Context and strategic focus
In Somalia, youth and children make up the bulk of the population, with 46 percent of the population under the age of 14 and 70 percent of the population under the age of 30. The unemployment rate for youth (15-24 years old) is among the highest in the world, and there are few statistics on youth underemployment and the unemployment rates of internally displaced people, remote populations, and socioeconomically marginalised groups.
Youth in South Central Somalia have been hit the worst by political, security, and economic upheaval, while youth in Puntland and Somaliland have also been affected. Youth have been exploited by a variety of political, economic, social, and security actors, disenfranchising them and making them prone to conflict, crime, and irregular migration. All these challenges add to their sense existing vulnerability and abandonment.
YEEL’s geographical focus is the Somali peninsula in general and Somaliland in particular.
YEEL’s strategically focus on solving the many structural challenges the Somali youth face, mainly:
- high unemployment,
- limited social and economic inclusion,
- lack of agency and empowerment
- Limited political representation, especially for women
YEEL focus on mitigating these challenges by promoting programmes and partnerships aimed at enhancing the youth’s economic prospects, boosting access to and usage of social and economic services, and increasing the youth’s and local communities’ self-organisation and advocacy efforts.
Our impact is measured through the following indicators:
- Increase in educated and skilled youth.
- Increase in employed youth.
- Increase in self-employed youth.
- Increase in youth participating actively in decision-making processes.
- Increase in youth, particularly women, protected from discrimination, abuse and violence.
- Increase in youth who are self-organised and involved in activism.
- Reduction of youth with mental health problems.
- Reduction of youth involved in illegal migration, crime, extremism and drug abuse.
Target groups
Main target group
YEEL’s main target group is the marginalised Somali youth (between the age of 15-35). The reason for this is that the youth constitutes the majority of the population (more than 70%). This demographic imbalance creates a high-risk situation that if not attended to early could undermine any gains in peace and stability made over the last two decades.
Secondary target group
Our secondary target groups are the weak community structures (CSOs, CBOs, networks, youth groups, women’s organisations, elders’ councils, community committees, management structures etc.) existing in the local communities. Supporting these community structures ensures long-term change, impact and sustainability.