It is the goal of this project to provide youth in Somalia/Somaliland with safe spaces where they can develop their capacity to make a positive difference and become productive and independent agents of social change.

Increasing the economic opportunities of disadvantaged youth through financing, equipping them with motorcycles, technical skills training, and leveraging mobile-based technology to simplify delivery systems by connecting motorbike riders, e-commerce platforms and clients. 

As an immediate response to the market incident, Shaqodoon in collaboration with Oxfam came up with an idea of supporting 80 micro business owners and street vendors (at least 60% women) with grants, on-site and one-to-one business skills training and mentorship to revitalize their livelihood means followed by a psychosocial support to help victims heal from the fire tragedy and facilitate to relaunch their businesses successfully. This timely support contributed affected households reclaiming their livelihoods, while at the same time contributing to the reactivation of market activities.

“In March 2020, I saw the business investment and training opportunity, The Next Economy program advertised by Shaqodoon on social media and I applied. Fortunately, my business idea was shortlisted, and I came to Shaqodoon to attend the interview. I was selected for the life skill training opportunity.” “I then underwent a two-month entrepreneurship training that gave me the knowledge to not only understand the business approach, but how to also brainstorm innovative ideas with income generating capacity.”

Most SMEs fail within the first 3 years of operation due to a variety of reasons including, access to finance, lack of enabling environment, unregulated market competition, lack of entrepreneurial skills partnerships culture, no solid regulatory body with policies to support youth and women-led ventures among many others.

Marking 15 years of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, this year, Shaqodoon hosted two events, one in Garowe and another in Hargeisa aimed at bringing together youth/women led SMEs and startups, and create an innovative sharing environment where the youth/women could connect with industry experts and explore experiences and challenges faced in getting startups to thrive.

According to UNAIDS, there is "a serious lack of understanding and awareness of basic information on HIV within Somali populations", which is why Shaqodoon - with its technology experience - has established an IVR HIV/AIDS Call Center (short code 328) empowering beneficiaries to access reliable information about the HIV/AIDS or directly call the commission through dedicated call agents to get referrals or other services provided by the commission and its partners.

Araale made the leap from jobless high school graduate to manager and co-founder of the Adeege Creative Agency, thanks to the skills learned through HargaBits Design Academy.

Fadxa’s academic achievement gave her a hope of expecting the university of Bossaso (UOB) would provide her a job opportunity. She was naively believing in her ability, hopefully predicting to get a job, especially if the recruitment process is fair and transparent. Fadxa was among 30 students who were provided an internship opportunity and was placed in Modern management department of UOB, assuming the position of the administrative assistant. She was pleased the administrative assistant job that was offered her after completing the internship.

Organisations or institutions’ recruitment culture contribute largely to the overall challenges of getting jobs through qualifications, consequently relying job seekers on personal connections and powerful and influential persons, even though the candidates are more competent and willing to compete for vacancies. Job seekers lost the trust in a formal recruitment process or applying vacancies unless the employers are personally known or someone in the job seekers’ network knows them. “My greatest worry was about job openings that are not openly announced, and an employment based on a recommendation, mainly through personal and family connections” Abdullahi stated.

A toll-free emergency helpline to support the government forward preventative messages and to provide assistance to potential patients.

Dini Khalif grew up in Bosaso, Puntland, Somalia where Mr Khalif always thought working a regular job for an employer cannot elevate one from poverty, Dini went to school in Bosaso as soon as he finished studying he started working and he had his fair share of working for employers as he witnessed firsthand what he had feared already that working a job cannot help one find financial freedom.

“Come with me.” said the head nurse to Amal, rushing from the surgery theatre. “We need you to stitch a patient.” I waited patiently in the waiting area as Amal rushed into serving a patient at Hawo Abdi Hospital in Mogadisho where she is employed as a part-time nurse.

Somaliland’s dedicated COVID-19 Helpline Center which will provide the public with up to date information regarding the virus behavior.

 Hargabits digital design skills academy commemorated a cheerful event to honor the third batch of graduates who have excelled studying at the academy.

According to an assessment conducted by the Ministry of Employment, Family and social affairs the number of unemployment rates indicates that 75% of Somaliland people are unemployed. According to this data, 30% of the unemployed are females while 20% are young males, but the remaining 15% are adults. The assessment noted that Hargeisa, which is the capital city of Somaliland, has been constrained by high levels of unemployed youth and especially university graduates.