USADF Signs grants for Somalia

WASHINGTON - October 13, 2011  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 13, 2011 –The United States African Development Foundation has committed $1.4 million to provide vocational skills training, permanent jobs and small business opportunities to over 1,600 youth between the ages of 18-35 in Somaliland, Puntland, and South Central Somalia. 

“The United States African Development Foundation values working in conflict and post-conflict situations with marginalized populations – especially the youth.  It is our goal and the goal of the six grantees that the participants will be in a position to improve their standard of living after having participated in the program, “said USADF President and CEO Lloyd O. Pierson.

Somalia has been in conflict for over 18 years, with over 14 failed attempts to establish a functioning government and active terrorist groups attempting to control parts of the country.  The political strife has led to a tremendous lack of economic opportunity and suffering that has left the people of Somalia at the bottom of most world rankings of human and social development.  Most problematic for Somalia is the impact of the unstable situation on the youth.  In significant parts of the country over 70 percent of the population is under 35.

These young people have been marginalized through a lack of education and access to suitable jobs.  It is the youth that USADF plans to serve with six job skills projects funded through grants to a local nongovernmental organization.  Each grant is based on four-month cycles of classroom and on-the-job training.  At the end of the cycle, the beneficiaries will either be placed in permanent positions or be given the tools and small grants to establish small businesses.   

Over 75 percent of the USADF grants will be used to cover participant wages, tools and business start-up funds.  The trainings include: automobile repair, masonry, electrical repair, tailoring, pastry making, nutrition, computer operations, journalism, research and report writing, mobile phone repair, office management, hospitality and fishing.

To learn more about USADF’s program with marginalized communities and populations, visit http://www.usadf.gov.  Follow us on Twitter @USADF.

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