Silatech launches job centre for Somali youth

Silatech and the local partner in Somalia, Shaqodoon, have launched a “One Stop Shop”(OSS) centre for youth employment and business support services in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.This is the third in a series of One Stop Shops bridging the gap between job seekers and the local business community. Located in the main city centres of Hargeisa, Bosaso, and Mogadishu, and easily accessible to both youth and employers, these One Stop Shops serve as knowledge, advice and career guidance hubs for young job seekers and entrepreneurs, as well as for business owners looking for skilled youth to employ. OSS services for job seekers include work readiness training,career guidance,work placement and financial literacy training. The OSS centres make use of Shaqodoon’s existing SMS-based platform to connect young people directly with jobs, internships and training opportunities. As direct linkage 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 own employment platform.Aspiring young entrepreneurs are now able to access entrepreneurship training and business development services. Those who successfully complete training are linked with the two leading microfinance partner institutions in Somalia/Somaliland, MicroDahab and Kaah Islamic Microfinance Services. According to the UN, over 70 % of Somalia’s population is under the age of 30. The country has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world — at 67 % and 6 out of every 10 Somalis intend to leave the country to pursue better economic opportunities elsewhere. Amaal Abukar, project officer for Somalia at 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 for combating youth unemployment lies in establishing youth centres and providing access to finance for aspiring entrepreneurs. This will help to encourage the establishment of new enterprises and foster a culture of entrepreneurship and economic prosperity throughout Somalia.”Silatech is a regional social initiative that works with partners throughout the Arab world to promote large-scale job creation, entrepreneurship, access to capital and markets, and the participation and engagement of young people in economic and social development. Shaqodoon is a youth-serving NGO that provides Somali youth with skills training and  access to work.