Strengthening resilience for internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in Baidoa District, Somalia

The daily lives of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities in Baidoa district are defined by poverty, extensive vulnerability, psychological stress and negative coping strategies, food insecurity and a lack of (economic) prospects as well as social marginalisation. A lack of education, professional qualifications, work experience or entrepreneurial skills mean that many IDPs, as well as returnees and members of host communities, lack the skills needed for employment or self-employment. These inadequate income opportunities lead to insecure livelihoods. The project is directly addressing these vulnerable groups, with a focus on women and young people, by improving their income opportunities through coordinated interventions and promotion of daily living skills, employability and entrepreneurship in combination with individual coaching and mentoring. The aim is to promote personal and socio-economic skills and to develop community capacities to (re)establish psychosocial well-being in order to strengthen the community's social cohesion. The project comprises three fields of action: 1. Strengthening capacities of private sector and government actors to provide counselling and income generation to households. 2. Strengthening the individual employability of the target group, both in terms of self-employment and entrepreneurship and in terms of dependent employment. 3. Creating offers for low-threshold psychosocial measures to strengthen the target group's self-confidence to engage in economic activity. Due to the high volatility of the security situation in Baidoa district, the project is implemented partly by partners and managed remotely. The GIZ staff in Baidoa is required to follow strict security measures limiting movement and access to project sites.