Somali Youth migrants and Development in Somalia

8/9/2019 Somali Youth migrants and Development in Somalia

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Somali Youth Migrantsand Development inSomaliaMogadishu Report

Coordinator: Abdulahi Yusuf Mohamed

Lead Researchers: Abdishakur Awil assanAbdika! ashi Shiekh "arah

"ield Surve#ors: Abdilatif usien $marassan Abdi assanSha!% Moelim &brahimShaakir Mohamed Abdulahi

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Contents

Contents((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( ii'( )ackground(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( '

1.1. Mogadishu: current situation((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((*

2. Research Methodology((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((+

2.1. Survey((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((+

2.2. Interviews(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((,

2.3. Focus group discussion(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((,

3. Data Analysis(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((-

3.1. Respondents((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((-

3.2. Findings((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((.

. Discussion((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( '-

!. "onclusion and Reco##endations((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((('.

!.1. Role o$ parents((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((('.

!.2. Role o$ %overn#ent((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((('.

!.3. Role o$ "o##unity and &%' (eaders(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((('/

!.. Role o$ the Receivers(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((*0

-( Reference((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( *'

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1.Background

So#alia has )een without an e$$ective govern#ent since 1**1 when the central govern#ent

collapsed. (i$e practically ca#e to standstill in the war+torn nation during the lawlessness period

the country went through since then. Destruction and displace#ent )eca#e the nor# o$ the day

as the e$$ects o$ the civil war too, its tall in the country-s political and social spheres.

he country-s econo#y was )adly a$$ected )y the civil war. Destruction o$ in$rastructure/ loss o$

s,illed wor,$orce/ reduction or co#plete collapse o$ invest#ent/ prohi)itive security costs and

loss o$ #ar,ets/ regulatory con$usion and di#inished support $ro# govern#ent all created an

unhealthy econo#ic cli#ate and increased the rate o$ une#ploy#ent in the country.

As So#alis struggled to survive the chaos that has overta,en their country/ #any alternatives

were to )e co#pared. he di$$iculties on the ground $orced #any people to $lee the country in

search $or a )etter li$e and opportunities. 0urope/ SA and "anada hosted the greatest nu#)er o$

So#ali #igrant co##unities.

hese So#ali Diaspora co##unities played an i#portant role and #ade #aor contri)ution to

the So#ali econo#y and livelihoods through re#ittances/ hu#anitarian assistance and

participation in recovery and reconstruction e$$orts. ithout this support/ the econo#y o$ the

country would have collapsed long ago.

Re#ittances to $a#ily #e#)ers inside the country are a well+esta)lished practice. Re#ittance

#oney was a li$e+line $or the country-s people as well as the econo#y. ith up to 1.! #illion

So#alis living a)road and re#ittances #oney is esti#ated at 41.3)n+42)n/ it is clear the

Diaspora is i##ensely i#portant to the country5s survival. he a#ount includes support given to

individual $a#ilies and other relatives and $riends/ contri)utions to aid and develop#ent andinvest#ent in s#all and #ediu# enterprises.

Figures show that a large part o$ the So#ali population in So#alia depends on #oney they

receive $ro# $a#ily6relatives and $riends in the Diaspora. In addition/ the #oney sent $ro#

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a)road was also a source o$ $unding $or the country-s econo#y as the Diaspora co##unity were

the ones who $unded #ost )usiness activities and proects in the country

he So#ali Diaspora has a visi)le role as a #otor o$ change in the nascent #ar,et econo#y and

the recovery process in general. he Diaspora co##unity was heavily involved in pro#oting

education/ healthcare/ pu)lic in$rastructure and private enterprise as well as providing li$e+saving

hu#anitarian support to co##unities in need.

he So#ali Diaspora has )rought signi$icant invest#ent into the local econo#ies. 0sta)lishing

s#all and #ediu# enterprises was another 7uantu# leap $or the in$or#al local econo#y. 8eople

$ro# the Diaspora also were returning te#porarily to provide technical s,ills/ advice and

leadership in addition to their $inancial support.

1.1. Mogadishu: current situation

Mogadishu is the capital o$ So#alia and the largest city in the country with an esti#ated

population o$ 2 #illion residents. he city was ravaged )y the civil war in the country as it was

the hu) o$ violence and $ighting in the past 21 years especially $ro# 299 onwards when one o$

the worst $ighting )egan in the capital city.

he Diaspora co##unity are now active in post+con$lict reconstruction and develop#ent as theyare hugely returning to the city and participating in the develop#ent o$ the country. hey are

investing in proects o$ all ,inds which contri)ute to the econo#y )y creating new o)s and

increasing the econo#ic activity.

Mogadishu is now hosting the greatest in$lu; o$ Diaspora returnees in the past 21 years )ecause

o$ positive changes in the political environ#ent and i#proving security situation. So#e o$ the#

never returned to the country during the civil war period while others only ca#e $or short visits.

