Source of Funds: Ministry of Environment and Climate Change – SWS / GIZ
Target Population: Small-scale farmers and youth
Duration: September – December 2023
Sub-sector: Livelihoods – Small Business Skills
Location: Baidoa IDPs and Vulnerable Host Communities
To address rising unemployment and poverty among vulnerable groups in Baidoa, SOMCOV launched a four-month vocational training program in late 2023. The initiative, funded by MoECC-SWS and GIZ, was designed to boost economic resilience among small-scale farmers and displaced youth by equipping them with practical skills for local job markets.
Participants were trained in areas such as tailoring, carpentry, phone repair, and agribusiness. In addition, they received basic financial literacy training and startup kits to help them transition into self-employment.
Over 200 individuals completed the program, with many launching micro-enterprises or finding employment in local markets. One participant, Asha, who completed the tailoring training, now runs a successful home-based sewing business and has started training other young women in her neighborhood.
This project reflects SOMCOV’s commitment to inclusive development, sustainable livelihoods, and empowering marginalized communities with the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty.
