Puntland Development Research Center
Encyclopedia
The Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC) is a Local Non-Governmental Organization
(LNGO) based in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland
region in northeastern Somalia
. It plays a key role in research and funding for the development of local peace and effective governance initiatives.
consisting of seven members; five men and two women. It is presently led by director Abdurahman Abdulle Osman (Shuke).
The center's stated goal is to promote peace-building and national reconstruction following the Somali Civil War
and its after-effects. Through dialogue among key national and international actors, the PDRC seeks to encourage democratic values. In the process, it hopes to advance social and economic development by respecting human rights, efficiently utilizing resources and equal treatment of locals.
In the past decade, it had made several attempts to improve upon the quality of governance in Puntland
. To this end, the center implemented in 2001 the Puntland Peace Mission (PPM), an initiative that sought to resolve differences between the region's then administration and opposition groups. The PDRC also organized peace rallies across the province.
In early 2004, the Puntland Development Research Center also began to emphasize the need for research in areas such as the democratization of Puntland's political system, public revenue management, consolidation of the Mudug peace agreement and national reconciliation. It showed the initiatives that have been made to improve the quality of governance in Somalia. That same year, the PDRC collaborated with the War-torn Societies Project (WSP) in an effort to avoid a power vacuum in Puntland's then political structure.
More recently, the PDRC has continued to play a key role in research and funding for the development of peace and effective governance initiatives in Puntland. According to the PDRC, good governance increases people’s participation in decision-making, enables the decentralization
of power from the center to regional and community levels, and allows transparency in decision-making.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(LNGO) based in Garowe, the administrative capital of the autonomous Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
region in northeastern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. It plays a key role in research and funding for the development of local peace and effective governance initiatives.
Profile
The Puntland Development Research Center is governed by a board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
consisting of seven members; five men and two women. It is presently led by director Abdurahman Abdulle Osman (Shuke).
The center's stated goal is to promote peace-building and national reconstruction following the Somali Civil War
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
and its after-effects. Through dialogue among key national and international actors, the PDRC seeks to encourage democratic values. In the process, it hopes to advance social and economic development by respecting human rights, efficiently utilizing resources and equal treatment of locals.
History
The Puntland Development Research Center was founded on October 30, 1999.In the past decade, it had made several attempts to improve upon the quality of governance in Puntland
Puntland
Puntland , officially the Puntland State of Somalia , is a region in northeastern Somalia, centered on Garowe in the Nugaal province. Its leaders declared the territory an autonomous state in 1998....
. To this end, the center implemented in 2001 the Puntland Peace Mission (PPM), an initiative that sought to resolve differences between the region's then administration and opposition groups. The PDRC also organized peace rallies across the province.
In early 2004, the Puntland Development Research Center also began to emphasize the need for research in areas such as the democratization of Puntland's political system, public revenue management, consolidation of the Mudug peace agreement and national reconciliation. It showed the initiatives that have been made to improve the quality of governance in Somalia. That same year, the PDRC collaborated with the War-torn Societies Project (WSP) in an effort to avoid a power vacuum in Puntland's then political structure.
More recently, the PDRC has continued to play a key role in research and funding for the development of peace and effective governance initiatives in Puntland. According to the PDRC, good governance increases people’s participation in decision-making, enables the decentralization
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
of power from the center to regional and community levels, and allows transparency in decision-making.