So#e o$ the# are planning to per#anently settle in their ho#eland #a,ing invest#ents and

esta)lishing proects. Still others are studying the situation and are yet to #a,e a decision

regarding their plans in the city.

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An i#portant $eature o$ the re#ittances in the past 21 years is that it was #ainly $ro# $irst

generation So#alis who #igrated ,nowing the di$$iculties and su$$ering they le$t )ehind the#.

hey #aintained ties with people in their ho#eland and their connection was so strong which

greatly #otivated the# to support their $a#ilies and relatives )ac, ho#e.

So#ali youth #igrants and second generation #igrants also contri)ute to supporting their

country o$ origin although their support cannot )e co#pared to their $irst generation

counterparts.

A ,ey concern $or all sta,eholders is that reliance on a re#ittance econo#y was not sustaina)le.

he $ear is that re#ittances can cease or di#inish with the retire#ent o$ the $irst generation and

that younger generation o$ So#alis growing up as part o$ co##unities overseas would stop

re#itting on this scale.

Recogni


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2. Research Methodology

his study used 7uantitative and 7ualitative research #ethodologies: a survey/ co#)ined with

interviews and $ocus group discussions. he research $ocused on the receivers o$ re#ittances

$ro# So#ali second generation and youth #igrants living in 0urope and specially the &etherlandand ?. he receivers can )e individuals/ organi


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he 7uestionnaires were circulated a#ong respondents )y trained $ield surveyors. he $ield

surveyors were given orientation sessions to #a,e the# $ully aware o$ the research o)ectives

and 7uestions so as to #a,e a)le to conduct the research e$$ectively.

As a way o$ ensuring that the results o)tained $ro# this research )e as representative as possi)le/

respondents $or this research were selected $ro# di$$erent groups o$ the co##unity Byouth/

wo#en/ #en/ Fa#ilies and leaders o$ institutionsC.

2.2. Interviews

Se#i+structured interviews were conducted with appro;i#ately ! re#ittances receivers and

local organi


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3. Data Analysis

As outlined a)ove/ the approach used in this study to research re#ittances in Mogadishu

co#)ined )oth 7uantitative and 7ualitative #ethods/ atte#pting to uncover the social te;ture o$

re#ittance trans$ers/ particularly in the second youth generation. he research was conducted inMogadishu $ro# Euly to August 2912.

For the purpose o$ data analysis/ the data was derived $ro# three #aor co#ple#enting sources:

uestionnaire/ interview and $ocus group discussion. he se7uences o$ the data sources are

purpose$ul serving to triangulate and elicit $urther e;planations. &evertheless/ here we provide

our analysis holistically.

S8SS were used to analy


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Gender

FemaleMale

P

e

r c

e

n

t

70

60

50

40

30

35

63

Figure 1 ender o! respondents" Mogadishu Survey 2#12.

'ur respondents were #ostly in the age group 1+2!/ constituting 1H $ollowed )y age group

2+3! and 3+! with 2H and 13H respectively BSee $igure 2C. A large seg#ent o$ the receivers

were #ore o$ a young age and #ore than hal$ o$ the# were une#ployed. hese are i#portant

$actors in deter#ining use o$ re#ittance. It is not surprising to see that #ost o$ our respondents

are students and people who are une#ployed/ #a,ing up together #ore than !9H percent o$ our

respondents BSee $igure 3C. 'ur data is congruent with the high e#ploy#ent rates in ur)an

Mogadishu. here$ore/ the )ul, o$ re#ittances sent are received )y poor and une#ployed people.

Age

More than 5546-5536-4526-3516-25Less than 16

P

e

r c

e

n

t

50

40

30

20

10

0

79

13

24

41

7

2


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Figure 2: Respondents $y age group. Mogadishu Survey

Other

don!t " or#

$el% em&lo'ed

(on&ro% )t organ)*at) Pr)+ate sector " or#e

Go+ernment " or#er

$t,dent

Figure 3: %ccupation o! respondents" Mogadishu Survey

Al#ost all o$ the respondents B*HC have $a#ilies in 0urope/ particularly in the ? and the

&etherlands/ with !2H and !H respectively.

3.2. Findings

Who are the remittances receivers from the Somali second generation and youth migrants in the Diaspora?

Al#ost all o$ those interviewed received re#ittance/ to )e speci$ic GH. his was reiterated and

con$ir#ed on nu#erous occasions whilst conducting interviews/ $ocus groups and through

contact with other #e#)ers o$ the co##unity. "onsistent with e#pirical studies/ it de#onstrates

the centrality and signi$icance o$ re#ittances to the So#ali Diaspora BSee ta)le 1C.

.


