The Djiboutian Agency for Social Development (ADDS) held yesterday at the People’s Palace, the official launch of the project on the promotion of youth employment and crafts. The event is attended by the Secretary of State for National Solidarity Zahra Youssouf Kayad, the Minister of Economy and Finance for Industry, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, the Japanese Ambassador to Djibouti, Tatsuo Arai, the representative-resident of the World bank in the country, Homa-Zahra Fotouhi, President of Tadjourah Regional Council, Hassan Omar Hussein, the president of the regional council of Ali Sabieh, Omar Ahmed Wais, CEO of ADDS, Mahdi Mohamed Djama, the project leader, Mohamed Abdillahi Ide, and a number of beneficiaries.
The National Agency for Social Development (ADDS) in collaboration with the World Bank (WB) has officially launched yesterday at the People’s Palace, the project on the promotion of youth employment and crafts. The initiative brought together on site the Secretary of State for National Solidarity Zahra Youssouf Kayad, the Minister of Economy and Finance for Industry, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, the Japanese Ambassador to Djibouti, Tatsuo Arai the resident-representative of the World bank in the country, Homa-Zahra Fotouhi, President of Tadjourah Regional Council, Hassan Omar Hussein, the president of the regional council of Ali Sabieh, Omar Ahmed Wais, CEO of ADDS Mahdi Mohamed Djama, the project leader, Mohamed Abdillahi Ide, and a number of beneficiaries. This project was initiated by the Djibouti government.
The State Secretariat for National Solidarity and ADDS are the prime contractors. This program aims to improve the living conditions of young nationals, faced the hazards of insecurity. It is for its promoters to promote access to finance for at least 3,000 young men and women with low and medium-skilled who are from poor communities of Djibouti city, Arta Tadjourah and Ali Sabieh.
This project has budget appropriations amounting to 2,730 million US dollars. He enjoys the financial support of the Social Development Fund of Japan.
The ceremony began with the presentation of the project by its initiator PROPEJA that flew over the targets by it.
According to him, the project is divided into two components, namely the youth capacity building and support of micro and integration of craftswomen in the value chain. « Both components are designed to provide some solutions to human, social and financial constraints so that young people have access to income generation opportunities. Some 2200 young people will receive basic training and practical exercises on the feasibility of an income generating activity with its business plan, « said Ide Mohamed Abdillahi.
Such prospects seemed to reassure the presidents of the regional councils of Tadjourah and Ali-Sabieh. The two local officials had expected positive impact of the implementation of PROPEJA. They expect a shift of endemic unemployment in their young citizens.
The projection is that of the Japanese Ambassador to Djibouti. M Tatsuo Arai stressed that youth unemployment Djibouti is a major challenge for the country. Therefore, Japan argues, has he said, the project and the efforts of the Djibouti government in promoting employment.
In this regard, the Minister of Economy and Finance, responsible for Industry, reiterated the government’s determination to help young men and women forming the project’s target audience. The one and the other will benefit, he said, from support throughout the process of creating their own businesses. Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh paid tribute to the sense of commitment of the Japanese ambassador, the representative of the World Bank, the Secretary of State for National Solidarity and management of ADDS in the launch of this project.
For his part, the Secretary of State for National Solidarity highlighted the importance of PROPEJA in the fight against poverty. « The project brings direct aid to 3000 beneficiaries spread over the regions Ali-Sabieh, Tadjourah, Arta and common Balbala » said substantially Zahra Youssouf Kayad.
Finally, the representative of the World Bank has returned to the multifaceted support of its international financial institution in the implementation of social projects in the Republic of Djibouti.
« We are very pleased to continue this support with the mobilization of funds from the Government of Japan to the benefit of PROPEJA » concluded Ms. Homa-Zahra Fotouhi.