Who
Shaqo Platform is a collaboration between Iftiin Foundation, Puntland Development Research Center (PDRC), City University of Mogadishu and YEEL with support from the Dutch Government.
Shaqo, means “job” in Somali. And that is what we create for unemployed Somali youth to improve lives and communities.
Youth and children are the predominant demographic in Somalia.
- 47% of the population is below 14 years of age.
- 70% is under 30 years of age.
- Population growth rate stands at 2.92% annually.
The current extreme youth unemployment not only affects the youth but also the overall peace, stability and development in the Somali peninsula.
What
Create meaningful jobs that meet market demands and support decent working conditions.
Unite civil society, academia and private/public sectors to provide more and better job opportunities.
Promote localized solutions by leveraging community knowledge, resources and engagement.
Address cross-cutting challenges, from social norms to systemic barriers, for a better society.
How
Shaqo Platform offers vocational training and skills-building aligned with market needs, equipping youth with expertise for today's job market. Our programs cover essential skills both soft and hard, including technical, digital, financial, entrepreneurial etc. We analyze labor market trends to develop practical, adaptable training that meets industry trends and demands.
We work diligently to foster job creation across key sectors such as green economy, blue economy, service jobs and digital jobs. Moreover, we connect trained youth with existing opportunities, helping them secure sustainable livelihoods.
Understanding the challenges microenterprises face in accessing finance, we provide comprehensive financial support. Our interventions include loans, seed funding, grants, productive assets and access to essential other financial services through our network of local banks and microfinance institutions, enabling these businesses to flourish and create additional job opportunities for Somali youth.
We offer comprehensive business support to foster youth entrepreneurship and business growth. This includes access to entrepreneurship training and business development services, such as business cooperatives, to help businesses expand and hire more youth. Additionally, we provide long-term support through business mentors, networking opportunities, and ongoing advisory services to ensure sustained success.
We provide counselling, and access to skilled mental health professionals, alongside conducting community awareness campaigns to combat stigma. Our comprehensive approach aims not only to foster individual mental health recovery but also to promote collective healing within communities traumatised by conflict and systemic neglect.
We establishment and scale up businesses in high growth sectors with key focus on agriculture, fisheries, information technology and the service sectors.
We believe in the power of community, we engage and build capacities within communities, facilitating a conducive environment for youth employment and long-term social norm change.
Establishment of Public-Private Sector Boards and Youth Advisory Committees in Garowe, Hargeisa and Mogadishu to promote and support policies that encourage entrepreneurship and the growth of SMEs, with a focus on youth employment.
We engage stakeholders to create a conducive ecosystem for business innovation and youth employment. We continually develop and manage knowledge resources to source information on unemployment and local solutions, informing our members' and partners' strategies and interventions while enhancing cross-sector synergy and collective impact.
Our vision
A Somali peninsula free from poverty, inequality, and exclusion where every young person can reach their potential.
Our mission
We reduce youth unemployment by strengthening skills, job opportunities and the supportive environment.
Our values
Guided by the Somali proverb “shaqo waa sharaf” (“work is dignity”), we value integrity, trust and perseverance.
Where we work
A localised and flexible approach
At Shaqo Platform, we do not just accept things as they are. Instead, we constantly challenge traditional ways to find better solutions for youth unemployment. We believe in the power of local methods, partners and solutions.
We use Problem Driven, Iterative and Adaptive (PDIA) approach to guide our programming. This means we are always learning, adjusting and improving our programming across all phases.
Our evidence-driven and flexible approach allow us to respond swiftly to changing circumstances and to deliver effective interventions that benefit all young people
