CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.1 Background of study

According to ILO in 2009, about 81million young people were unemployed, the most ever.

The youth unemployment rate rose from11. 9 percent to 13.0 percent between 2007 and 2009,

an increase of 7.8 million.

Across the globe, economic fluctuations and economic crisis have left an impact on the young

people like the challenges facing when seeking jobs. Between 2008 and 2009, the youth

unemployment rate has seen the largest annual increase on record, reversing the pre-crisis trend

of declining youth unemployment rates since 2002 and rising to 13 per cent in 2009.

Unemployment rates, however, reflect only the tip of the iceberg. Young people are used to work

longer hours under informal, intermittent and insecure work arrangements characterized by low

productivity and earnings and reduced social protection. Young workers are more exposed to

poverty than other age groups.

In 2008, an estimated 152 million young workers were living with their families on less than

US`11 $1.25 a day, amounting to more than 28 per cent of all young workers in the world

(smith Andrew, 2013).

A publication written by Shantayanan Devarajan Chief Economist of the World Bank’s Africa

Region B.A. in mathematics from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in economics from the

University of California, Berkeley says that In low-income African countries, most people

cannot afford to be unemployed. Lacking any significant safety net, 70 to 80 percent of the labor

force seeks a living by working in low-productivity, informal farms or household enterprises.

Private-sector wage and salary jobs have been growing at a fairly rapid clip at 7.3 percent a year

between 1992 and 2005 in Uganda The challenge of youth employment in Africa, therefore, is

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not just to create more wage and salary jobs important as this may be but to increase the

productivity, and hence earnings, of the majority of young people who will be employed in

informal farms and household enterprises. How can this be done? In general, workers’

productivity can be increased by (i) “demand-side” measures, such as better infrastructure and

business climate, that lower the costs of production and thus increase the demand for labor; and

(ii) “supply-side” measures that improve the skills of workers.

Somaliland, unemployment is noted to be at an alarming rate. With regards to SONYO (2010),

The situation of the youth in Somaliland is well described in a study carried out by the

Somaliland National Youth Organization (SONYO), in partnership with Oxfam-Novib, in

December 2010. The term “youth” in the study was defined to mean young people between the

ages of 15 and 30. Altogether, 800 individuals were interviewed, distributed across the regions.

The median age of the participants was 21. 51% of the survey sample came from urban areas,

while rural communities accounted for 49%. The gender breakdown of the sample was 61%

male, 39% female. This study covered both qualitative and quantitative variables about the

challenges facing youth with regard to employment, education, health, HIV/AIDs, young

girls/woman's situation, sports and recreation, political participation and information

communication and technology.

1.2 Problem statement

Local organizations play a vital role in the youth development specially youth employment

creation and other people who oppose this argument and saying local organizations like SONYO

do only their self-interest.

Be that as it, with reference Ahmed (2013), an indigenous person criticizes the role of LNGOs in

halting unemployment. In particular, blames are put on SONYO which bears the name of the

Somaliland youth. This person started his article that SONYO is an entity organized in a way

they do business, and that do not meet standards established under the umbrella of Youth, their

aim is only seeking financial basis as long as the leader has, which until now has never been

asked young idea how things are going.

Therefore, this thesis aims to reveal the role of LNGOs in the nationwide struggle to reduce

youth unemployment.

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1.3 Objectives of the study

1.4.1 The general objective: to assess the role of local nongovernmental organizations on youth

employment in Hargeisa Somaliland.

1.4.2 Specific objectives:

1. To examine the roles of SONYO with regards to youth employment.

2. To explore the ways through which SONYO creates employment

opportunities for the youth.

3. To analyze the fairness of employment opportunities created by SONYO

4. To forward workable recommendations, responding to the findings of the

research.

1.5. Research questions

1. What are the roles of SONYO with regard to youth employment?

2. How SONYO creates an employment opportunity for the youth

members?

3. Does SONYO make fair youth employment opportunity?

1.6 Scope of the study

1.6.1 Time scope

The study covered the period between Marchs – July, 2015.

1.6.2 Geographical scope

The research was conducted at Somaliland national youth organization (SONYO) main branch in

Hargeisa capital city of Somaliland.

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1.7 Significance of the study

This study will be useful in different groups like, local non-governmental organisations,

government institutions as MOYS, MONPD, policy makers and management of SONYO,

academicians and even in current and future researches.

The research will also help the management of SONYO to discover the role of local none

governmental organizations in the youth employment generation. This will help them come up

with better management techniques which will result into improved job creation in the country.

The research will also benefit the future researchers who will carry out research about the same

topic of the role of local none governmental organizations in the youth employment and will

learn more about local organizations, factors contribute employment, the role of local none

governmental organizations in the youth employment.

This study as well advises government organizations, private companies and other people with

authority to come up with effective realistic policies of youth employment.

1.8. Operational Definition of key terms:

Youth: is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to

adulthood’s independence.

Employment: Employment is an agreement between an employer and an employee that the

employee will provide certain services on the job, and in the employer's designated workplace, to

facilitate the accomplishment of the employer organization’s goals and mission, in return for

compensation.

NGO: A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a citizen-based association that operates

independently of government, usually to deliver resources or serve some social or political

purpose. 

SONYO: The Somaliland National Youth Organization (SONYO Umbrella) is dedicated to

mobilizing and empowering young people in Somaliland. It is made up of young people, local

nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), associations, community organizations, student

committees in universities, educational institutes, colleges and secondary schools.

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