USAID Somalia Youth Assessment
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USAID/SOMALIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT January 2020 This report is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Making Cents International through YouthPower: Evidence and Evaluation Task Order 1 (YouthPower Learning) AID Contract # AID -OAA- I- 15 - 00034/AID- OAA- TO- 15- 00011. This report does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. USAID/SOMALIA YOUTH ASSESSMENT January 2020 By Diana Rutherford, Independent Consultant for Making Cents International Olad Farah, Independent Consultant for Making Cents International Farhia Kassim Walanwal, Independent Consultant for Making Cents International Lindsey Woolf, Making Cents International Cassandra Jessee, International Center for Research on Women/Making Cents International USAID’s YouthPower Learning generates and disseminates knowledge about the implementation and impact of positive youth development (PYD) and cross-sectoral approaches in international youth development. We are leading research, evaluations, and events designed to build the evidence base and inform the global community about how to transition young people successfully into productive, healthy adults. PYD is defined by USAID as: Positive Youth Development (PYD) engages youth along with their families, communities, and/or governments so that youth are empowered to reach their full potential. PYD approaches build skills, assets, and competencies; foster healthy relationships; strengthen the environment; and transform systems. Visit us at YouthPower.org to learn more and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates. For public inquiries and additional information, please email [email protected] or by mail to Making Cents International, attn: YouthPower Learning, 1350 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20036. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This assessment team was composed of people with wide-ranging expertise, including cross-sectoral youth programming, youth, and adolescent well-being, governance, health, and education. The assessment was led by Olad Farah with support from Diana Rutherford. Mr. Farah reviewed the data collection instruments, oversaw the data-collection process, and facilitated stakeholder interviews. Farhia Kassim Walanwal served as deputy team leader, overseeing youth focus-group discussions. Together, Farah, Rutherford, and Walanwal completed the data analysis. Lindsey Woolf provided management support and Cassandra Jessee provided assessment design, technical support, and oversight. The assessment team would like to thank the staff of USAID/Somalia for their support and insights. We extend special thanks to USAID/Somalia staff Eman Yarrow, Education Advisor, who served as the lead USAID/Somalia point of contact, along with Kevin Smith, Social Services Office Chief. The team also wishes to acknowledge the support of other Making Cents International team members, including Dr. Christy Olenik, Vice President for Technical Services, and Jessica Carrera, Project Associate. A local research and logistics company, Asaf Technical Consultants (ATC), was engaged for the assessment. We owe a special thanks to ATC’s youth researchers who served as facilitators and note- takers: Zamzam Tahlil Egal, Suado Abdullahi Ali, Yussuf Abdi Mohamud, Ahmed Ali Isse, Anisa Mohamud, Idil Warsame, Mowlid Abdi Hussein, Said Abdi Aden, Muna Sulieman Ahmed, Nimco Dahir Mohamed, Omar Abdullahi Ali, Ibrahim Mohamud Ibrahim, Nasra Hassan, Magdalene Maghema, and Miriam Njambi Njuguna. Said Aden Awale, the Field Coordinator, organized the data-collection team and made countless arrangements and appointments. ATC team leader and deputy team leader were Sadia Abdullahi Ali and Fredrick Otieno, and data reviewers included Abdiwali Ali Mohamud and Muse Abdi Maow. Most importantly, we also would like to thank the many stakeholders who volunteered their time to make this assessment a success, including representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal/Puntland and Somaliland, other development partners, non-governmental organizations, and USAID-funded projects. The team is especially grateful for the contributions of Somalia’s youth who participated enthusiastically in 30 focus-group discussions across three zones; this report would have been impossible without their insights. The assessment team earnestly hopes that their hopes, dreams, concerns, and challenges are represented faithfully. In choosing to share some of their reality, we hope this will inform and help catalyze the future they seek to create for themselves and for Somalia. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Research Questions ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Findings ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Opportunities to Improve the Lives of Youth .............................................................................................. 3 II. Introduction, Purpose, and Methods ................................................................................. 5 Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Purpose of and Research Questions Under the Cross-Sectoral Youth Assessment .......................... 6 Methods .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 III. The Situation of Somali Young People............................................................................ 11 Youth Demographics in Somalia .................................................................................................................... 11 Youth and Education ......................................................................................................................................... 12 Employment and Economic Opportunities for Youth .............................................................................. 14 Health ................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Safety and Security ............................................................................................................................................. 17 Youth Participation and Civic Engagement .................................................................................................. 18 Defining Vulnerable Youth ............................................................................................................................... 19 IV. Findings: Youth Goals, Aspirations, Priorities and Bright Spots .................................. 20 Education.............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Livelihoods, Business Opportunities, Agriculture ...................................................................................... 26 Health ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Safety and Security ............................................................................................................................................. 31 Youth Participation and Civic Engagement .................................................................................................. 33 V. Opportunities and Programmatic Gaps .......................................................................... 36 Increase Youth Opportunities for employment with Entrepreneurship, Market-Focused, Public-Private Efforts ............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Increase Youth Access to and Use of High-Quality Education ........................................................................ 37 Increase Youth Engagement in Community and Government ......................................................................... 38 Open Space for Youth to be Leaders in the Public Sphere to Strengthen the Rule of Law ..................... 40 Increase Youth’s Access to Financial Services...................................................................................................... 40 Apply Positive Youth Development Approaches Within Youth Programs .................................................. 40 VI. Recommendations on Designing a PYD-Based Youth Program Using These Findings . ............................................................................................................................................. 42 VII. Annex A: Primary and Secondary Research Questions ................................................. 48 Primary Research Questions ..........................................................................................................................