Mogadishu, 13 May 2026 – Twenty-one national staff members from Somalia and Kenya working at the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) have completed a three-day Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) training in Mogadishu aimed at strengthening skills to support effective programme implementation and operational mandate delivery.
Organised by the UNSOS Integrated Mission Training Centre (IMTC), the training focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge and tools to design, implement and manage effective M&E systems that support results-based programme delivery and informed decision-making across mission operations.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, UNSOS Training Officer, Leila Manly-Spain, said that the course is being offered as part of the National Staff Capacity Strengthening Plan, emphasizing the importance of UNSOS strategic initiative of “Leaving a legacy behind”. She encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their daily work and to further share the learning with colleagues across the mission.
“The purpose of the training was to introduce you to M&E and help you incorporate it into your day-to-day work because M&E can be applied across all areas of our operations. This training draws on UNSSC’s extensive experience in delivering M&E programmes across peacebuilding, development, and crisis response contexts. Please share the knowledge with other colleagues,” said Leila.
For participants, the training provided an opportunity to strengthen operational competencies and gain a deeper understanding of how M&E principles can support everyday workplace challenges and improve accountability across operations.
Asha Shidane, an Associate Contracts Management Officer from Nairobi, Kenya, described the training as both insightful and directly applicable to operational work.
“What I loved most about the training is learning that M&E is not only for monitoring projects but can also be applied in our operational work. It was very interesting to see how M&E can help solve problems in our everyday work challenges. I now feel equipped with tools that will help me address workplace challenges more effectively,” said Shidane.
Through interactive sessions and practical exercises, participants explored key aspects of monitoring and evaluation, including data collection and analysis, monitoring processes, evaluation methodologies, reporting mechanisms, and the drafting and refinement of quantitative and qualitative indicators, as well as the application of M&E tools in day-to-day operational settings.
Hassan, a Supply Assistant in the UNSOS Life Support Unit in Kismayo, said the training strengthened his understanding of accountability and operational performance.
“The training has equipped me with knowledge I did not have before on M&E and accountability in daily operations. I am confident that there will be positive changes in our operations after learning the importance and criteria of M&E. This was a very valuable training, and M&E is vital to our day-to-day work,” said Hassan.
The training was facilitated by Rana Elbeheiry, Associate Learning Officer at the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) in Italy, who guided participants through foundational M&E concepts with a strong emphasis on practical application and operational relevance.
“Our main objective was to build participants’ practical experience and skills in designing, implementing, and managing M&E systems. The programme guided participants through the foundational steps of monitoring and evaluation, beginning with demystifying key terminologies associated with M&E,” said Elbeheiry.
UNSOS continues to prioritise staff development and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness, accountability and service delivery in support of the United Nations mandate in Somalia.
