Youth
constitute an estimated 70% of Somalia’s 11 million-strong population.
They have the potential to be a key asset for the recovery and growth of
Somalia. However, if they are not brought into the development
framework and provided with real options to improve their livelihoods,
youth could also be a destabilizing force.
The
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) provides
skills training to young men and women to encourage social cohesion and
help build peace, stability and security in a country wracked by a
decades-long civil war between rival clan warlords.
The
Brothers Welding Group developed as a result of a Japan-funded UNIDO
project, Community Stabilization: Countering Violence and Extremism
through Skills Training and Livelihoods Support for At-Risk Youth in
Kismayo, which was completed in 2015.
As part of
this project, UNIDO provided on-the-job training to revitalize local
assets and engage youth in actively contributing to community recovery.
UNIDO identified a number of practical training-related initiatives that
contributed to improving the local infrastructure and rehabilitating
public assets. The approach builds trade and vocational competencies,
and also addresses pressing infrastructure upgrading needs.
Six
unskilled and/or underemployed youths from various enterprises in the
local market engaged with metalwork were selected. The training took
place at containerized training workshops established by UNIDO at the
Kismayo International Airport. An international welding expert mentored a
local national trainer to lead the training of these six youths from
different backgrounds, ages and clans.
The group,
which had an average age of 22, quickly formed a bond. During the
four-week training, the six focused on an introduction to arc welding.
As a practical exercise, the trainees contributed to the rehabilitation
of a maintenance workshop of the Ministry of Transportation at the
airport, as well as repairing the airport’s gates.
One
of the trainees explained, “During the training, we fabricated steel
trusses as a practical exercise. Another UNIDO training in the
construction group was rehabilitating the maintenance workshop. We
contributed to the fabricated steel trusses for the new roof. The
opportunity to combine theoretical training and practical work was very
helpful to us to understand more about what technical and team skills
are needed, as well as the daily dedication to work together to achieve
and finish a product.”
As part of UNIDO’s
programme, trainees also attended a three-day conflict minimization
training session to further develop life and personal skills to deal
with conflict in their communities.
An independent
evaluation into the project interviewed graduates of the programme and
found that that skills development led to a growth in income and an
increase in work opportunities. Trainee graduates reported more respect
from their community and were less likely to join local armed groups as a
result of the skills and conflict training. Beneficiaries reported
enhanced abilities to integrate into their local community and manage
local conflict drivers. It was reported that individuals across clans
were now communicating together, in some cases for the first time.
At
the end of the training, instead of competing with each other for
technical start-up toolkits at graduation of the training, the youth
approached UNIDO with a business plan to form their own company and
share the toolkits. The Brothers Welding Group was born.
With
skills, equipment and renewed optimism, the youth rented a workshop
site in the market and within days had their first order to construct an
industrial garbage can for a local hotel. Their work progressed to
production of small windows and doors and repair work in the town. They
started gaining a reputation in town for producing high-quality products
with the improved tools and technology from the toolkits.
UNIDO
has watched these young tradesmen move from small-scale production to
regular business with the private sector and earn a reputation for
high-quality products and service. Their level of income has increased
considerably from USD 10 per day before the training to USD 28 today.
UNIDO
has continued its contact with the Brothers Welding Group, with group
members both providing services and serving as trainers and mentors in
metalwork to trainees participating in a new project. They act as role
models to the other youth. It is possible to learn new skills and start a
business.
Today, UNIDO is continuing its work in
southern town of Kismayo through a new joint project with UN-Habitat,
funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and has
expanded its cooperation with the Government of Japan with a new project
targeting at-risk youth in the town of Dhobley, as well as a vocational
skills training project targeting displaced populations in the Afmadow
District, to the north of Kismayo.