Achievements of GEEL Projects in Somalia in 2017
Growth, Enterprise, Employment and Livelihoods (GEEL) is a USAID-funded project aimed improving and facilitating an inclusive economic growth in Puntland, Somaliland and other existing and emerging federal states. Focus is mainly placed on the agricultural sector, fisheries and renewable energy.
It also endevours to empower business conducive environment through improving access to finance, policy and regulation, and business development services. A special attention is aimed at women and youth to increase their participation in the economy as entrepreneurs, employers, and employees.
It can be defined as a community oriented project improving capacities in the fields of expanding competitiveness and market penetration, improved access to capital, increasing production in Agriculture, fisheries and energy, reducing economic marginalization of women and youth.
Achievements
According to a leaflet released by GEEL, it highlighted briefly the major achievements in Somalia in the year 2017 which among include the followings.
The creation of 524 long-term jobs in cross-cutting sectors and maintained over 300 that would otherwise be retrenched. It supported 59 Somali companies to generate over $12 million in new private capital sector investments in Somalia. It facilitated over $74. It has generated millions of dollars in new sales by Somali companies that exported livestock, meat, sesame, frankincense and dried lemon from Somalia.
In the same period, it supported 2,276 microenterprises in Somalia, with technical assistance achieved through 29 multi-day training sessions, learning and exchange visits, mentoring and linkage with business services providers.
Also it facilitated 14 learning visits for Somali Govt. officials in other parts of Somalia and within the region to study different aspects of an industry.
It introduced 10 new technologies and adapted by GEEL-supported enterprises in Somalia and they include: fodder production, artificial insemination (AI), milk hygiene technologies, solar-powered irrigation, cold chain, sesame production techniques and water management technologies.
It facilitated 6 competitive platforms in Somalia relating to sesame, input suppliers, livestock, gums and resins and financial services.
Breakdown of achievements gained in major fields.
Agricultural sector
It created 244 new jobs created by sesame and fresh fruit. Export of agricultural commodity reached $7,200,000 through business networks established at Gulfood Fair and ESPOEA in Ethiopia. Investment in infrastructure and capacity developments in fresh fruits and pulse industry reached up to $11,700,000.
Also 2,156 persons were trained in new management practices adopted through multi-day trainings, demonstrations, mentoring and networking and 8 technologies adopted including drip irrigation, new varieties and water management.
Fish industry
New jobs were created and increased fish exports reaching around $231,600 to Ethiopia and Oman.
Investment valued at $631,000 for cold storage and purchases of refrigerated trucks was implemented. Further, 22 trained technical assistance on fish catch handling, HAACP certifications and 3 technologies adopted to new cold and storage systems
Livestock and Dairy
In the livestock and dairy sectors, 284 jobs were created on value chain activities. Another 928 hectares developed for improved fodder production where 69,660 animals exported – 12,460 cattle and 57,200 goats worth $5,490,800.
An investment of $900,000 investment – 500,000 in livestock sector while 400,000 in dairy processing was carried out and 6 technologies adopted relating to livestock and dairy production were introduced and adopted.
Impacts per region
Banadir had the largest impact on GEEL activities and programs. Jobs created were 351, investments reached at $11,204,629, sales 6,179,00, technologies adopted 8, competitiveness 25, government visits 11 and microenterprises 120.
It was followed by Somaliland where jobs created were 154, investments reached at $ 1,139,040, sales 1,302,245, technologies adopted 1, competitiveness 3, government visits 1 and microenterprises 10.
Third in line was Puntland and the jobs created were 19, investments reached at $150,000, sales 385,000, technologies adopted 1, competitiveness 1, government visits 2 and microenterprises 120.
Combined impacts of GEEL project across Somalia
A grand combination of the impact of GEEL project in Somalia that was experienced included investment, creation of new jobs sales income, training among others.
A realization of an investment of US$12 million in the year 2017 and the creation of 524 new jobs. New sales income of US$ 7.4 million was generated by Somali companies that exported livestock among others. Up to 10 new technologies were introduced and adopted by GEEL supported enterprises. Training of 2,276 persons from Somali enterprises were supported with technical assistance. 14 study tours were carried out on Somali government sites and within the East Africa region to study industry. Educational forums reaching 6 in number were done on sesame, input suppliers, livestock, gums and resins and financial services.
The outcomes
Four major outcomes were achieved among them a strengthened business enabling environment; developed enterprises; improved production, employment and income and finally greater participation of women and youth in the economy.
Project target 201-2020
GEEL targets in their 2015-2020 project outlooks are to promote inclusive economic growth in spurring $18 million private sector capital investments; to empower private sector to lead interventions that increase agricultural productivity by 50% and creating partnership to apply a scalable model used for the 5,000 jobs likely to attract women and men.
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