Mandera is a youthful population. Fragile and weak public institutions, insecurity, poor infrastructure and lack of enough opportunities have left many youths unemployed. Employment opportunities are limited, and often not competitive.
However, like most of the other
counties in Kenya, the lack of employment opportunities is one of the most
pressing challenges in Mandera. Most of those affected are the youth
population.
There are numerous factors
that contribute to mass unemployment in Mandera. The absence of a properly
functioning government institutions are probably the main cause. In the last
decades, state institutions were weak or non-existent. Further, insecurity is
also another main contributor to unemployment, especially among the young
population.
Notwithstanding the limited
employment opportunities in Mandera, there are other factors that exacerbated
the youth employment crisis. These factors include mismatch of the accessible
education and the skills required in the job market, flawed recruitment
processes, and the concentration of job opportunities in some locations.
The lack of colleges and
universities in the region for the last decades But also the higher education
institutions in the down of the country do not produce many qualified students
with a broad range of relevant skills. What the youth are taught in
universities and what the labor market requires are not matching. Graduates
often lack a good command of working skills. Lack of teachers, insignificant
regulation, insecurity and the frequent movement of students have all
contributed to poor-quality education.
A sizable number of the
unemployed did not get the opportunity to go to formal schools or access skills
training. Many youths lack basic skills such as plumbing, electrics and
construction. As a result, foreigners, mostly from other parts of the country,
are doing jobs in the region that require technical skills.
Lack of transparency in
recruitment is another factor that created an employment crisis among the Mandera
youth. For young graduates to get a job in the public sector, they should ask
members of their clan to assist them to get the job. Politicians represent clans,
and when one requires employment in the public sector, the clan is the most
significant means to get the job. Members of the parliament and the PS are
asked to employ relatives in the public sector. This is a result of lack of
effective civil service institutions that hire public servants in a transparent
and formal process. Civil service positions are not advertised and are not open
to all qualified persons.
The business and the
non-profit sector also lack transparency in their recruitment policies. For
many positions advertised a candidate has already been chosen. As such, many
youths have been discouraged from applying for advertised positions.
Finally, while many youths
may have innovative business ideas, they lack financial resources, or access to
commercial banks, credit facilities or government subsidies to invest in them.
Consequences
of the employment crisis
In Mandera County, the
unemployment crisis among the youth has caused some serious problems. First,
protracted unemployment among the youth in Somalia has left many with low
self-esteem, which has left them vulnerable to criminal gangs and armed groups.
Second, many unemployed youths,
including university graduates, make the difficult decision to leave Somalia,
often risking their lives to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Third, some youth are involved in
the use of drugs due to unemployment. The use of drugs is seen as a way to ease
the problems encountered by the youth. Addiction to khat has certainly been a
contributing factor to unemployment and an underperforming economy. Indian
tobacco known as ‘tabuu’ is one of the most recently used drugs among the youth
in Mandera.
Fourth, although the number of
female graduates at high schools and universities has been increasing in recent
years, unemployment among the young population prompted many female graduates
to arrange an early or unplanned marriage. The more female graduates stay at
home without jobs, the higher the pressure from parents and relatives to get
married.
Finally, education is seen as a
channel through which a ‘better life’ can be attained. But the high level
of unemployment in Somalia discouraged many to pursue education further as they
see university graduates without jobs. Some youth are getting
disappointed with the notion of going to school or college as their older
brothers or friends are jobless for a number of years with little hope to get
decent employment. Thus, the upcoming generation is buying the idea that
education will not lead them anywhere. This mentality that resulted from the
youth unemployment will have a negative impact on the country in the long term.
Policy
options and recommendations
Tackling the unemployment
challenges is an issue that needs collective work and cooperation among the
different levels of government, the private sector and society at large.
Reducing unemployment among the young people will likely be one of the main
challenges the region faces over the next few decades if it is not made an
immediate priority. There are no quick solutions. Rather, a multi-pronged A long-term approach is necessary.
Unemployment is a symptom of a
dysfunctional system, state failure, insecurity, and corruption. Improving
governance, strengthening state capability, and creating a conducive
environment for employment creation can mitigate the high level of unemployment
in Somalia. But this is a complicated and long-term process that cannot produce
quick wins in the short-term. However, there are certain things that can be
prioritized.
1.
Education: improving the quality of education is a collective effort from all
education stakeholders.
Further, Mandera
needs more vocational schools that produce skilled labor force in a short
period of time. Putting more emphasis on vocational training schools can play a
pivotal role in improving the employability of the youth. Skills are considered
intrinsic to social inclusion as those without skill are marginalized from
work, experience depression, and have less capacity to shape the major
developments in their lives. However, while there is general agreement that
skills are important, there is less clarity on nature and the kinds of skills
needed and how these skills are developed. Therefore, it’s necessary that the
government enacts technical and vocational education and training (TVET)
strategy which sets standards for planning, prioritization, financing,
coordination and implementation vocational training centers and courses. This
could reduce unemployment, advance the economy, and would make the youth become
more competitive in the labor market.
2. Labor information and data-driven decisions and interventions:
The
employment-related data is scarce in Somalia. The government should build its
own capability to conduct labor market surveys. Understanding the skills gap
in the labor market and the rate of unemployment could help stakeholders take
sound decisions regarding youth employment. Equally important is the enactment
of a set of legislation that is necessary for employment and can attract
investors. These include the investment law, national youth policy, the
employment policy, labor law among others.
3. Transparency in recruitment: the recruitment process
of available opportunities for the youth as well as youth-related interventions
should be transparent and free from nepotism and cronyism. The talented youth
who studied hard in a complex and difficult environment should get a transparent
and merit recruitment process. The government should start with itself and
reform the informal recruitment that is prevalent in the public sector. It
should also establish a strategy that encourages transparent recruitment in
both the not-for-profit and private sectors.
4. Boosting local production: the government can
boost both youth employment and local production through a partnership with the
companies in the private sector with economies of scale. The government could
agree with companies to produce basic commodities that they currently import
locally while the government will own shares in the company and will protect
from the external competition of import goods.
While agriculture and crop
production remain the dominant domestic production in Somalia and the public
and private sectors can strategize ways to boost these sectors, environment
shocks such as famine and floods are the main challenges the sectors encounter.
Mandera remains one of the
counties that is difficult to start a business. The government should reduce
the costs of registering companies and startups. This will encourage
entrepreneurial spirit and the establishment of small business enterprises.
5. Youth support fund: The county government
together with the business community and the national donors could designate a
trust fund for the youth. This should not be a program but a window for
funding. Youth with ideas can apply the fund. This fund should sponsor youth
startups that are innovative and cost-effective as well as networking and
socialization among the youth, and it should be managed and over sighted by an
independent committee that is credible, inclusive and with relevant experience
in public financial management.
6. Technology and innovation: in today’s world,
technology impacts how people work, jobs and human behavior. Technology and
innovation can create more job opportunities for the youth. More innovation
centers are needed that work genuinely and give Somali youth space for
innovation and entrepreneurship.
On the other hand,
cooperatives could help create jobs. Each district can form its own
association. 1000 families can invest in one business and these become the
customers of their business. For instance, Mandera has 6 districts. 1000
families from each district pay $300. That is 1,800,000 ksh for investment. One
central warehouse can be formed to manage the investment. This kind of
investment will create more jobs. However, this kind of investment requires
trust in the community, which could be advanced through social reconciliation.
