Somali Non-Profit and UNDP Partner to Accelerate Economic Growth and Youth Employment in Somalia
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF) have launched an 18‑month initiative designed to unlock youth employment and spark innovation in Somalia’s fast‑growing green and blue economy.
Backed by Hormuud Telecom and Salaam Somali Bank with funding of USD 820,000, the partnership aims to empower over 2,000 young people and support 360 small and medium‑sized enterprises across the country — half of them women‑led. The agreement was signed in Mogadishu in the presence of H.E. Jibril Haji Abdi, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, and senior ministers of labor, social affairs, youth, and sports.
The Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF) is Somalia’s first corporate foundation, established in 2013 by Hormuud Telecom and Salaam Somali Bank. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to social and economic development across Somalia through various philanthropic activities.
At the signing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Abdi described the initiative as a “clear example of effective public–private partnership driving Somalia’s economic growth.”
“Somalia’s future will be built by Somalis, through the innovation, enterprise, and resilience of our own people,” he said. “Partnerships like this bring that vision to life. They go hand in hand with our National Transformation Plan, creating dignified work here at home and helping every Somali take part in our country’s growth.”
Building a pipeline for Somalia’s innovators
The program’s activities span digital platforms, entrepreneurship, and vocational training. Shaqo‑Abuur, a new digital portal, will connect Somali youth with verified jobs, skills training, and mentorship opportunities. An “Innovation Lab” will test business models in renewable energy, fisheries, aquaculture, and circular waste management — sectors seen as vital to Somalia’s sustainable future.
Other components include business incubators for youth and women entrepreneurs, digital investment tools to mobilize local and diaspora capital, and skills programs for young people — including those with disabilities and from displaced communities.
“This initiative is a landmark in public–private collaboration in Somalia,” said Lionel Laurens, UNDP Resident Representative in Somalia. “With HSF as financial contributor, Hormuud Telecom providing digital innovation platforms, and Salaam Somali Bank enabling Islamic finance for youth entrepreneurs, this is Somali‑led development in action. This is what localization looks like — Somali institutions investing in Somali solutions.”
Entrepreneurship as a driver of stability
Private enterprise already accounts for more than 80% of Somalia’s jobs, yet much of it operates informally. Youth unemployment remains near 67%, and over three‑quarters of Somalis are under 30 — a demographic challenge that the government sees as an opportunity for transformation.
“Across Somalia, young people are bursting with ideas — from a shopkeeper in Baidoa to a coder in Mogadishu,” said Abdullahi Osman, CEO of the Hormuud Salaam Foundation. “They don’t need charity; they need a fair chance. This partnership gives them that — skills, capital, and confidence to build a future.”
