As part of the week dedicated to social action, the Secretary of State for Social Affairs, Mouna Osman Aden, yesterday sponsored a ceremony at Ali-Sabieh organized by the Social Development Agency of Djibouti (ADDS) distinguishing between winners of the Propeja competition for the second cycle. Thus, in the region of Ali-Sabieh, 90 beneficiaries were selected after a competition to see their respective projects funded up to 400,000 FD each. In this region in the south of the country, a total of 31 projects are funded: 8 projects in Ali-Addeh, 8 projects in Assamo, 5 projects in Holl-Holl and 10 projects in the capital.

The ceremony was attended by the Director General of the ADDS, Mahdi Mohamed Djama, the representative of the World Bank, Atou Seck, the prefect of the Ali-Sabieh region, Mohamed Waberi Assoweh, the chairman of the council Omar Ahmed Waiss, and Propeja Project Leader, Ide Mohamed Abdillahi.

With the support of the Japan Fund for Social Development and administered by the World Bank, the project aimed at promoting youth employment and handicrafts is aimed at improving the accessibility of young people and women to opportunities for income and job creation through the provision of training, support and the provision of financial support for the implementation of their income-generating activities.

The project includes basic entrepreneurship training, micro-project competition and support to women artisans from production to marketing.

It is for ADDS to set up an exit strategy from poverty and to facilitate the granting of funding for at least 3000 young men and women of low to medium-skilled who come from the communities of Djibouti city, Arta , Tadjourah and Ali-Sabieh.

Indeed, under the leadership of the State Secretariat for Social Affairs and in partnership with other sectoral ministries, ADDS implements programs, projects and sub-projects aimed at improving access basic social services, especially health, education, drinking water, youth support and sanitation. In summary, the ADDS seeks in particular to facilitate the access of vulnerable populations to funding sources, to micro-enterprises and to encourage the participation of beneficiaries in the process of developing and managing the programs and projects implemented.

The point with … Atou Seck

Representative of the World Bank in Djibouti

 We are all aware of the challenges young people face in finding jobs and making a good living in Djibouti.

It is a real pleasure for me to be in Ali-Sabieh for the grant of start-up funds for the Youth Employment and Handicrafts Project (PROPEJA) which is implemented with funds mobilized from the Government of Japan and with the support of the World Bank.

We are all aware of the challenges young people in Djibouti have to find jobs and make a good living. Therefore, we can be proud that this project gives opportunities to young people of the country, in Djibouti-ville, the remote places and localities. Indeed, since the beginning of the project two years ago, almost 1,500 young people have already participated in the entrepreneurship training offered by the project, and we expect more than 3,000 beneficiaries by the end of the project. I am particularly pleased that this project also benefits young girls, who represent 50% of the beneficiaries.

It is with even more pleasure that I congratulate you, the young people, who have been selected among the participants of the training to start your own activities with a start-up fund. Your projects have been selected as the best in the region and I invite you to take full advantage of the opportunity you have to create a sustainable income generating activity. For this, take advantage of the support that the project offers you through the facilitators and the meetings with the other laureates. This is a great opportunity for you.

But remember, the seed money is only the beginning of your business. Now it takes a lot of work to make it a success. Above all, do not be discouraged when there are hard times. This is part of the journey of each entrepreneur. Remember that you are not alone. Through the training, you have known other young people, and there are other laureates in the same situation as you. Exchange experiences and help each other. I wish each and every one of you between you a lot of success.

Before closing, I would also like to say a few words to the community facilitators of the project, I would like to express my thanks. Your role in this project is essential. The success of training and support.

Say … Mouna Osman Aden

State Secretary for Social Affairs

Increasing awareness of the inseparable nature of social policy and economic development.

It is a great privilege for me to preside at Ali-Sabieh’s second seed fundraising ceremony for the winners of the business plan competition in the Ali Sabieh region. This type of project aims to improve the accessibility of young people and women to job creation and income opportunities. It is part of the fight against unemployment and the reduction of poverty,

I would also like to point out that this project is aligned with the priorities of the overall employment strategy. It conforms to the 3rd axis of the vision « Djibouti 2035 ». It focuses on the diversification and competitiveness of our economy, driven by the private sector. Indeed, this project participates in the mechanism of promotion of the private sector and the system of assistance to the creation of enterprise.

We are celebrating the national week of social action during the month of January 2018. This is an opportunity for us to communicate on the various programs implemented by the State Secretariat for Social Affairs. This week is used to promote the socio-economic integration of young people through this project.

This project is also part of the framework of inclusive social protection, which is the theme of the week of action celebrated by my ministerial department.

Social protection is not a substitute for economic growth, but it can promote growth through solidarity. Because the social is not the enemy of the economy. This momentum stems largely from the growing awareness of the inseparable nature of social policy and economic development.