Somalia: Civil servants get Norwegian cash
Norway is reportedly paying the salaries of hundreds of government workers in Somalia in an attempt to fight corruption.
Money from Oslo's aid budget is going directly to 380 public employees in a bid to fight corruption, UN-backed Somali Radio Bar-Kulan reports. Norway says that the scheme is the most effective way of helping the state establish itself, and has engaged accountancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers to manage the transfers on its behalf. According to Oslo's The Local news website, employees have to register their biometric data to ensure that the money only goes to the intended recipients.
Benefiting from the plan are civil servants from Somalia's Ministry of Finance and Auditor General's office. While such departments might be unusual targets for direct government aid, Norwegian International Development Minister Eidsvoll Holmas pointed out that the salaries would help build up confidence in the state, and "create political stability and peaceful development".
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