Energy Contract Management in Somalia: Avoiding Claims and Delays

Introduction

Governments in Somalia are implementing a large portfolio of World Bank financed projects.⁣​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​⁣ The money is committed; the challenge is to turn it into results on time and within budget. This article looks at the portfolio, the problems that usually slow projects of these kinds, and what project teams can do before work starts.

What the money is for

The largest active projects are listed below, from the World Bank’s public project records.

Energy and power: what usually goes wrong, and how to prevent it

• Land, wayleave and permits not secured before contracts start. A readiness check of land, permits and designs before procurement; one owner per item with dates.
• Procurement of complex supply-and-install contracts takes longer than planned. Realistic procurement timelines, early market sounding and trained evaluation committees.
• Utility finances and tariffs make new assets hard to operate. Operating cost and tariff analysis at design stage; asset management plans from day one.

Water, sanitation and irrigation: what usually goes wrong, and how to prevent it

• Designs do not reflect site conditions and are changed during works. Design reviews and site verification before tender; a change control procedure.
• Schemes are built but not maintained by the users or the utility. User or utility agreements, tariffs and maintenance plans prepared with the works.
• Environmental and social issues stop works. E&S instruments ready and staffed before contractors mobilise; working grievance mechanism.

Transport and urban infrastructure: what usually goes wrong, and how to prevent it

• Resettlement and utility relocation delay the start of works. Resettlement plans and relocation agreed and funded before contract award.
• Contract variations and claims raise costs. Strong contract management: named contract managers, monthly reports, variation control.
• Weak supervision leads to defects. Clear supervision roles, quality plans and independent checks at key stages.

Health and nutrition: what usually goes wrong, and how to prevent it

• Supplies and equipment arrive before facilities or staff are ready. Sequenced plans that link procurement, works, staffing and training.
• Results are hard to verify. A results framework with verifiable indicators and simple data routines.
• Facilities lack maintenance and running budgets. Maintenance plans and budget lines agreed with the ministry early.

A readiness check before the first contract

• Designs, land and permits ready for the first contracts.
• A realistic procurement plan with trained evaluation committees.
• Environmental and social instruments approved and staffed.
• Financial management, disbursement and audit arrangements tested.
• A results framework the team can actually report on.
• A project unit with the people, authority and tools to decide quickly.

How Risalat can help

Risalat works with ministries and project teams on exactly these points, openly showing its method:

• Project Delivery and Implementation Support: Getting a slow donor-financed project moving: governance, procurement, disbursement and results.
• Procurement Systems and Reform: Faster, fairer procurement: assessment, rules, e-procurement, skills and contract performance.
• Environmental and Social Risk Management: ESF and safeguards that protect people and do not stop the works.
• Institutional and Digital Transformation: Governance, processes, people, systems and data working together around performance.
• Project Health Check and the transformation blueprints: free, online, a baseline in minutes.

Programmes for teams from Somalia:

• Livestock Watering Point Governance and Rangeland Water Infrastructure in Casablanca
• Digital Civil Registration and Legal Identity Verification Integration in Dubai
• Shock-Scalable Cash Transfer Operational Protocols and Trigger Audits in Casablanca
• Marine Fisheries Licensing, Vessel Tracking and Coastal Enforcement in Muscat
• Contracting Primary Care Networks and Essential Health Service Packages in Amman
• Sub-Surface Dam Engineering and Sand Dam Aquifer Recharge in Muscat
• Urban Stormwater Retention and Road Corridor Civil Works Supervision in Cairo
• Sub-National Payroll Auditing and Intergovernmental Fiscal Verification in Istanbul

To discuss support for a specific project, ask for a proposal.

Source of project data: World Bank project records (projects.worldbank.org), read November 2026.