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Britain has pledged further support to boost Somalia鈥檚 economy and create jobs as the country recovers from 20 years of civil war, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced today.

The new package of support comes as Somalia鈥檚 government is set to agree its first strategy to coordinate its development and plan a more peaceful future at the New Deal for Somalia conference in Brussels.

The UK鈥檚 support will ensure 8,400 children are treated for malnutrition and 5,300 babies receive life-saving immunisations. The UK will also pledge new support to boost Somalia鈥檚 economic development by encouraging more investment and generating thousands of new jobs across the country.

Speaking at conference, the UK also called on other countries to follow the UK鈥檚 lead and support Somalia鈥檚 own plans for its future reconstruction. International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

Britain is already forging a new and special relationship with Somalia.

It is right that we help Somalia to get back on its feet and stop the country falling back into the arms of terrorism, famine and insecurity.

This new roadmap for reconstruction is a once in a generation opportunity to support Somalia鈥檚 plans for a safer and more prosperous future. We must give ordinary Somalis the support they need to make this a reality.

The UK鈥檚 new 拢50 million package will support Somalia鈥檚 New Deal Compact. It will help to:

• Boost Somalia鈥檚 health system:

  a new 拢15 million grant will treat 8,400 more young children suffering from acute malnutrition, ensure 4,500 mothers can give birth with the help of a trained health worker and fully immunise 5,300 babies from deadly diseases such as diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus.

• Ensure 500,000 men, women and children can access a safe water supply:

  The new 拢5 million grant to the Somaliland Development Fund will ensure that ordinary Somalis in Hargeisa and across Somaliland can benefit.

• Develop a new 拢5 million programme to research and improve how financial services operate in South Central Somalia and Somaliland.

  In total, the UK鈥檚 support to Somalia鈥檚 economic recovery will generate 6,000 new jobs, support 60 start-up companies and drive an additional $20 million of private investment into Somalia.

• Boost Somalia鈥檚 economy and create new jobs:

  Working with the World Bank and the Federal Government, the UK will provide a 拢25 million grant to support Somalia鈥檚 economic recovery plan. The new commitment will include rehabilitating critical infrastructure such as ports, water supplies, sanitation and street lighting, boost growth in agriculture, livestock and fisheries and create jobs across the country.

Notes to editors

1. The New Deal for Somalia conference will take place on 16 September 2013 in the Egmont Palace in central Brussels, Belgium. The conference will set out a set of key priorities and new support for the reconstruction of Somalia over the next three years.
2. The UK鈥檚 new pledge of a further 拢50 million to Somalia is in addition to DFID鈥檚 existing annual 拢80 million programme in Somalia.
3. The Brussels conference will bring together Somali and international partners to agree a 鈥楴ew Deal Compact鈥� to ensure support for Somalia is properly coordinated and supports the plans of the Federal Government and the people of Somalia for the future. This will include: * A New Deal Compact setting out political, security and development priorities * The Somalia Development and Reconstruction Framework, a new aid architecture setting out the financing mechanisms and how to coordinate these with Somali priorities identified in the Compact; * Partnership Principles to guide the relationship between Somalia and donors; * An Economic Recovery Plan setting out the immediate priorities to kick start the economy over a two to three year period. This is the first step to a longer-term re-engagement with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).