UNICEF Upshift Somalia | Building a youth social entrepreneurship movement in Somalia

With a population of 12,316,895 people and a significant proportion of youth and adolescents forming a large youth mass, Somalia faces an unprecedented challenge in addressing the needs of young people in a complex context where conflicts, natural disasters, and climate change divert resources from this important segment of the population. Just under half (45.6%) of the population is under 15 years old, while three-quarters (75%) are under 30.

Youth unemployment in Somalia is high, with only an estimated 27% of young people employed (58% men and 42% women), while the majority of employees (70%) work in the primary sector, which includes agriculture, horticulture, and fishing. An overwhelming majority (69%) of 2,685 men and women in the Somali region, including southern central Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland, surveyed by the Heritage Institute, cited a lack of opportunities (48%) or poor family economic conditions (21%) as key reasons for emigration.

Therefore, our project aims to provide skills and innovative opportunities for youth in Somaliland, Puntland, and Greater Somalia.

UPSHIFT combines youth development leadership approaches with best practices from the private sector, such as user-centered design, to empower marginalized young people to identify the challenges in their communities and create innovative solutions. The program integrates social innovation workshops with mentorship and initial funding and is specifically designed to reach the most disadvantaged sectors. While the philosophy and overall functioning of the program are universal, its implementation in each region is tailored to the local context.

At dot., we have developed a structured methodology divided into four key stages, based on the design process, that guides young people in defining social business ideas. This methodology is flexible, allowing it to adapt to the diverse profiles of program users in Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland. Furthermore, we have provided direct on-the-ground support to the local organizations responsible for implementing the program, ensuring their teams have the necessary skills to guarantee the project's long-term success.

Since 2020, over 50 bootcamps have been held across the region, where young people acquire life and employment skills. However, the most notable aspect is that UPSHIFT generates a positive impact in the community through the products and services designed by these young individuals. This process also helps to shift the perception of youth, viewing them as agents of positive change rather than as problems to be solved.