The European Union, the Federal Government of Somalia, the Federal States of Puntland and Galmudug and, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a new project promoting economic opportunities for young people living in coastal communities in north-eastern and central areas of Somalia.
Creating long-term jobs for youth in fishing communities is a key strategy for preventing piracy and reducing temptations to engage in maritime crime.
FAO will implement the “Coastal Communities Against Piracy” (CCAP) project in the coastal areas of Puntland, Galmudug and Mogadishu under the EU-IGAD initiative “Programme to Support Regional Maritimes Security” (MASE) in the Eastern and Southern Africa – Indian Ocean Region (ESA-IO).
“The prevention and fight against piracy cannot be achieved just by strengthening regional coordination and capacity for maritime security, it must be supported by creating alternative livelihoods and economic opportunities for those groups more at risk of engaging in illegal activities. This is especially true for disillusioned youth,” said Mrs. Veronique Lorenzo, the EU’s Head of Delegation. “The challenges can only be addressed through a comprehensive approach to Somalia’s development and stability” she highlighted.
The 5.3 million Euros project will provide training, equipment, more productive infrastructure and cash transfers to youth, women and fisher-folk in coastal communities. CCAP aims to generate employment in coastal communities where the risk of people turning to piracy and other maritime crimes are high. It targets a range of under-exploited resources in the fisheries sector to help ensure that households are able to resist, respond and recover from crises, and build sustainable livelihoods.
“This is a really exciting step forward for Somalia. It will bring jobs, income and opportunities to communities that have been economically marginalized for so many years. It provides a platform for Government and co-operatives to support communities that so desperately need assistance if they are to make piracy history and build long-term sustainable futures” said Richard Trenchard, FAO Representative for Somalia.
To help put Somalia’s fishing sector on a sustainable path to growth, the project is also providing technical support. Up to two hundred young people living in coastal communities will receive new fishing boats and training to increase catches, reduce costs and better manage marine resources. A further two hundred young men and women are to be trained in fish handling and processing to improve practices and access to markets. In total, more than 1,100 households are expected to benefit directly from this project.
The project builds on the successes of other FAO activities in the fisheries sector, including its boat building programme that trains Somali youth to make low-cost, high quality fishing boats – the first project of its kind in many years.
The Coastal Communities Against Piracy project will run for two years, but the public-private partnerships created between Government and local fisher-folk are designed to achieve a sustainable fisheries industry and increase incomes for coastal communities.
Source : FAO
