DJIBOUTI, 14 Janvier 2019 – Under the leadership of Professor KARADJA, the lead panel for Djibouti, the APRM delegation held a meeting in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with sector ministries of the Republic of Djibouti, notably the Ministries of Health, National Education, Social Action, Agriculture and Transport. From the ensuing discussions, it could be gathered that deconcentration is well underway in Djibouti but due to the lean budget resources allocated to local and decentralized authorities, decentralization is still at a budding stage.

Despite the hurdles preventing decentralization from taking shape, the representatives of sector ministries pointed out that a national strategy together with a national action plan has been established to support the regions in the decentralization process.

Thereafter, the delegation held a series of consultations with Members of Parliament, the Audit Bench and the Manager of the Radio and Television of Djibouti.

During that same day, the APRM delegation was received by the Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mrs. Fatima Elsheikh). During the meeting, Mrs. KARADJA briefed her interlocutor on the objectives and methodology of the targeted review, namely to hold broad consultations with all the players in the decentralization process. The UNDP representative showed keen interest in the APRM exercise and the opportunity it offers in establishing good governance. In this regard, she expressed her availability to work in synergy with APRM national structures. She also expressed her wish to stay in touch with APRM and benefit from its documentation.

The day was wrapped up at the Djibouti Council headquarters with an interview of Mrs. Fatuma Osmane, the Mayor of the Djibouti Council and the first-ever woman mayor of Djibouti. She briefed the APRM delegation on the efforts she had to make to meet the challenges inherent in her duty. Accordingly, despite the meagre resources at her disposal to shore up the decentralization process, the Lady Mayor of Djibouti has made innovations by setting up neighbourhood councils that enable her to interact with citizens.