programme. A key objective is the implementation of a standardized economic monitoring system. By November 2026, all major public finance ministries and agencies are expected to produce quarterly economic dashboards using uniform indicators. This will provide Somaliland with a unified, coherent view of its economy for the first time.
A Sustained Commitment to Development
Emphasizing that this is only the beginning, the Director General declared, “This is the opening chapter, not the epilogue.” The UNDP has pledged continued financial support for follow-up activities, including technical missions, peer reviews, and the development of digital scorecards.
The Central Bank has already scheduled the next wave of training for January 2026, with field visits to customs posts and regional tax offices planned to ground the theoretical training in practical, on-the-ground experience.
