An evaluation of youth participation in economic development and poverty reduction activities: the case of Garowe district, Puntland state of Somalia

Abstract

The main objective for this research project was to evaluate the level of participation of youths in economic development activities and poverty reduction in Puntland State of Somalia. The specific objectives included; to identify the economic activities that the youths were participating in, in order to contribute to poverty reduction, identifying how educational level/ type influenced the youth's level of participation in poverty reduction and examining existing government policies on youth participation in poverty reduction. The literature review focused on the youth empowerment through participation! inclusion, government's deliberate affirmative polices education, and access to credit facilities. It specifically touched on the success stories in Kenya and Nepal where deliberate government affirmative action polices biased towards youths and marginalized groups in the respective societies have bome fruits. The specific lending practices amongst Muslim nations that can be applicable in Somalia were also exhaustively dealt with. The sample population was selected from households around Garowe. Data was collected by combining both qualitative and quantitative procedures. Once collected, both qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed using the Principal Analysis Factoring (PAF) via SPSS. Presentation of the analyzed data was done using descriptive statistics in form of frequencies cross tabulation with chi-square tests. The study found out that there was a significant number of female youths that engaged in business activities and that there was least youth participation in economic development and poverty reduction activities between the 40-49 age bracket. The research further found out that the'1evel of youth participation through formal job placements was low, while practice of youth groupings into business ventures was high and that the level of youth education did not determine their level of participation in business activities. The study provides the following recommendations to government and researchers: Establishment of polices (affirmative action policies) to help female youths' engagement in economic arid poverty reduction activities; create conducive environment for local and foreign investment; empower the youth groupings through enactment of cooperative and Microfinance statutes. It proposes further research on the level of effectiveness of government policies in promoting youth participation in economic and poverty reduction activities.