Last Thursday, Somalia and the United Nations signed a cooperation agreement that defines the framework of the partnership between the two parties over the next five years. According to a statement from the United Nations Office in Somalia (UNSOM), the UN Cooperation Framework sets out a plan on how the UN and the Somali government will work together “to achieve peace, stability and prosperity for all Somalis.” This agreement will replace a previous similar agreement called the “United Nations Strategic Framework,” which expires at the end of this year. Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Somalia, James Swan, said during the signing ceremony in Mogadishu that Somalia has made remarkable progress since signing the previous framework in 2017. He added: “Since signing the UN Strategic Framework in December 2017, Somalia has made significant progress in its journey towards consolidating Peace and sustainable and comprehensive development, with the firm support of the United Nations.” The new agreement represents the collective commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations to work together to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Guled, who represented the federal government in signing the agreement, said: “I welcome the clear commitment of the United Nations to support Somalia’s national development priorities through direct alignment of the cooperation framework with the National Development Plan No. 9, as well as a coordination structure.” Aid. The signing ceremony was also attended by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Adam Abdel Mawla, along with senior federal government officials.