About Us

Shaqodoon is a national non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 2011 to provide innovative and sustainable solutions to the youth employment challenges in Somaliland & Somalia. The organization evolved from the EDC Somali livelihood project, funded by USAID, which aimed to improve access to work, training, and self-employment opportunities for youth in Somaliland, Puntland, and South-Central Somalia.

Shaqodoon designs, implements, and evaluates programs that address the pressing needs of the local community in vocational and technical skill development, entrepreneurship and ecosystem development, employability skills and market linkages, while addressing violence against women, gender-based violence and female genital mutilation through our centers. The organization also focuses on access to finance for youth entrepreneurship and works with local and international development partners to utilize technology for humanitarian and development programs.

Shaqodoon is committed to inclusivity, skill development, employment services, youth entrepreneurship, environmental protection, private sector business development, and technology for development. The organization employs participatory methods to ensure active youth engagement in the delivery of its services.

Vision

A society where youth and women are at the forefront of fostering a safe and inclusive environment that enables them to attain self-reliance and drive sustainable progress.

Mission

To empower and enable youth and women to generate positive, sustainable impact within their communities, by providing safe, inclusive, and innovative opportunities.

In 2023, Shaqodoon Organization opened an office in Nairobi, Kenya. Shaqodoon Organization recognizes the immense potential that lies within the youth of the North-eastern counties of Kenya, which is predominantly inhabited by ethnic Somali communities, and aims to address the specific challenges they face.

Learn more about Shaqodoon's work in Kenya

History & Milestones

    1. Shaqodoon Organization and SomBank, forge a strategic alliance through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to empower existing and emerging entrepreneurs in Somalia. The initiative aims to expand their reach and support a wider community of inspiring Somali entrepreneurs.

    2. HargaBits says goodbye to pioneering Work In Progress (WIP) program. Founded in 2016, the school under the Work in Progress project became a beacon of digital excellence. It has not only been a school, but a gateway to a bright future for over 700 aspiring young individuals.

  • ▪️ Rehabilitated and operationalized an old youth center in Gabiley, into an innovative space where youth and women can visit, learn, access opportunities, and receive counsel on various issues. Through our partners we have also commenced construction of new youth centers in Barawe the SWS of Somalia and Berbera in Somaliland.

    ▪️ Established a new chapter of Shaqodoon International in Kenya to bring our service to at-risk youth and women in the Northeastern Regions of the country.

    ▪️ Expansion of Business Information Line (BIL) Xogsiiye in Somaliland to Puntland this year. The digitization of essential business services makes it easier for the general population, especially youth and women to gain easy access to information & apply for business development services.

    ▪️ Introduction of two new pillars to our organizational strategy :

    1. A Gender and Social Inclusion pillar that will focus on settlement and reintegration through our youth centers running innovative campaigns against SRH, GBV, substance abuse, psychosocial counseling, community development.

    2. An Environmental and Climate Action pillar which will focus on innovative solutions, awareness, advocacy on climate shocks, environmental protection, green technology, and investments.

  • ▪️ Awarded Certificate from Somaliland Ministry of Trade, Industries, and Tourism - In recognition and appreciation of Shaqodoon’s hard work and diligence in supporting the Ministry in establishing the Business Information Line (Xogsiiye). Shaqodoon’s outstanding efforts have greatly improved the business environment.

    ▪️ Hargabits Academy is registered with Ministry of Education in Somaliland as certified diploma provider. 

    ▪️ Hargabits Masterclass benefited Somaliland Presidential Palace staff trained on media and communications.

  • ▪️ Awarded Certificate from Somaliland Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs, and Family - In recognition of the good co-operative work Shaqodoon made with Somaliland Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs, and Family.

    ▪️ Awarded Certificate from Muslim College - In recognition and appreciation of the effort and support Shaqodoon has made to the Muslim college.

    ▪️ Launched Covid-19 Pandemic Response line in Hargeisa and Garowe, accessed by over 2 million concerned citizens. We worked closely with Telesom, Golis, and Ministries of Health in both Somaliland and Puntland to ensure effective and consistent rollout.

    ▪️ Co-launched the Xogsiiye Business information line (BIL) with Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, to help the Somaliland government provide better services to the public. We focused on youth in particular, looking to access key information on business registration and access to finance through a call in IVR-based service.

  • ▪️ Awarded Certificate from Amoud University - In recognition of Shaqodoon’s outstanding meritorious service as a partnership organization in student internship and graduate placement 2018/2019 on this day, Saturday, June 15th, 2019.

    ▪️ Trained 300 youths from Banaadir, Southwest and Jubaland regions with technical skills creating more than 50 jobs.

  • ▪️ Awarding Certificate from Somaliland Awards - This certificate was awarded to Shaqodoon Organization as the social entrepreneurship of the year; awarded for outstanding contribution made by social enterprises/organizations.

