MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government is seeking to better connect vocational training, private-sector investment and job creation as it works to expand employment opportunities for the country’s young population.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on Monday chaired the first meeting of the National Committee for Skills Development and Job Creation, focusing on accelerating the committee’s work and turning government initiatives into sustainable employment opportunities.
Officials from the Prime Minister’s Office briefed the meeting on the committee’s mandate, a proposed national framework for coordinating skills development and employment policies, and priority areas for implementation.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs also presented its policy on technical and vocational education and training, aimed at developing skills that match the needs of Somalia’s labour market and emerging economic opportunities.
Barre said skills development and employment should be approached through a unified national strategy, bringing together the federal government, member states, private businesses and development partners.
The goal, he said, should be to align workforce skills with labour-market demand, investment and job creation rather than allowing training and employment programmes to operate separately.
Turning training into jobs
The government’s focus comes as Somalia faces the challenge of creating sufficient employment for a predominantly young population.
Officials said the new approach is intended to ensure that investments and programmes already under way produce measurable results, including better-trained workers, sustainable jobs and more inclusive economic growth.
The emphasis on vocational and technical education also reflects an effort to move beyond traditional academic pathways and provide young Somalis with practical skills linked directly to available and emerging jobs.
The committee is expected to play a coordinating role in bringing together government institutions, regional administrations, businesses and international development partners.
For Somalia, the challenge is not simply expanding access to training but ensuring that the skills being taught correspond to what employers need and to sectors capable of generating new employment.
The government says closer coordination between education, investment and the private sector will be essential to turning skills development into long-term employment and broader economic growth.
