As part of the week dedicated to social action, the Secretary of State for Social Affairs, Mouna Osman Aden, sponsored a ceremony yesterday in Ali-Sabieh, organized by the Djiboutian Social Development Agency (ADDS) to honor the second-cycle winners of the Propeja competition. In the Ali-Sabieh region, 90 beneficiaries were selected following a contest to receive funding of 400,000 DJF each for their respective projects. In this region in the south of the country, a total of 31 projects are being funded: 8 projects in Ali-Addeh, 8 projects in Assamo, 5 projects in Holl-Holl, and 10 projects in the regional capital.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Director General of ADDS, Mahdi Mohamed Djama; World Bank Representative Atou Seck; the Prefect of the Ali-Sabieh region, Mohamed Waberi Assoweh; the President of the Regional Council, Omar Ahmed Waiss; and Propeja Project Manager Ide Mohamed Abdillahi.

Carried out with the support of the Japan Social Development Fund and administered by the World Bank, the Youth Employment and Handicrafts Promotion Project aims primarily to improve access for youth and women to income- and job-generating opportunities through training, guidance, and financial support for their income-generating activities.

The project provides basic entrepreneurship training, a micro-project competition, and support for female artisans ranging from production to marketing.

For the ADDS, the goal is to implement a poverty reduction strategy and facilitate access to funding for at least 3,000 low- or medium-skilled young men and women from the communities of Djibouti City, Arta, Tadjourah, and Ali-Sabieh.

Indeed, under the leadership of the Secretariat of State for Social Affairs and in partnership with other sector ministries, the ADDS implements programs, projects, and sub-projects aimed at improving access to basic social services, particularly healthcare, education, drinking water, youth support, and sanitation. In summary, the ADDS seeks specifically to facilitate access for vulnerable populations to financing sources and micro-enterprises, while encouraging beneficiary participation in the design and management process of ongoing programs and projects.

Remarks by Mr. Atou Seck – World Bank Representative in Djibouti

We are all aware of the challenges young people face in finding jobs and earning a good living in Djibouti.

Mr. Atou Seck – World Bank Representative in Djibouti:
"It is a real pleasure for me to be in Ali-Sabieh for the awarding of start-up funds under the Youth Employment and Handicrafts Promotion Project (PROPEJA), implemented with funds mobilized from the Government of Japan and supported by the World Bank.

We are all aware of the challenges young people face in Djibouti to find jobs and earn a good living. That is why we can be proud that this project creates opportunities for the country's youth in Djibouti City, regional capitals, and remote localities. Indeed, since the project began two years ago, nearly 1,500 young people have already participated in the entrepreneurship training offered, and we expect more than 3,000 beneficiaries by the end of the project. I am particularly pleased that this project also benefits young women, who make up 50..."