Entrepreneurship Skills Training in Mogadishu

Training facilitator/s name, position: Qali Osman Ali and Falis Ali Addow from Gaari Dumar

Dates of the training: 22 Dec 2021 – 03 Feb 2022

Location/s (town, district, region): Boqol soon IDPs hall in Mogadishu

Number of participants: Female (28), Male(21), Total= 49

Objectives of the training:

1)  To equip the youth with an understanding of entrepreneurship and business planning and practical skills that enable them to plan and start up a micro business.
2)  To identify entrepreneurial potentials and what it takes to start and manage a business.
3)  To train the youth on how to develop a business idea and a business model canvas for the business idea.
4)  To teach the youth budgeting and record keeping skills for a micro business.

Introduction

Youth are crucial to the community; they are often on the front lines of activism and other efforts to help address the problems in the community. Communities are stronger and more resilient when youth participate in the economic activities but unfortunately the young men and women in Somalia especially in the IDPs suffer from unemployment and lack of participation in the market.

Save the children international plays crucial role in aiding in the generation of new employment opportunities for the youth through entrepreneurship skill trainings. Forty nine (49) young men and women who own micro businesses or planning to start businesses were trained on entrepreneurship skills for six (6) weeks. Twenty eight (28) out of the trained 49 people were female while the rest 21 were male. The training was conducted on 22nd Dec 2021 – 3rd Feb 2022 at Boqol soon IDP in Mogadishu.

The training modules:

1. Preparing for business.
2.  Entrepreneurial potentials.
3. Development of business ideas.
4.  The business model canvas introduction.
5.  business model canvas.
6. Identification of resources for business idea.
7.  Exploration of market demand and competition.
8.  Exploring customers.
9. Business startup budget.
10.  Production and sales budget.
11.  Basics in record-keeping.
12. Micro-business Plan.

Description of the Training

The trainees were divided into two classes with the aim of giving the beneficiaries enough space and comfortable classrooms for them to study without disruptions. The training was facilitated by Qali Osman Ali and Falis Ali Addow from Gaari Dumar Centre for Women’s Development. Qali Osman was in-charge of a class of 26 trainees while the other class which consists of 23 trainees was facilitated by Falis Ali Addow.

The training started off with an introduction of everyone. The facilitators proceeded to set rules and regulations with the participants for the course of the training where everyone agreed to be punctual, respect one another, put their phones on silent mode, and avoid unnecessary movement. The participants were also asked to say what their expectations are and what they hope to gain from the training. They were also engaged in a voluntary discussion to highlight the agenda of the training and each of them were asked to answer what they hope to gain from the training. The facilitators then gave the participants an overview of the training, the training objectives  and the expected outcomes.

The training was fruitful and covered a lot on entrepreneurship skills. The training language was English and power point slides were shown, however the concepts were translated into Somali Language.

Training Methodology

The training was conducted based on active participation that includes presentations, group work, individua lwork, sharing of experiences, exercises and plenty of discussions. All participants were engaged to contribute effectively and responded to questions raised actively.

Training Outcomes

Forty-nine (49) young women and men who plan to start or already manage businesses were trained on entrepreneurship skills. The training covered; foundations of entrepreneurship, characteristics and benefits of entrepreneurs, business ethics and social responsibilities and feasibility analysis.

The trainees were taught the elements of feasibility analysis; market feasibility, industry feasibility, product or service feasibility and financial feasibility. The training also focused on development of business plan, functions of a business plan and elements of business plan, and the different types of business ownerships. The trainees also acquired knowledge of strategic planning, marketing plan and SWOT analysis. Finally, trainees gained knowledge in budgeting, record keeping, franchising and e-commerce and entrepreneur.

Achievements

1.  The participants gained entrepreneurship skills.
2.  The participants of the training fully understand the concepts of business, feasibility analysis and strategic planning.
3. Participants know the basics of record keeping.
4. The participants can differentiate living costs from production costs.
5. Budgeting knowledge was shared with the trainees.

Challenge and Recommendations

Challenges

1. Some of the trainees were unable to wright and read.
2. Most of the training participants were not good in English language.

Recommendations and Way forward

1.  The training materials should be provided in Somali where possible.
2. Refresher training should be given to the same participant after some time.