    ▪️ Launched M-Dalag platform; an online and mobile-based IVR (Interactive Voice Response) platform that allows Somaliland farmers to access key information on market prices, buy-sell goods, and be connected to the Ministry and agriculture input sellers.

    ▪️ Launched the First innovation hub in Somaliland (HarHub) to provide focused and specialized support for local entrepreneurs to establish and grow their businesses and access suitable financial support.

    ▪️ Launched Garobits Digital Design Academy in partnership with WVI RESTORE to reduce unemployment among vulnerable youth residing in IDP and informal settlements in Garowe through digital skills. GaroBits supports 40 youth through a 12-month digital skills program annually.

    ▪️ Launched the first Somali based crowdfunding platforms SOKAAB & BULSHO KAAB for organisations and individuals that aim to support communities and youth initiatives. The platforms have raised over 1.8 million USD for 70 community projects.

    ▪️ Launched Tarmiye a crowdfunding platform for start-ups Somaliland.

  • ▪️ Awarding Certificate from Guulaysta Yaasha Geediga Wadaay - Awarded to Shaqodoon Organization for the best employment creation in Somaliland in 2017.

    ▪️ First business coaching radio program conducted in Mogadishu.

    ▪️ 5 day accelerator boot camp training for 15 tech startups in Mogadishu.

  • ▪️ Awarded Certificate from Somaliland Ministry of Education and Higher Education - Shaqodoon organization, bridging for professional training and research in recognition of outstanding creativity, innovation, and high professional competence in capacity-building information and research. "Special thanks for the successful research project conducted with a partnership of the center on the quality of higher education in Somaliland. We look forward to further enhancing the strategic collaboration we have with Shaqodoon Organization."

    ▪️ Launched Hargabits Digital Design Academy in partnership with Butterfly works to reduce unemployment among vulnerable youth residing in IDP and informal settlements through digital skills.

    ▪️ Hargabits support 80 youth through 12 month digital skills program in its first year.

    ▪️ Began providing Business Development support to Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) through business coaching as a means to expand local business and create new employment opportunities for youth. The program was supported by Netherland Ministry of Foreign Affairs through partner SPARK.

    ▪️ Became a country host for the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) for Somalia/land and held our first events in Hargeisa and Mogadishu.

    ▪️ Introduced summer entrepreneurship program in Somaliland and Puntland

    ▪️ Launched TOOSIYE, a whistle-blowing mechanism platform for Somaliland Ministry of Interior.

  • ▪️ Awarding Certificate from MicroDahab Microfinance (a member of the Dahabshiil Group) - MicroDahab presents this award to Shaqodoon Organization as the best NGO partner for youth employment

    ▪️ Launched the first televised youth business plan competition in Somaliland, which received over 100 submissions with 8 finalists pitching their business ideas to a panel of local experts

    ▪️ Launched the first Somaliland Voice opinion polling platform with National Endowment for Democracy (NED) 

  • ▪️ Our first major partnership with Somalia Stability Fund (SSF) to develop and implement an SMS/IVR-based beneficiary feedback platform. The service rolled out to beneficiaries of 53 projects in Somalia and Somaliland

    ▪️ Second partnership with SSF to develop a youth fund working with Dahabshiil’s Micro Dahab and Kaah Micro Finance. The disbursement were a mix of loans and grants to 30 youth entrepreneurs, totalling 500,000 USD in Hargeisa, Bossaso, Mogadishu, Kismayo, and Beletewayne

  • ▪️ Successfully carried our first ever Job Fair in Somaliland working with the Somaliland government. Over 3,000 jobseekers and more than 80 employers participating in the event with 100+ jobs created.

    ▪️ Secured our first major Middle East partnership with Silatech, with whom we established three One Stop Shops for job seekers, reaching over 10,000 youth in Somaliland, Puntland, and South-Central Somalia.

  • ▪️ First Project: To carry out radio-based youth entrepreneur project, funded by Education Development Centre (EDC) and implemented in Nairobi, Kenya

    ▪️ Launch of our first election feedback platform to give citizens in Somaliland a voice during the election

    ▪️ Registered over 20,000 youth to vote

    ▪️ Sent messages regarding peace and voter education information through SMS and IVR

  • ▪️ Completion of EDC Somalia Youth Livelihood Project (SYLP)

    ▪️ Recognizing the need for an organization dedicated to youth employment in the Somali region, spin-off organization Shaqodoon was founded on 10 November, 2011

    ▪️ Supported by USAID with office equipment and technology transfer

    ▪️ Established offices in Hargeisa, Bossaso, and Mogadishu

    ▪️ Established partnership with telecoms

    ▪️ Signed MoU’s with government ministries

“Youth are the greatest resource of our nation. We have committed ourselves to equip them with 21st century skills for them to thrive and have an impact in their communities. We are set to empower youth through entrepreneurship and technology, since technology has offered accuracy and speed and through it the creation of a million of jobs, and we want our youth to lead the development of the society with these skills and mindsets.”

— Abdiqanie Dirie, Shaqodoon