This Communication Plan details how the Pension and Gratuity Agency will engage civil servants, Parliament, the media, and the wider public during the implementation of the new Pension Fund. It sets out objectives, key audiences, messages, channels, timelines, and evaluation measures. The Strategy addresses common concerns—such as contribution deductions and trust in fund management—while promoting awareness of future retirement benefits. Through coordinated branding, media relations, community meetings, and digital platforms, the Agency aims to make every civil servant understand and value the Pension Fund.
- Align with the communications objectives with the Somaliland government’s national priorities about civil service reform.
- Promote benefits of pensions to the civil servants
- Buy-in the concept of contributions to the Pension Fund by the active civil servants and benefits to be received by those reached the pension age.
- Position the Somaliland Civil Service as an employer of choice.
- Engage with stakeholders who have an interest in the Pension Fund.
- Segment those stakeholders into audiences and tailor messages and methods to the preferences and needs of each segment.
- Communicate the mandate of the Pension Fund.
- Establish the Pension Fund as a trusted pension plan administrator.
- Provide information to civil servants and stakeholders.
- Measure the effectiveness of the messages and mechanisms and change course as appropriate.
- Civil Servants
- c.Executives and Managers
- d.Professional staff
- e.Administrative support staff
- Members of Parliament
- Media
- General Public
The government of Somaliland introduces the pension plan for the civil servants. The Civil Service Commission with the support of the World Bank through CSSP program initiated the pension bill and policy to improve the life of civil servants who reached the pension age or become disabled before the pension age.
By requiring civil servants to retire at age 65 with a pension, the program will also give chance to the young graduates who want to join the civil service. The pension plan will be based on the contribution model in which the incumbent civil servants contribute to the pension funds so that those in the pension age receive pension benefits. Before this initiative, there is no either public or private pension plan in Somaliland.
There are several factors that may affect the communications and promotion of the pension plan either positively or negatively:
Political: Somaliland government system is a hybrid of democratic and multiparty system. The political system is open in which both the government and the political parties can influence the government led programs. In every 5 years, there should be transfer of power with new members parliament and government. The different political orientations of the new systems may affect positively or negatively on the pension program. The communications plan should address the political stakeholders so that the pension fund program obtains the buy-in and support. On the other hand, the political actors can spread negative propaganda about the pension program. An effort should be made to overcome and brief the important actors.
The Pension Fund will also engage with communications specialists in the MDAs to use any already existing communications tools in those MDAs.
Social: There are social factors that may affect the pension program. It is perceived that people prefer to receive their benefits rather than save it for future usage. The second social factor is the trust issue. People trust that what they save or invest themselves is more reliable than saving with a Pension Fund, as the concept is new to the people. These misconceptions should be removed through effective communication campaigns.
Economic: The economic status of Somaliland is as the others horn of African countries relatively low. Therefore, the salary grade is relatively low and therefore, the contribution by both civil servant and the government my feel like burden. The communication plan should address the future benefits of the civil servants when they grow older.
Key Messages
General Messages
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You are working with your government serving your people while you are strong. When you grow older, your government and the incumbent civil servants will take care of you because you have made contributions to the Pension Fund.
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All civil servants who served 10 years and more has the right to receive the pension benefits.
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The Government of Somaliland is reforming the civil service so that it provides better services to citizens.
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The Government also wants the civil service to be an attractive place for young Somalilanders to make a career (an “employer of choice”).
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Part of the reforms is the creation of a Pension Plan for civil servants, so they can retire when they reach age 65 and still have an income.
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The cost of the pensions is covered by the contributions that civil servants will make during their employment.
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The Law says that the contributions can only be used to pay pensions to civil servants.
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The Pension Fund will operate as efficiently as possible to keep administrative costs low.
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You will be required to retire in the month after the legislation passes.
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To recognize your years of service you will receive a pension based on the number of year’s contribution you made and your basic salary.
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There will be no gap: your pension will begin the month after your salary ends.
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Your dependents will also be eligible for some benefits if you die.
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At the age of pension, you can work as expert with the government or private sector. However, you are no longer in the civil service payroll. You will receive your pension benefits.
For Civil Servants under Age 65 Who Will be Contributors
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Dear Civil Servant, you are supporting your elder civil servants today and then you will receive the same support tomorrow when you grow older.
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When the legislation passes, you will start making contributions of 5% of basic salary per month. The Pension Fund will keep records of the contributions, and eventually you will be able to see your Pension Fund account online.
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The Pension Fund will also send you a Statement once each year.
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You will be eligible for a pension when you retire at age 65 or if you become disabled before that time. If you die, before or after you retire, your survivors will be eligible for a benefit.
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The Pension Fund manages the contributions to be sure it can pay pensions to eligible civil servants. The Law says that your contributions can only be used to pay pensions.
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The Pension Fund will operate as efficiently as possible to keep administrative costs low.
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For more information you can speak with your supervisor or write to the Pension Fund at [INSERT EMAIL ADDRESS].
Monitoring and Evaluation mechanisms will be deployed to ensure that the communication campaign is going through. These mechanisms include:
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Pre and post surveys of civil servants.
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Website metrics.
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Media monitoring
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MIS
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Feedback (include forms) from Townhall and other stakeholder meetings.
Cost controls will be enforced by establishing and maintaining a budget for all activities.