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Do you receive &oney !ro& your !a&ily &e&$er a$road

'a$el (u&$er o! Respondents )ercent

@es 19 G!.*

&o 22 11.1

I don-t ,now 2.9

otal 1*G 199.9

*a$le 1: who receives re&ittances+

Most o$ the Mogadishu co##unity interviewed received re#ittance #oney $ro# a)road.

%enerally they receive help when they as, their relatives6$a#ilies a)road BHC/ $ollowed )y

when their $a#ilies6relatives a)road decide to send B2*HC and lastly )y speci$ic ti#es B29HC $or

e;a#ple when there are special circu#stances li,e wedding/ $uneral rites etcJ BSee $igure C.

-hen do 'o, rec)e+e hel& %rom 'o,r %am)l' or %r)ends )n .,ro&e

$&ec)%)c t)mes /" hen

he' dec)de "hen the

-hen as# them

P

e

r c e

n

t

50

40

30

20

10

20

29

47

Figure ,: when do you receive help

A large a#ount o$ those interviewed received re#ittance $ro# their $a#ilies6relatives on a

regular )asis. he #aority/ !H/ receive re#ittances once every #onth/ $ollowed )y those who

receive once in every two #onths B3GHC. S#all percentage B*.1HC o$ respondents received

/


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re#ittances once in every #onths while only .1H do receive only once in a year BSee ta)le 3C.

his also reiterates the i#portance o$ re#ittances in day to day lives o$ Mogadishu residents.

=ow o$ten do you receive #oney $ro# your $a#ily #e#)ers6relatives or $riends in 0uropeK Fre-uency )ercent

0very #onth 112 !.

'nce in every two #onths 3G 1*.2

'nce in every #onths 1G *.1

'nce a year 1 G.

&ever 12 .1

otal 1* **.! 1*G 199.9

*a$le 2: ow o!ten re&ittances are received

he data showed that More than 9H either relied co#pletely or partially on re#ittances while

only less than 1!H didn-t rely totally on re#ittances BSee $igure !C. It is no dou)t that those #ost

o$ ur)an settlers o$ Mogadishu are une#ployed and rely heavily on re#ittances a)road.

'0


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-e do not rel' on th

Onl' %or a +er' smal

For ao,t 50 o% o,r

3om&letel' % or 100

Figure /: relying on re&ittance" Mogadishu Survey 2#12

What are the needs formulated by remittances receivers (individuals, organizations,communities, programmes, families) in terms of social or financial capital?

&early all re#ittances received at individual households were used to ena)le the# to cover )asic

living needs. Mogadishu residents e;plained that re#ittances received were used $or

$unda#entals such as $ood/ clothing/ housing and electricity BSee $igure C. he sa#e results are

$ound in our interviews. Most o$ those who receive help $ro# a)road are consu#ed

overwhel#ingly in )asic necessities. hile re#ittances #ay )e the only source o$ inco#e $or

those individuals and households/ our survey data is li#ited that it cannot portray the )udget o$

the households. =owever one can in$er that with the huge une#ploy#ent in ur)an Mogadishu/co#pletely relying on re#ittances $or )asic necessities are not great spectacular $or the $uture o$

So#alis.

''


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o" rem)ttances are s&ent

$o,rce Mogad)sh, $,r+e'

"hat do 'o, ,se the mone' 'o, rec)e+e %or

P

e r c e n t

0

60

40

20

0

Figure 0: what is re&ittance &oney used !or

Which activities in a country of origin do second generation youth migrants in the Diaspora

involve in?

he survey illustrates that re#ittance receivers in ? and the &etherlands are so#ehow active in

the develop#ent o$ ho#e country )y either )eing a #e#)er o$ develop#ent organi


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'ther . I don-t ,now 3G.*

otal *.!

Missing Syste# 2.!

otal 199.9

*a$le 3: Involve&ent o! the develop&ent in So&alia

Most o$ those who involved in develop#ent were either $ocusing on education and )usiness

scoring )oth the sa#e percentage 2GH. "on$idently/ one can o)serve these results also

generically in So#alia/ particularly Mogadishu. Many students are $inanced )y Diaspora

co##unities and also )usinesses are well supported )y re#ittance #oney.

