Somaliland Youth Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities
There is a widely held consensus that youth are among the most energetic and productive segments of every society. They are also considered a driving force and an invaluable asset that can profoundly contribute to the country’s development had they been utilized effectively. On the other hand, some described youth as “ a double-edged knife” that can certainly contribute to every cause. This means that youth play a major and crucial role in many activities, regardless of the significance and materiality of those activities. For instance, during the civil war era and the chaotic years that followed it, it was the youth who inflicted great havoc on the country when politicians and some egotistical individuals succeeded in employing them to realize their evil and personal objectives.
There is a widely held consensus that youth are among the most energetic and productive segments of every society. They are also considered a driving force and an invaluable asset that can profoundly contribute to the country’s development had they been utilized effectively. On the other hand, some described youth as “ a double-edged knife” that can certainly contribute to every cause. This means that youth play a major and crucial role in many activities, regardless of the significance and materiality of those activities. For instance, during the civil war era and the chaotic years that followed it, it was the youth who inflicted great havoc on the country when politicians and some egotistical individuals succeeded in employing them to realize their evil and personal objectives.
In Somaliland, however, one can confidently say that youth in this country are organized today and do share one common vision; to contribute to the development of their country. Currently, there are dozens of youth organizations in every major town of this country. These youth organizations are engaged in many development-related projects and provide badly needed social services to their immediate communities. Some of the projects that they are engaged in include: educational programs particularly non-formal education schemes, prevention of STD’s including the deadly disease of HIV/AIDS, child protection, eradication of FGM {Female Genital Mutilation}, environmental conservation programs, sports, human rights and vocational trainings to mention a few. For example, in Hargeisa alone, there are over forty youth organizations. However, less than one fourth of these are considered active and supply social services to their communities. In most of the cases, these services are delivered on the basis of volunteerism and free of charge. When discussing about the youth organizations in Hargeisa, Havoyoco comes to your mind. Havoyoco, a local NGO initiated and run by youth and involved in development-related projects - is widely considered as a successful youth organization. It is a shinning example for all Somaliland youth organizations. This youth association is said to be shifting from the infancy stage to the institutionalization process.
In Borama town, there are at least half a dozen active youth organizations that provide vital social services to their communities. Borama youth associations, however, are not as well established as those of Hargeisa. Nevertheless, some are growing at a big scale and the phenomenon of institutionalization is currently taking root among them. However, youth organizations throughout the country presently face countless constraints that if we, as a community, manage to overcome them, would strengthen the efficiency of youth organizations, which will in turn lead us to the development path. Of these countless challenges, lack of knowledge and skills necessary to run such organizations are by far the most serious threat to the very existence of youth organizations. So far, most of the youth associations were employing a trial and error approach in their struggle for institutionalization. But this technique failed to provide a long lasting solution.
In Borama town, there are at least half a dozen active youth organizations that provide vital social services to their communities. Borama youth associations, however, are not as well established as those of Hargeisa. Nevertheless, some are growing at a big scale and the phenomenon of institutionalization is currently taking root among them. However, youth organizations throughout the country presently face countless constraints that if we, as a community, manage to overcome them, would strengthen the efficiency of youth organizations, which will in turn lead us to the development path. Of these countless challenges, lack of knowledge and skills necessary to run such organizations are by far the most serious threat to the very existence of youth organizations. So far, most of the youth associations were employing a trial and error approach in their struggle for institutionalization. But this technique failed to provide a long lasting solution.
As part of an effort to tackle this shortcoming, some international organizations initiated capacity-building programs designed to remedy this observed deficiency. This initiative, however, seems to be concentrating on youth forums in Hargeisa and therefore, it failed too to ultimately contribute to the solution of the problem. In this regard, youth organizations throughout the country, without exception, are in dire need to develop their organizational skills and capacity so that they can realize their organizational goals. Of course, a few are doing well and are on the right path to success. Yet, the vast majority of these associations are in trouble in terms of many aspects of organizational planning and development. More precisely, some easily observed shortcomings of Somaliland youth associations include:
v Hastily developed organizational strategic plans (if any), such as mission, vision, objectives and strategies that cannot keep pace with the reality on the ground.
v Absence of viable organizational constitutions and bylaws; and where they exist, they are selectively applied.
v Absence of clearly depicted organizational structures that clearly state the division of tasks and lines of authority.
v Lack of internal policies and management procedures regarding the proper custody/recording and equitable utilization of acquired assets.
v Weaknesses in such vital areas of proposal drafting and report writing skills.
v Lack of sound knowledge of organizational development and life skills techniques.
v Absence of a link and close relationship between youth organizations and their communities. Most of the youth associations do not have close ties with the communities which they serve.
v Confusion of the compliance with the diversified procedures employed by the UN and international organizations in terms of reporting, evaluation and feedback.
Though youth associations in Somaliland recently set up an umbrella known as SONYO Umbrella (Somaliland National Youth Organizations), it is still in its infant stage and needs to be encouraged. Similarly, it is also facing the above-mentioned shortcomings as the rest of the youth forums.
Moreover, the attitude of government institutions and the country’s decision-making entities towards youth organization is not encouraging at all. Some elements in those circles consider youth associations as a threat and a potential substitute and consequently deprive them of the much-needed constituency and collaboration. In conclusion, since youth associations are agents of change and important partners and allies for development, it is the right time to address these issues and take corrective measures to remedy the observed deficiencies.
Attitudinal change is urgently required to take place in the minds and hearts of some of the government institutions. This is of importance as to there is a dire need to foster the conducive atmosphere in which all partners of development can get along well with each other without hatred and suspicion. International organizations can contribute to the betterment and efficiency of youth organizations. For instance, international organizations can reverse these trends by coming up with a pluralistic approach that extends its activities to all partners scattered throughout the country. Expansion of the capacity-building programs to the rest of the country and the sustainability and accessibility of said programs to all regions would result in better fruits.
Finally, youth organizations should also involve local communities in their programs so that the general public would not only play a more active role but would also develop a sense of ownership.
By: Abdirahman Adan Mohamoud
E-mail: abdirahmanadan@hotmail.com
September 2003
This Article first appeared in Awdalnews.com and Somaliland Times
Finally, youth organizations should also involve local communities in their programs so that the general public would not only play a more active role but would also develop a sense of ownership.
By: Abdirahman Adan Mohamoud
E-mail: abdirahmanadan@hotmail.com
September 2003
This Article first appeared in Awdalnews.com and Somaliland Times
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