The Advancing Strong Partnerships for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Development (ASPIRE) project is implemented in Somaliland and Puntland with the aim to promote inclusive and resilient economic development, drawing on the Territorial Approach for Local Development. In Somaliland, ASPIRE focuses on Berbera District as a hub for inclusive local econo¬mic development (LED) in the region and as an entry point to address regional income disparities. Further, ASPIRE works with the Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland (ALGASL) as a target group and implementing partner in order to disseminate and replicate lessons learned of the Berbera pilot across Somaliland. In Puntland, ASPIRE works with the Association of Local Government Authorities of Puntland (ALGAPL) to strengthen LED capacity at district level and promote lessons learned and best practices throughout Puntland.

Overall objective: Local authorities and associations of local authorities contribute to inclusive economic growth in Somaliland and Puntland.

Specific objectives are:
• Improved capacity of Berbera District to promote inclusive LED.
• Improved capacity of the Berbera Economic Forum (BEF) to promote inclusive LED.
• Strengthened capacity of ALGASL to promote inclusive LED in Somaliland.
• Strengthened capacity of ALGAPL to promote inclusive LED in Puntland.

Target groups are:
• Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland (ALGASL)
• Association of Local Government Authorities of Puntland (ALGAPL)
• Local Authorities of Berbera District (BD)
• Berbera Local Economic Development Forum (BEF)

Beneficiaries are:
• All districts of Somaliland and Puntland (members and potential members of ALGASL and ALGAPL)
• Private sector in Berbera and local communities of Berbera, especially women, youth and people with disabilities