1. Introduction

Youth Volunteers for Development and Environment Conservation (YOVENCO) was founded on 10th march 2001. YOVENCO is non-governmental, non-profit making and non-political organization with headquarters in Berbera and sub-offices in Hargeisa, Burao & Borama. YOVENCO has been working as a voluntary with its community in the social livelihood development, health improvement, Child protection, youth empowerment as well as the conservation of the environment. YOVENCO is a legally registered NGO by the Sahil region Attorney General, Ministry of youth & sports and the Ministry of National Planning and Coordination.

2. Executive Summary

This report covers the skills training Projects implemented by YOVENCO and highlights the changes brought in the different districts of Berbera during the year 2015. The skills project was supported by three major donors during the year 2015. These were; UNODC, SOS and USADF. YOVENCO implemented the skill project with a budget of over US$ 252,420. The funds were channeled competently and were made sure that it reached all relevant beneficiaries that were targeted.

This report summarizes the overall project overviews, technical party, objectives, achievements and funding summary. The report also analysis the total of beneficiaries reached and the overall achievement stretch in regard to Skills training project including challenges and recommendations encountered during the timeline.

3. UNODC - Youth Skills and training - Counter piracy Project

A core component of the UNODC long-term strategy to combating piracy in Somalia is to increase the awareness among the Somali community of the dangers of piracy, while at the same time working with them to promote civil behaviors among youth-at-risk and develop sustainable livelihood strategies including offering vocational training and the creation of employment opportunities with a view to providing alternatives to piracy.

Each graduate received the basic tools and skills necessary to carry out his or her trade. The targeted youth were in the age group of 16-25, who are not gainfully employed or otherwise pursing education in Berbera.

For a period of four month from March to June, 2015, YOVENCO has been implementing the Skills Project and which was funded and supported by UNODC. The main skills that were trained during the timeline were Carpentry, Cooling system, Masonry, Sewing and Electricity.

1.1.Overall Goal

The purpose of the assignment is to assist the Government of Somaliland to prevent piracy through vocational training for youth at risk in Berbera.

1.2.Achievements and Impacts

The main achievement was the successful training of 120 persons of which the males were 102 and the females were 18.

By segregation of the skills, it was:-

i.Carpentry - 32 people

ii.Cooling system - 20 people

iii.Masonry - 30 people

iv.Sewing - 18 people

v.Electricity - 20 people

4. Youth Skills Training Service - SOS Project

1.3.Overview

The SOS Project was a service contract where by YOVENCO was contracted to train a number of Skills Trainees in various categories which included Steel Fixing, Cooling System and Fish Vending. The project duration was for four months beginning from September and ended in December, 2015.

1.4.Overall Goal

The overall goal was to improve the professional knowledge, vocational skills and job opportunities of young adults in Berbera District

1.5.Achievements and Impacts

The main achievement was the successful training of 60 youth in steel fixing, fish vending and cooling system. The number of youth trained in steel fixing was 25, for fish vending was 20 and for cooling system was 15

5. Youth Skills and Employment Promotion - USADF Project

1.6.Overview

USADF in partnership with YOVENCO are implementing a Skills Training Project in Sahil region. This is two year project that began in January 2015 and is expected to end in January 2017.

YOVENCO was able to:-

1. Provide refresher skills training to 175 unemployed youth (90 Female and 85 Male)
2. Distribute tools
3. Provide placement opportunities
4. Create self-employment ability to sustain their daily livelihood income.

The project improved beneficiaries’ access to employment opportunities that will substantially increase their income and improve livelihood of the trainees and their families.

1.7.Overall Goal

The overall goal was to enhance the living conditions of vulnerable youth groups in Berbera through provision of vocational skills and placement opportunities.

Specific objectives of the project was to inculcate entrepreneurial skills in the youth, to make youth self-employed, and initiate the youth to be engaged in small business (through provision of start-up kits [tools] and placement opportunities) and vocational skills training.

1.8.Achievements and Impacts

The main achievement was the successful training of 175 persons (85 male and 90 female). The summary of the achievements in the year 2015 is:-

i.Successfully trained 90 youth in masonry, fish vending and welding and metalwork

ii.Successfully placed 70 youth at worksites as an internship

iii.Successfully distributed tools and start-up capital and in-kind for 90 youth

iv.Successfully established new business for 20women who were trained in fish vending

v.Successfully linked the trained youth to a microfinance projects

vi.Successfully awarded certificates to 90 youth

vii.63% of the trained youth got permanent employment

viii.200 economically active youth were trained in different skills

ix.720 pieces of tools distributed to the beneficiaries for their respective business

6. Total Reached

During the year 2015 the number of beneficiaries reached has been summarized in the table below while segregating by male and female.

Table  SEQ Table * ARABIC 1 - Total Reached

7. Challenges

There were several challenges in Skill Training Project that were experienced during the year of 2015. Below are some highlights:-

• Lack of qualified trainers
• Lack of detailed curriculum in some courses
• Large number of trainees were requesting to join the skills program

8. Recommendations

Some of the recommendations that were drawn during the timeline include:-

• Capacity building trainings or TOT should be given to trainers
• A detailed training curriculum should be developed

9. Budget and Delivery Rate

The table below summarizes the financial accountability for the Skills Project in the year 2015.

Table  SEQ Table * ARABIC 2- Budget and Delivery rate