Somalilandsun – As peace continues to prevail in Somaliland , more and more refugees and internally displaced people are returning to their homes. Stability in the country has improved slightly, and the government has charted an ambitious course aiming to revive a largely rural economy based on small-scale agro-pastoral and processing activities.
Through its Grassroots recovery program the United Nations Industrial Development Organization-UNIDO is helping rebuild rural life in Awdal and Maroodi-jeeh regions with funding from Japan that facilitates provision of Skills and Tools Against Natural And Conflict-Related Adversities gto beneficiaries.
UNIDO has worked in the Awdal and Maroodi-jeeh regions, providing semi-skilled unemployed workers, poor farmers, women and young people with vocational training, toolkits and technology packages, creating employment and micro-entrepreneurial opportunities for hundreds of direct beneficiaries.
Improved farming techniques have been introduced, as well as more efficient post-harvest practices and, most importantly, food processing technologies that can both add value to the products and avoid produce waste in rural households.
Livestock is a major component of Somaliland’s economy. Livestock exports generate substantial income and are the main source of foreign currency, but good slaughter and meat storage practices are still missing. UNIDO’s project has managed to improve the production of hides and skins, which has significantly enhanced income generation possibilities.
Over the past years, approximately 700 villagers in the Awdal and Maroodi-jeeh regions have improved their performance in farming and vocational occupations. UNIDO is providing counseling on business management and encouraging its trainees to establish small-scale and micro-enterprises.
