Creating Employment Opportunities and Improving Accessibility to Markets Baidoa, Somalia

Under the ‘Durable Solutions for Somali Refugee returnees through Repatriation, Assistance and Promoting Sustainable Solutions’ project funded by the Government of Japan, 100 metres of Cunaye road was rehabilitated using Do-nou technology which has opened up a further 400 metres of road which links to the main Baidoa trading market. USD 7,200 was injected into the local economy in from of wages.

Prior to the commencement of the rehabilitation of the road, CORE and ILO trained 5 engineers and 25 beneficiaries from the refugee returnees and host community on Do-nou technology and basic road maintenance. The training was divided into two sessions with the first being theory and the second very practical on-the-job training. During the theory session the participants were taken through the theoretical aspects of Do-nou Technology and its application. During on- job training the participants were able to put into practise the skills learn during the theory session.

Gender equity aspects were a key issue and all the stakeholders ensured women were assigned the appropriate tasks within the Do-nou road building process. The trainees were highly appreciative of the opportunity to learn; demonstrating their appetite for appropriate, practical, skills training. The resultant work was of a quality satisfying trainees, trainers and an impressed community now able to use the rehabilitated Cunaye road.

“We are happy with the support from ILO and the Government of Japan. Thank you to CORE for the skills. We are also happy because through the project we have acquired employment and we are able to earn a living,” said Mohamed Amin, a beneficiary who is a returnee from Daabab refugee camp in Kenya.

ILO is committed to work with the people of Baidoa and its administration to peace and stability to the region by creating decent work opportunities and will continue to draw on quality support from CORE regionally.

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