MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development on Thursday convened a high-level session of the National Development Council (NDC), bringing together federal and state planning leaders to align priorities behind the country’s new National Transformation Plan (NTP 2025–2029).
The Mogadishu meeting advanced a unified national planning agenda by focusing on accelerated NTP implementation, tighter federal–state coordination, strengthened drought-response mechanisms and the rollout of a single planning framework to guide Somalia’s development over the next five years.
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Opening the session, Planning Minister Mohamud A. Sheikh Farah (Beenebeene) stressed the need for a coherent national architecture that consolidates reforms and channels resources into high-impact programs, according to the ministry’s readout. He urged participants to fast-track deliverables under NTP 2025–2029 and close gaps identified during previous planning cycles.
The Council also reviewed key findings from the End-Term Evaluation of the 9th National Development Plan (NDP9 2020–2024), which has shaped the new plan’s focus on practical execution, improved data systems and coordinated delivery across federal and state institutions. Departmental heads briefed the gathering on NTP progress to date and outlined next steps to translate policies into services on the ground.
Planning ministers from multiple Federal Member States (FMS) delivered updates and priorities, including:
- Hon. Ali Warsame, Minister of Planning, Northeast State
- Hon. Mahamud Abdi Ali, Minister of Planning, Hirshabelle
- Hon. Abdirahman Ahmed Hayle, Minister of Planning, Galmudug
- Hon. Mohamed Noor Fanah, Deputy Minister of Planning, South West State
State-level briefings highlighted recent achievements, persistent challenges and areas requiring immediate attention in 2025, with emphasis on basic service delivery, infrastructure rehabilitation, economic recovery and resilience-building in drought-affected communities. Participants underscored that tighter alignment between federal and FMS plans is essential to avoid duplication, cut costs and ensure equitable development across regions.
The ministry said the meeting produced a common understanding of how to sequence reforms and mobilize support for priority programs under the NTP. That includes strengthening intergovernmental coordination platforms, improving monitoring and evaluation, and anchoring national and state planning to a shared results framework.
Key priorities discussed included:
- Accelerating implementation of the National Transformation Plan 2025–2029
- Institutionalizing a unified planning system across federal and state levels
- Enhancing drought-response and resilience programming
- Applying NDP9 evaluation lessons to improve delivery and accountability
- Consolidating data for planning, budgeting and performance tracking
Minister Beenebeene reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to close collaboration with Federal Member States and to coordinated delivery of development programs under the NTP, saying the approach is aimed at inclusive, sustainable gains for communities nationwide.
The NDC serves as Somalia’s top intergovernmental forum for development planning, convening the federal ministry and FMS planning portfolios to harmonize policies, set shared priorities and monitor execution. Thursday’s session marked a step in operationalizing the NTP 2025–2029, with the Council agreeing to intensify follow-up on implementation milestones and expand joint planning sessions in the year ahead.
Officials said the Council will maintain a regular schedule of technical and policy engagements to ensure that national goals translate into measurable outcomes at the state and district levels, with drought response, institution-building and service delivery at the forefront.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
