EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This policy paper examines the critical disconnect between policy formulation and execution within the ministries of Puntland State, Somalia. Since its inception in 1998, Puntland has successfully established various institutional frameworks and drafted numerous laws and strategic plans. However, a persistent “implementation gap” remains, where policies frequently fail to translate into measurable public service improvements or sustainable development outcomes. Based on qualitative research involving 30 key informants across principal ministries, the study diagnoses the root causes of this failure and proposes targeted governance reforms to strengthen state legitimacy and service delivery. […]