Doha: As part of efforts to provide opportunities for young people in Somalia, Silatech and local partner Shaqodoon have launched a ‘One Stop Shop’ (OSS) for youth employment and business support services in the capital Mogadishu. It is the third in a series of OSSs, bridging the gap between jobseekers and the local business community.
OSSs, in city centres of Hargeisa, Bosaso and Mogadishu and easily accessible by youth and employers, serve as knowledge, advice and career guidance hubs for jobseekers, entrepreneurs and business owners looking for skilled youth to employ.
OSS services for jobseekers include work readiness training (CV writing, interview practice, communications), career guidance, placement and financial literacy training.
OSSs make use of Shaqodoon’s SMS-based platform to connect young people with jobs, internships and training opportunities. As a direct link with employers is an essential part of the OSS strategy, over 300 private sector employers will be registered and trained in the three cities to participate in Shaqodoon’s platform.
Young entrepreneurs are able to access entrepreneurship training and business development services. Those who complete training are linked with leading microfinance partner institutions in Somalia/Somaliland — MicroDahab and Kaah Islamic Microfinance Services.
Youth employment and entrepreneurship programmes are needed in Somalia. According to the UN, over 70 percent of the population is under 30.
The country has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world — 67 percent — and six out of every 10 Somalis intend to leave the country to pursue better economic opportunities elsewhere.
Amaal Abukar, Project Officer for Somalia, Silatech, said “The lives of young Somalis have been shaped by a quarter of a century of violent turmoil and lost opportunities for self-actualisation.
“One effective method of combating youth unemployment lies in establishing youth centres and providing access to finance for entrepreneurs.
“This will help encourage the establishment of new enterprises and foster entrepreneurship and economic prosperity throughout Somalia.”
Mustafa Othman, Programme Manager, Shaqodoon, said “Shaqodoon equips and empowers Somali youth to gain long-term livelihood opportunities through employment and entrepreneurship. “The OSS programme will provide training, access to capital, career guidance and services for start-ups within a broad base of beneficiaries, including young jobseekers, youth-led businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.
“It also aims to help youth realise their full potential and gain access to meaningful work opportunities, contributing to peace and prosperity.”
Silatech is a regional social initiative working with partners in the Arab world to promote large-scale job creation, entrepreneurship, access to capital and markets, and participation and engagement of young people in economic and social development. Shaqodoon is a youth-serving NGO and provides Somali youth with training, access to work, internships and self-employment opportunities.
The Peninsula
