Mogadishu, Somalia: On May 11, 2023, during the cabinet weekly meeting, the Somali Federal Cabinet approved the National Youth Policy, submitted by the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Fahma Ahmed.
The policy consists of 10 pillars, including youth employment and entrepreneurship, education and development of skills, youth participation in social issues, leadership, youth reconciliation and cooperation, drug prevention, and rehabilitation.
This policy is a crucial step towards providing support to the 70% of Somalia’s population who are under the age of 35 and are seeking better economic opportunities, improved access to healthcare and education, and inclusion in decision-making processes.
The National Youth Policy is aimed at enabling young people to realize their full potential and become active contributors to the country’s development.
The policy has ten pillars, which outline specific objectives and actions for supporting young people in the country. The first pillar is youth employment and entrepreneurship, which revolves around creating opportunities for young people to gain meaningful employment and to become entrepreneurs in their own right. This will be achieved through the creation of targeted job training programs, financial support for start-ups, and the creation of favorable business environments.
The second pillar, education and skills development, focuses on creating a high-quality educational system that provides relevant skills training and knowledge for all young people in Somalia. To achieve this, the policy envisages providing equal access to education and pursuing capacity building, teacher training programs, with a focus on 21st-century skills, and improving the infrastructure of schools and educational institutions.
The third pillar aims to enhance youth participation in social issues by empowering young people to take on leadership roles in decision-making processes. This includes promoting youth-led initiatives and participation in the decision-making process to ensure that the youth voice is heard and taken into consideration.
The fourth pillar focuses on nurturing leadership in young people by promoting mentorship and training opportunities. The policy envisions creating leadership training programs, capacity-building workshops, and platforms for young people to share their experiences and learn from each other.
The fifth pillar of the policy concentrates on youth participation in reconciliation and cooperation by creating opportunities for young people to participate in conflict resolution, security, and peace initiatives.
The sixth pillar, drug prevention and rehabilitation, focuses on addressing the rising problem of drug abuse among young people in Somalia. The policy will promote awareness-raising campaigns, partnerships with institutions providing drug rehabilitation services and support, and crackdowns on the illegal drug trade.
The National Youth Policy approved by the Somali Cabinet is a landmark achievement for the country’s youth. It is a comprehensive plan that seeks to address the main challenges facing the youth in Somalia and provide solutions to improve their livelihoods.
The policy envisions creating an environment where all young people can thrive, grow, and actively participate in the development of the country.
Prioritizing youth employment and entrepreneurship, education and development of skills, youth participation in social issues, leadership, cooperation, drug prevention, and rehabilitation, the policy is set to boost Somalia’s future.