Mogadishu, Somalia – In a significant effort to combat unemployment and stimulate grassroots economic growth, Qatar Charity has launched a major economic empowerment project in Mogadishu.
The initiative includes the distribution of 260 tricycles and 100 flour mills aimed at supporting youth employment and boosting small-scale entrepreneurship.
At a ceremony attended by government representatives, community leaders, and local beneficiaries, officials praised the program as a meaningful step toward long-term stability and self-reliance in Somalia’s capital.
The project targets low-income families, youth, and women with the objective of creating sustainable income-generating opportunities.
“This project directly addresses one of our most pressing challenges — joblessness among young people. Equipping youth with tools for work, such as tricycles for transport services and flour mills for small food businesses, is a clear path to economic independence,” said a senior officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
The tricycles are expected to be used in local transportation and delivery services, while the flour mills will support small-scale food production and sales, especially in underserved urban and peri-urban areas. Beneficiaries were selected through a community-based process that prioritized need and business potential.
Qatar Charity has been active in Somalia for years, particularly in the areas of humanitarian aid, education, and healthcare. This latest project marks a shift toward longer-term development goals focused on economic resilience.
Local leaders emphasized that empowering youth through dignified employment opportunities not only boosts the economy but also reduces the risk of radicalization and insecurity.
“We welcome initiatives like these that invest in the future of our young people,” said a Mogadishu district commissioner.
The project aligns with Somalia’s broader national development agenda, which prioritizes job creation, poverty reduction, and the promotion of small and medium enterprises.
Qatar Charity officials expressed readiness to expand similar programs to other Somali cities, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the country’s recovery and development.