Background Las Qoray PORT Project information

[The Nomad]

http://www.laasqorayport.org/somali/inner.asp?cat=faqs

If it says something about an attack site, ignore it. It's perfectly safe.

Let's start with the background information:

1. Where is Laas Qoray?

# Laas Qoray is a village on the North Coast of Somalia between Berbera and Bosaso.

# It is in an isolated and disadvantaged area that has suffered from economic collapse and natural disaster.

# Until 1991, it was a vibrant economic centre for livestock and fish export in the region.

2. Why is this port needed?

# The port will reconnect the area to foreign markets.

# Reconstructing the Jetty will bring back economic prosperity to the region because there is still numerous livestock and dry goods to be exported.

3. Why is this Port being built in Laas Qoray?

# Pastoralists and coastal livelihoods are under threat and the port will provide an opportunity for economic development to the regions which will support these marginalized livelihoods.

# The town has the infrastructure, the willingness, and the commitment to see this project to successful completion.

# The town of Laas Qoray is a strategic export location for thousands of traders in the area.

# The previous jetty showed how a port brings strong economic growth to the areas.

4. Is the project feasible/viable?

# Yes. Numerous feasibility studies have not only affirmed the feasibility of the project and its effect on the local economy, but they have forecasted very favourable economic growth as a result. Horn Relief, with the support of Oxfam Novib, has undertaken 4 recent feasibility studies – economic/financial, technical/engineering, environment and socio-political. These reports will be available on this website at the following URL: http://www.laasqorayport.org

# Presently, there is trade at Laas Qoray and surrounding regions and this can be greatly expanded with a permanent port.

5. How much will this port cost?

# At this stage of planning, the projected cost is USD $8 million for phase I.

# Phase II is expected to cost approximately USD $10million.

6. What will be the size of the port and how many ships/boats can dock on it?

# Phase I: The port will measure 125 metres in length and accommodate up to eight 800 DWT (Dead Weight Tonne) vessels

# Phase II: The extended port would allow for larger boats (up to 3,000 DWT)

7. Who are the donors?

# Project partners include:

* Somali Diaspora
* Oxfam Novib
* Somali Business communities
* The communities of Laas Qoray and the area

8. What are the project activities?

# Principle activities include: mobilization, consensus building, tendering, construction, training and operation.

9. What are the expected benefits? Who will benefit?

# Expected benefits include:

* increasing access of in-land traders to new markets;

* increased imports;

* decrease the cost of imported goods to coastal businessmen and consumers;

* improved local capacity to manage assets, resources, the environment, economic and community growth/planning;

* increased output by existing factories in Laas Qoray;

* increased employment opportunities in Laas Qoray and surrounding villages; and

* reduction of desertification through decrease in charcoal burning and trade due to employment creation.

# Better management of marine resources

# Relieve pressure on area rangelands

# The port will come with governance and management that improves living standards and the environment in the area.

# The effective, efficient, accountable and transparent management of the port will introduce these concepts to the communities and hopefully will have a profound impact on the management of other local, regional and national resources.

10. How will profits be spent?

Any port revenues realised after operating expenses will be used for:

* Governance and policing

* Rehabilitation of area roads

* Small development projects in the area chosen by local committee (education, health, water, etc.).

11. What is Horn Relief’s role?

# Horn Relief is chief project implementer – responsible to Diaspora and other donors for successful project management and oversight.

# Horn Relief will assist and guide aspects of this project that require management support (committees, etc.) and will exit from the port operation at such time that the port can operate without Horn Relief assistance.

# Balance traditional systems with contemporary management practices.

12. Does Horn Relief have the capacity to implement from beginning to end?

# Horn Relief has experience bringing complex and difficult development projects to Somalis:

* Rainwater harvesting using local technologies

* A major road rehabilitation project in Bender Belya

* Humanitarian programs such as cash for work and cash relief

* Water infrastructure, including the drilling of boreholes.

* We have heavy equipment from previous projects

# Horn Relief has more than fifteen years’ experience implementing projects in this region and nationally.

# Its management and fiscal oversight capacity is strong and it has credibility and recognition across the region and with international donors.

13. Who will own the port?

# The Laas Qoray Port Foundation, a non-profit corporation and managed by the Laas Qoray community and users, will legally own the port.

14. Who will build the port?

# A public and competitive tendering process will select a marine construction company to construct the port.

*Other contracts may also be tendered for other aspects of construction, etc.

15. Who will operate the port?

# The port will be operated by the Laas Qoray Port Authority, a professional and business-oriented body that will manage day-to-day operational issues.

# Staffing for the Port Authority will be carried out in a public and competitive process.

16. How many jobs will the port create (during construction and operation)? Will preference be given to people in local communities for these jobs?

# The port construction is expected to employ 150 and 200 semi-skilled and unskilled labourers. These jobs will be temporary and will not continue after construction is completed (15 – 24 months). The selection process for construction jobs will be public and competitive, though preference will be given to individuals from the Laas Qoray community.

# Port operation will employ some 30 permanent staff. These individuals will be hired through an open and competitive process with skills and experience determining who will be hired for which job.

# Other jobs (complementing the Port construction and operation) are also expected but Horn Relief will not be involved in selected staff/labourers for these enterprises.

17. Is this project going to benefit one clan over another?

# No. The benefits of this port will extend beyond any one clan’s jurisdiction and therefore, no one clan will claim benefits accruing from the port.

# Management of the port and revenue/profits from the port will be shared with all nearby communities and regions, with a particular emphasis on supporting port user communities. At all times, this port will be an asset and benefit for ALL people in Northern Somalia, regardless of funding from one geographic area or clan group.

18. How will security and transparency be maintained?

# Security and safety of the project staff, assets, port staff and all operations, etc. is paramount.

# Financial transparency will be integral to project operations.

# The town of Laas Qoray, surrounding communities, authorities of Puntland and Somaliland, and chiefs, elders, and sultans in the area will maintain the peaceful construction and operation of the port. These parties have already committed to this (reference letters signed by various stakeholders).

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The rest is about contributing financially to the project, which you can do on the page (it's safe, they'll send you confirmation).

[hanqadh]

If the las qoray project materialize's, business will boom. The Ogaden livestock which goes to p and s land will be detoured to Las qoray of whom we have better and more fruitful relation's.

looking forward to it.