Traditional sources of income under pressure
As nomadic pastoralists, a large proportion of the population in Somaliland traditionally relies on livestock farming and small-scale agriculture as their main source of income. However, increasing droughts and extreme weather events are threatening this livelihood. Our needs assessment on site showed that the people currently receive the majority of their income from emergency aid from the government and aid organizations. Their dependence on support is therefore high and their opportunities for self-determined activities are small. 64 percent of household budgets are used to buy basic food items.
Job opportunities for women and young people
Our income-generating activities are aimed at particularly needy population groups. As livestock and pasture farming is usually the responsibility of the male members of the household, women are primarily targeted. In addition, young people are addressed in order to build up an alternative livelihood and prevent migration in search of work.
Training in beekeeping
Our project enables the young people taking part to gain a foothold in beekeeping. Beekeeping is already widespread in the region. There is a high demand for pure honey on the markets in Somaliland.
In recent months, our project with the local partner organisation OWDA (Organisation for Welfare and Development in Action) has trained three groups of five young people each in beekeeping and honey production as well as in business management and marketing. arche noVa then supports the establishment of beekeeping businesses with repayable grants of around 3,000 euros so that the groups can purchase beehives and all the necessary tools and equipment for beekeeping. The aim is to legally register the beekeeping groups, which will draw up their own articles of association and open their own bank account.
"Our courses focus both on specialist knowledge in the individual sectors and on basic skills that generally improve the participants' income opportunities. Those who know how to organize a business, how bookkeeping works and how to win customers are more likely to find a job or set up a company themselves."
Income opportunity for women: Tailoring
Ten women from the Bali-Gubadle district have received tailoring training as part of our project with the local organisation OWDA (Organisation for Welfare and Development in Action). In this way, arche noVa specifically promotes the income opportunities of women and thus strengthens their participation in society. The starting point is the needs and skills of the participants, who are among the most vulnerable people in the project communities. In 15-day training courses, they learned basic tailoring skills and expanded their existing knowledge. All ten women received start-up capital for the purchase of sewing machines and accessories. This will enable them to make or alter clothes and earn their own money for the first time.
