Promotion of Community Security Through Engagement with Youth at Risk

The overall objective of this proposal is: „to contain and prevent violent conflict by engaging youth at risk through the creation of employment and livelihood opportunities at the district level.¿ This joint initiative harnesses the skills and strengths of UNDP, UNICEF and ILO, structuring the activities around the following results areas: i. Capacity for peace and human security established in target districts under recognized legal and institutional frameworks in support to the selection and demilitarisation process of 2000 youth and adolescent (UNDP); ii. An estimated 700 adolescents, from within the profiled 2000 youth, demobilized and reintegrated at community level (UNICEF); iii. Implementation of activities in at least four DSC creating at least 1,300 short-term job opportunities for youth to contribute to violence reduction activities, community development and public works projects for initial employment and reintegration community (ILO with support from UNDP1); iv. Women, youth and marginalized groups are empowered to contribute meaningfully to safety and security decision-making (UNDP); v. Avenues created for longer term job creation/enterprise development through vocational training (based on labor and enterprise survey), youth entrepreneurship training and related business skills development. 100 new businesses started linking to business incubators (ILO). The overall programme addresses short term violence and insecurity at district level while delivering longer-term reform in community security. The combined action of the components above shall strengthen the Somali peacebuilding infrastructure which enables the Somali people to address and support a broader range of issues including this initiative on youth at-risk but also other ongoing programmes to address human trafficking and piracy. By engaging with actors of violence, youth at-risk or associated with armed groups, the potential to prevent youth enlistment in violent activities will also be addressed. Furthermore, such a joint venture maximises co-ordination and coherence, building the basis for sustainable impact by establishing a strategic partnership based on comparative advantage of UN agencies and partner NGOs. The programme builds on work already undertaken by each of the participating agency within their respective mandates. More specifically, it builds on the success of the LSBE programme implemented jointly by UNICEF and ILO with a previous grant from the donor. The proposed strategic approach to violence and conflict reduction is in line with the recent discussions within the UN on how to undertake “second generation of DDR" in complex settings, like the Somali one, where the minimum conditions for implementing traditional DDR programmes are not in place and there are high levels of diffused violence perpetrated by armed elements, such as militias and gangs

Project symbol

SOM/78/475/34

Admin unit

CO-Addis Ababa

Start date

01/07/2011

End date

30/06/2012

Total allocation

2665984

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

2665984

Development Partners

United Nations Development Programme

Country/Countries

Somalia

Outcomes

Employment Promotion