In the semi-autonomous northeastern Somali state of Puntland, where local councils are already on the ground, another political transformation is taking place. The Minister of Local Government and Regional Affairs is implementing a policy of affirmative action for women, by holding district meetings of existing councils and traditional leaders, and inviting them to expand the membership of their councils to include women. He explains, “We are not taking seats away from men, we are adding seats for women, until we get the balance of at least 30% women in each Council”. The enthusiasm of the women is contagious to the rest of the community. The affirmative action policy was launched in Puntland by presidential decree on December 9, 2006, with the co-sponsorship of the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Gender, with support from UNDP. During 2007 it is being systematically implemented, district by district. A capacity building program for leadership development of the newly selected women councilors will begin in 2008, concurrent with the launch of a comprehensive UN Joint Programme for Local Governance and Decentralised Service Delivery, involving UNDP, UNICEF, UNCDF, UN-Habitat and ILO. [Source: UNDP Somalia].