Berbera Urban Development Project

The Berbera Urban Development Project addresses the need for municipal capacity development and improved urban systems in the coastal city of Berbera¹. It aligns directly with Somaliland’s National Development Plan IIⁱ, which aims to reduce poverty through the creation of greater economic opportunities, and investment in the youth, services, production, and infrastructure².

It aims to achieve the new urban agenda as well as the sustainable development goals, towards creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements³. The project consists of plans and infrastructure project in the fields of urban planning, waste management, and sustainable infrastructure and public spaces⁴.

The primary objective of the project is to foster sustainable urban development, enhance employment opportunities for women and youth, and upgrade Berbera’s waste management system⁵. To do this, it consists of 3 primary components:

Landfill site and waste management system

The aim of this component is to reform the waste management system so that it is sustainable and economically beneficial⁶. This is done through the minimizing of waste generation, as well as innovatively utilizing existing resources, reusing materials, and spreading awareness on the benefits of a circular approach to local economic development⁷. Additionally, a new landfill site and recycling facility is proposed in a strategic location for effective waste management⁸.

Road network and street infrastructure

An additional focus of the project is the development of road networks, to facilitate the movement of waste to a new dumpsite. This includes the construction of a 20 kilometers network of feeder roads, as well as that of internal roads in communities in Berbera⁹.

Berbera beach development

The urban development project also focuses on fostering inclusion and providing space for local livelihood generation¹⁰. Launched in 2021¹¹, the beachfront development plan consists of pedestrian walkways, 41 benches, 10 gazebos, 36 sunbeds, 3 swings, 35 recycling bins, 324 trees, and 203 solar-powered streetlights¹². The streetlights created a vibrant public space at night, one where people felt safe and eager to encourage nighttime public entertainment activities¹³. Other facilities include a bus stop, safeguard towers, and stations for food vendors¹⁴.

The project was launched in January 2020¹⁵ and is led by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Berbera municipality¹⁶. The estimated budget of the project is EUR 7.5 million, funded by European Development Fund (EDF) under its Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) 2014-2020 for Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean¹⁷.