Young Somali Women’s Access to Meaningful Employment: Barriers & Solutions

Somali Gender Equity Movement (SGEM) held its  Somalia Tweet Chat on a topic relating to the pervasive unemployment issue facing young women in Somalia entitled ‘Young Somali Women’s Access to Meaningful Employment: Barriers & Solutions’ which took place on September 30, 2023.

SGEM invited a diverse panel of practitioners, policy makers, and researchers working for the federal government, especially the Office of the President, Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The panelists of the Somalia Tweet Chat included Fardosa A. Abdullahi, Director of Social Affairs BAXNAANO Project Manager at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Bahja Ali Mohamud, Head of Women Enterprises Development atSIMAD iLab, Dr. Uweis Abdullahi Ali, Senior Researcher for Economics and Social Policy at the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS), Fadumo Abdi Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Office of Prime Minister, Mohamed Yahye, Founder and CEO of Onkout a Fintech Start-up, Nasrin Mohamed Ibrahim, Deputy Chairperson of Somali Women Journalists, Dr. Sadiyo Siad, Chancellor of Hano Technical University and Hano Academy, Mohamed Adan Mohamed Dugoow, Director of Public Engagement at the Office of the President, and Suleiman Bashir, Communication Consultant for government nonprofits and international organizations.

The panelists analyzed the topic from practitioner, policy, and research viewpoints. Tweet Chat questions asked included the status of the young women’s access to labor market in Somalia, such as cultural and class barriers facing young women to get meaningful employment, the laws and policies for employment equity in the country. Other key discussion questions included whether there is gender sensitive recruitment and retention policies in Somalia, and any policies protecting women from misconduct in the hiring processes and harassment at workplace. In addition, the panelists examined some innovative initiatives and programs that can facilitate meaningful employment opportunities for young women in Somalia.

The panel concluded with recommendations addressing these barriers and challenges for young women’s substantiative access to employment. Panelists recognized that enhancing young women’s access to meaningful employment requires comprehensive strategies that tackles cultural and class-related barriers. A multi-faceted approach should encompass initiatives in education, Technical, Vocational, Educational and Technical (TVET) skills, entrepreneurial skills, and digital literacy training, equal access to employment, and advocacy for economic empowerment programs.