This is the first time I was in Hargeisa. UNESCO-PEER Hargeisa office was established in February 1994. At that time the country was in a state of anarchy and it was almost impossible to conduct any educational activity.

The office was opened in Hargeisa to run emergency education activities. In early 1997, Mr. Barry Sesnan assumed office and within a couple of months, revitalized the office and established a good relationship with MOEYS (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports) as well as the international agencies operating in NW Somalia [Somaliland].

He used his professional experience to organize educational activities and prepare projects to seek funds from international agencies in Hargeisa, such as UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and UNOPS.

Apart from conducting refresher courses in English to the Secondary school teachers, he established a mini resource centre at the EDC for the secondary level out-of-school youth. He also established monthly education co-ordination meetings between the international agencies and MOEYS. In this way Mr. Sesnan built confidence in all the quarters of MOEYS and improved the image of the UNESCO-PEER Hargeisa office.