Green Growth: Four new green skills training programs developed in Somalia
Somalia’s population is one of the youngest in the world:
- Approximately two-thirds of the population is under 30;
- Youth unemployment is high, at around 34%; and
- More than 60% of young people aged 15 to 34 are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in 2025.
Closing the gap between training and the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive labour market, SOS Children's Villages Somalia, through the Green Growth: Empowering Youth for a Green Future (Green Growth) project, supported by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, is empowering Somali youth with the skills needed for sustainable careers in the growing green economy.
In July, SOS Children's Villages Somalia, together with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education, held a three-day technical review and validation workshop on four competency-based green skills training programs in Mogadishu.
Each program has its own curriculum covering one of four in-demand skills: climate-smart agribusiness, off-grid solar systems, solar stove making, and medical waste management.
Line ministries, industry experts and educators came together to ensure each curriculum is technically sound, relevant to the labour market, and aligned with national standards, while building ownership among key stakeholders.
“This validation workshop is a critical step toward ensuring young Somalis have a curriculum that reflects both international standards and the realities of our local labour market,” said Mohamed Haji, Education Manager at SOS Children's Villages Somalia. “When we bring ministries, industry experts and educators to the same table, we are building a shared commitment to give young people the practical skills they need for decent work.”
Building the infrastructure for green skills programs
The curriculum validation comes as the facilities needed to deliver the training take shape, with some fully built and others nearing completion.
- Construction of solar energy and solar stove-making facilities in Baidoa is complete.
- Construction of greenhouses for climate-smart agribusiness training in Baidoa and Balcad is complete. Each site can run four cohorts of 40 to 50 trainees over six months.
- The Green Tech Institute in Mogadishu, which will provide training in solar energy, solar stove making, medical waste management and climate-smart agribusiness, is nearing completion.
- Baidoa and Mogadishu sites now have gender-segregated, disability-friendly twin latrines to improve access and safety for women and people with disabilities.
Community mobilization and enrolment for the first solar energy, agribusiness and medical waste management training cohorts are already underway, with the first solar stove-making cohort expected to begin in January 2027.
Working in an emergency context
In a country where recurrent drought and other climate shocks regularly threaten food security and livelihoods, this climate-smart agribusiness training is about more than new jobs: it is also a matter of survival, giving young people and their communities practical tools to adapt to a changing climate and respond when the next emergency hits.
The scale of the current crisis is significant. Nearly 6.5 million people in Somalia are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, while more than 1.8 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition. Prolonged drought, failed rainy seasons and repeated crop failures are placing additional pressure on families and communities, particularly in the Bay Region, where Baidoa is located.
What comes next
“The green skills sector represents one of the clearest pathways to employment for Somali youth today,” said Abukar Ahmed Mohamed, Director of TVET at the Federal Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education. “By validating this curriculum with our partners, we are setting a clear direction for training institutions nationwide, one that equips young people with skills employers actually need, in sectors that are growing.”
Each curriculum will establish a standardized, competency-based foundation for training, guide instructor preparation, and support the rollout of training to the first cohorts. Partners will then assess the practicality and performance of the initial training cycle, using lessons learned and feedback to identify areas for improvement and strengthen future delivery.
Our key partners in delivering green, employable skills include government ministries at both federal and state levels, including the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education; the Ministry of Youth and Sports; the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. These partnerships strengthen the credibility and sustainability of our work while advancing our localization approach by helping build the capacity of regional institutions and ensuring green skills initiatives align with national and state priorities.
For a country where too many young people lack access to stable employment, these new green skills training programs are a concrete step toward a more skilled, resilient generation, equipped to build a greener economy and a stronger future for their communities.
Why your support matters
By combining skills development, internships and strong partnerships, the Green Growth project helps young people build real-world experience and access pathways to decent work in a greener, more inclusive economy.
Your support helps young people gain the skills and confidence they need to shape their futures and strengthens communities. Every dollar you contribute is 3X matched, multiplying your impact and maximizing hope.
Green Growth is a five-year initiative launched in 2025 in partnership with the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.