Mogadishu, Somalia — In a significant move to address youth unemployment and boost small-scale entrepreneurship, Somalia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, in partnership with the Qatar Charity Somalia Office, launched a large-scale economic empowerment initiative in Mogadishu on Thursday.
The program, officially inaugurated by the Minister of Labor, Yusuf Mohamed, involves the distribution of 260 tricycles and 100 flour mills to selected young entrepreneurs and small business owners across the capital.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Yusuf emphasized the importance of equipping youth with practical tools to earn a living and contribute to the country’s economic recovery. “This is not just a donation—it is a foundation for self-reliance and dignity,” he said, adding that the program aligns with the government’s broader national employment and poverty reduction strategy.
The tricycles will provide jobless youth with the means to engage in transport and delivery services, a growing sector in urban Somalia, while the flour mills are expected to stimulate local food processing and create value chain opportunities in small markets and communities.
A Qatar Charity Somalia Representative hailed the project as a demonstration of “targeted and sustainable aid,” tailored to the real economic needs of Somalia’s youthful population. “We believe in empowering communities, not just through aid, but by enabling productivity,” he stated.
Beneficiaries were selected through a vetting process that prioritized unemployed youth, women-led households, and individuals with experience in small-scale trade and mechanics. The ministry confirmed that technical training and business management support will accompany the handover of equipment to ensure effective and sustained use.
This initiative comes amid growing concerns over unemployment and economic vulnerability, particularly among Somalia’s large youth population. According to the latest labor statistics, more than 70% of Somalis are under the age of 30, and youth unemployment remains one of the country’s most pressing development challenges.
Officials pledged to expand similar programs to other federal member states in the coming months as part of Somalia’s inclusive economic recovery agenda.