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Title: YES Country Network-Somalia
Location:
Categories: Globalization
Status:
In Planning
Timeline:
October 15 06 to October 14 07
Description:
The YES Country Network in Somalia is a collaboration of youth organizations, NGOs, Business groups, individuals and other groups working to implement the outcomes of the Alexandria Youth Employment Summit and the Decade Campaign of Action.
Background:
Somalia is located in the eastern portion of the horn of Africa covering a total land area of some 637,540 square kilometers (roughly area of France). It is a relatively harsh semiarid environment place with real limits on carrying capacity of the land, and farceurs pastoral nomadic life as the most effective use of the land in the most parts of the country. Only about 13% of the land is cultivable and 45 % suitable for raising livestock the most valuable pastureland includes the Haud region in the high plateau of northwest Somalia and in to Ethiopia and grassland of southern Somalia west of the River the coastline stretches for 3,025 kilometers from Djibouti in to the north on the Gulf of Aden and to Kenya in the south on the Indian Ocean – one of the longest in Africa. Only along the southern coast and in the high mountain ranges of the northeast and the northwest are temperatures mild. Elsewhere, Somalia endures tropical desert heat.
In the last few years estimates for the population of Somalia, based on a review and extrapolation from previous data, have been as high as 8.2 and 8.9 million in 1992, and as low as 4.5 million in 1993, with 6.6 million in 1997. At the end of 1997, a UNFPA consultant, reviewing estimates , concluded the total population in Somalia in 1995 was probably 5.52 million (allowing for international migration) , and would have been 5.76 mullion in 1997 increasing to 5.89 million in 1998, and 6.20 million in the year 2000. in the 1997 total of population 53.3% was male and 47.7% female . The preponderance of males over female is surprising since female generally live longer than males in most countries. Somalia’s population growth rate in 1997 -98 was estimated approximately 2.4% ( this estimate included migration) .
Youth Situation
The collapse of the Somalia’s Educational system constitutes a societal emergency, which will constrain development for decades, and has thus been chosen as one of the two sector themes for this report. Somalia now faces the prospect of not one but two lost generations with little education and training to buttress productive roles and leadership in the future. Somalia’s public education system had virtually ceased functioning by the late 1980 a second generation of young people has lost access to education in the course of the decade of state collapse in the 1990s . The most generous estimates suggest that only between 14-17 % of all school age children (ages 6-14) are enrolled in school, most in the early grades. This is one of the lowest enrolment rates in the world. The loss of this Human capital ‘ has enormous challenge costs both to individual household and to a society attempting to rebuild a shatters economy and government . it also poses an enormous challenge to local efforts to demobilize young militiamen, whose lack of education makes them difficult to absorb into peace time economy . It is an impediment to the establishment of a viable, participatory political sys in Somalia. It is tragic for hundreds of thousands of young Somalis who have been deprived of the right to basic education and the opportunities for personal growth that education affords. In reality however, most of these schools are virtually non-functional, due to a scarcity of qualified teachers willing to work for extremely low pay, and lack of family commitment support the household . In some cases, schools are open only when international aid missions visit with supplies. The quality of education is, moreover, highly variable and on balance very low.
Persistence of such situation is likely to create a real future loss with result of lock of hope and opportunities for mass youth population , which constitute more than 60% of the Somali population , their future situation will remain a real threat to Somalia’s stability including the neighboring countries since these future or current young generation will involve themselves in drug trafficking , human right abuses , huge influx of immigrants and may attract terrorist networks to use them and benefit from their desperate situation
The Alexandria summit where the world focused on the global challenges the youths are facing came at the right time when such challenges have arrested the focus of youth empowerment by establishing a real frame work of action and creating an advocacy campaign to unite world efforts towards youth empowerments. As committed in Alexandria summit it was realized that the growing youth population of the world which amounts to I billion mostly reside in the under developed countries. In this summit the world committed to take measures improving the lives of youth generation by creation of education. Skill promotion facilities and raising awareness to involve the private sector and other potential stakeholders to work towards youth empowerment. On this juncture the Somali youth Employment Network
Somalia is one of the least developed countries in the world a long history of bad governance system. Nine years after it’s independence, the national happened in to the hands of a military dictatorship administration , which lasted more than 20 years of un-benevolent administration . The country inherited decades of continuous civil conflicts and prolonged failure of restoration of national unity and central government. .
With the above stated circumstance, it is needless to say that Somalia has higher youth un-employment rate than any other nation. The civil strife stateless situation created the formation of armed militia, and child soldiers in many areas of Somalia Limited public and private institutions that might give employment opportunities to youth has also escalated the youth situation on to deep enough.
Some of the main factors that contribute to the increasing youth un-employment rate include.
• Lac of public infrastructures
• Lack of community awareness on the youth concerns
• Very limited access to and availability of basic education for the young population and children
Based on the latest education statistics , the gross enrolments rate (GER) of Somali children in the existing schools is 17% most of schools were recently established with the support of UN and INGOs However, such education efforts could benefit mainly the school age children . Thus youth the population faces acute disadvantages as they lack age appropriate education set up which could provide alternative education leading to youth employment opportunities
Some recently conducted researches by international aid organizations working in Somalia show that 80% of Somalia Youth population is un-employed. More than 60% of those employed are involved in exploitative work. They either work for very long hours with less pay or are exposed to hazardous work conditions. Large populations of Somali’s youth are child solders and recruited in to civil hostilities. The Remaining portion (less than 5 %) of working Somali youth are involved in self-owned small business and secretarial jobs at private companies in urban towns
According to the latest demographic estimates Somali Population is about 8.5 Million given that the life expectance of Somalia is rated at 43 years (UNDP HUMAN DEVELOPMEN REPORT) then youth population (14-36 years) of Somalia is about 55% of total the population.
Objectives:
To promote the goal of YES in Somalia and to bring together diverse partners to create solutions to the challenge of youth unemployment.
Milestones:
- 3000 youngsters (boys & girls) from existing youth groups ,you0th IDPs and Youth Returnees are provided Proficiency English and equipped with the knowledge of information
- 3000 youngsters (boys & girls) equipped with the knowledge of Information, Communication and Technology.
- Skills and knowledge gained from English course and Information, Communication & Technology course are practiced.
- 75% of the trained youngsters getting employment in both government institutions, International organizations and private sector
- Coherence of youth IDPs and returns will be in place.
- Training manuals for further trainings of youth will place
Budget:
$90,000 USD
Needs:
To develop partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
To host a national consultation.
Contact Name: Faiza Jama
Contact Email Address: yes_somalia@yahoo.com
Contact Phone Number: 00252-570-2146
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