Under the patronage of the Minister of State for Trade and the Secretary of State for Social Affairs, the Djibouti Social Development Agency organized a prize-giving ceremony last Thursday for the prize-winners Business in the Balbala area as part of the project to promote youth employment and handicrafts at the Center for Social Action and Empowerment of Women in Balbala (CASAF). A total of 80 graduates have received their diplomas at the end of their training.
The event brought together on the spot the Minister of Commerce of SMEs, crafts, tourism and formalization, Hassan Houmed Ibrahim, Secretary of State for Social Affairs, Mouna Osman Aden, President of the commune of Boulaos , Mr. Waberi Nour Eleyeh, World Bank Resident Representative in Djibouti, Mr. Atou Seck, ADDS Director General, Mr. Mahdi Mohamed Djama, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Kohei Tsendon, and ADDS executives.
The objective of this project, which is about $ 2.730 million, is to improve the accessibility of young people and women to opportunities for job creation and income generation; Through training, accompaniment and financial support for the implementation of income-generating activities.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Hassan Houmed Ibrahima recalled that the fight against youth unemployment is the government’s priority and entrepreneurship as well as any other enterprise creation initiative are possible solutions to reverse the current trend . « I welcome the completion of the first component of the PROPEJA project, which has just produced its first fruits in the field of youth entrepreneurship ».
« The Secretary of State for Social Affairs has announced the forthcoming start of the second component of the same project which will benefit 800 women artisans of our country ».
State Secretary for Social Affairs Mouna Osman Aden said: « This project is part of the 3rd pillar of the Djibouti vision 2035’s global employment strategy, A diversified economy and competitiveness driven by the private sector.  »
For his part, the Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Kohei Tsendon, stressed that job promotion is a priority issue in Djibouti and that entrepreneurship is more than ever requested as it contributes directly To job creation.
We note in passing that the target audiences of this project are the young people of 16 to 29 years and the associations of women craftsmen.
Finally, the Government of Djibouti, in collaboration with the World Bank and with the financial support of the Government of Japan, will implement a pilot project with the objective of improving access to practical skills and training Entrepreneurs, access to finance for at least 3000 young people and women.