UNHCR sub-office Melkadida (SOMEL)
Livelihoods and economic inclusion interventions ranging from access to land for agriculture and livestock, which commenced in 2017, continued in 2020 with more than 5,000 refugees and host community members directly benefiting from the various schemes. 69% or 1,091 of people of concern targeted at year end were active in cooperative enterprises including agriculture, energy, livestock. Similarly, an estimated 69% recorded increased income with marginal increases observed across women economic enterprises including meat and milk. Male-dominated enterprises including agriculture, livestock and energy recorded higher income increases compared to women economic enterprises. In addition to agriculture production, access to employment in the agriculture sector was promoted through on-farm and off farm labour with parity in participation observed for refugees (48%) and host community (52%).
Business development was promoted through financial inclusion and basic business skills training. More than 2,300 refugees benefited from formal access to financial services with approximately 78% of those targeted actively saving, and 66.5% receiving business skills and entrepreneurship training in 2020. Formal financial service provider increased access to services by 80% with cash accounts opened following awareness raising campaigns organized by UNHCR and partners on financial inclusion.
UNHCR sub-office Jijiga (SOJ)
Livelihood activities focused mainly on vocational skills, including carpentry, driving, metal work, tailoring and beauty salon; and business development services by the operational partners, with constant technical support from UNHCR. 56 people of concern (20 women, 36 men) organized in six cooperatives were supported with business startup kits and development facilities after the completion of short technical and vocational courses. These figures accounted for 24% of all 231 livelihood beneficiaries reached in 2020. Out of the six, three female cooperatives (2 tailoring and 1 beauty salon) benefited from startup kits, consisting of sewing machines, accessories, and a beauty salon kit, in addition to cash assistance for three-month rent expenses. Each were able to successfully start their businesses. Entrepreneurship training was provided to all 184 technical and vocational rducation and training (TVET) graduates to improve their opportunities for employment y and access to labour markets. Amidst challenges posed by COVID-19, three other cooperatives comprising 37 people of concern who were adversely affected by the pandemic benefited from the Norwegian Refugee Council’s support under the ARC project in Kebribeyah. These cooperatives were first supported under same project in 2019, but due to the disruption of economic activities caused by the pandemic, UNHCR facilitated provision of bailout funds after a sharp decline in business activities.