-h)ch de+elo&ment sectors )n $omal)a are relat)+es act)+e

Other

5,man r)ghts

el)e%

5ealth care

.d,cat)on

8,s)ness

Agr)c,lt,re

M)ss)ng

P e r c e n t

30

20

10

0

16

4

9

3

22

7

6

Figure : Sectors those &igrants are active

'1


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Is there any woring relationship between youth migrants and second generation, and local

remittances receivers?

he relationship )etween youth #igrants6Second generation and local receivers depict a )righter

side. Maority o$ the respondents do either contact with $a#ilies6relatives a)road which they

have never #et or ,eep contacts with So#alis )orn in 0urope BSee Figure G and *C . Although

dou)ts e;ist a)out the continuation o$ the re#ittance when the $irst generations depletes/ this

results give us hope that still local people do co##unicate with the second youth generation in

0urope.

ontact %am)l)esrelat)+es "h)c 'o, ne+er met

(o

:es

Figure : ontact !a&ilies which they have never &et

'+


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;ee& contacnt ")th $omal)s orn )n .,ro&e

(o

:es

Figure 4: 5eep contact with So&alis $orn a$road

he research $ound out also that re#ittance receivers are happy with current contacts with their

$a#ilies a)road ,eeping in #ind that younger generations do not co##unicate regularly with

their relatives at ho#e. he study $ound out also that usually $a#ilies and $riends co##unicate

#ostly on #onthly )asis $ollowed )y wee,ly )asis. Further#ore/ the research showed that

people co##unicate #ostly with their i##ediate $a#ilies li,e parents/ si)lings/ )rother6 sister/

and espouses co#pared to their distant $a#ilies or relatives li,e aunts/ nieces/ and nephews.

'nce as,ed whether they have worries a)out $uture relations with their $a#ilies/ al#ost !9H

replied they have no such worries and positively thin, it will )e )etter. In addition/ a great

nu#)er o$ the respondents did not ,now whether $uture re#ittances will )e sustaina)le or not

BSee $igure 19C while al#ost the sa#e nu#)er )elieved that $uture re#ittances will )e

sustaina)le. In a tighter gap/ people also )elieved that re#ittances will decline with the depletion

o$ the $irst generation #igrants. 'verall picture depicts that results are #i;ed and on )ar with

each other on worries o$ the sustaina)ility o$ re#ittances in the $uture.

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e


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than twenty years pasted $ro# the )eginning o$ the anarchy period #any people o$ the $irst

generation are e;pected to )e retired or close to their retire#ent age.

0arlier research showed that second generation #igrants in other parts o$ the world tend to )e

less involved and co##itted to the develop#ent o$ their #otherland than the $irst generation

BMenivar/ 2992C. I$ this were to )e true $or So#ali #igrants in the sa#e way/ the lac, o$

re#ittance sent )y the second generation #igrants could have negative conse7uences on the

develop#ent o$ So#alia.

his research was a part o$ a larger research )y =IRDA. his part o$ the research was per$or#ed

in Mogadishu+ the So#ali capital+ )y tea# o$ researchers $ro# Mogadishu niversity. A parallel

research was also conducted in the &etherlands and in ?.

As part o$ a larger research it was restricted to evaluating the involve#ent o$ So#ali youth. he

$ocus o$ this part o$ the research was on the receivers o$ re#ittances $ro# So#ali second

generation and youth #igrants living in the &etherlands and in he nited ?ingdo#. he

participants included: individuals organi


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Reports on livelihoods in So#alia have also raised the issue o$ re#ittances/ suggesting that those

receiving #oney $ro# a)road are usually in the #iddle and )etter+o$$ inco#e groups as opposed

to poor or destituteNpossi)ly re$lecting the educated/ ur)an origins o$ #any #igrants to the

est BAda#s et al./ 2993C. According to &D8/ OMany households would su$$er signi$icant

set)ac,s in $ood security and access to private #edical care and private schools i$ re#ittance

$lows were interrupted. Fro# our surveysP perspective/ it has shown clearly that re#ittances are

strong $actor in the econo#ic well)eing o$ the society.

his reiterates that poor to #iddle inco#e respondents were #ost li,ely to depend on

re#ittances/ either co#pletely or partially in our study. In co#)ination with that/ )asic needs are

the #ost crucial needs that re#ittance #oney covers.

/. onclusion and Reco&&endations

Me#)ers o$ the So#ali Diaspora can #a,e and have )een #a,ing signi$icant contri)utions to

develop#ents in their ho#e country. he country-s $uture develop#ent prospects will largely

depend and )e shaped )y So#ali youth #igrants and second generation who will grow up

outside the country having )eing educated and trained in these countries when the $irst

generation either retires or dies.

'.


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he dedication o$ these young people in the Diaspora and their willingness as well as the s,ills

and the #oney that #any o$ the# #ight )ring and6or send/ and their desire to )e part o$ a

possi)le $uture solution/ will )e o$ great i#portance to the country-s $uture.

o engage these young people/ collective e$$ort is needed $ro# all sta,eholders including parents

o$ these young people/ the govern#ent/ re#ittance receivers at ho#e and co##unity leaders and

&%'s.

/.1. Role o! parents

• Ma,e the# $eel > understand the i#portance o$ the #oney they send )ac, ho#e and

their support )y inviting the# to participate in inco#e allocation decisions including the

#oney that is sent to relatives.

• rain their children to play such a role. For instance/ )y delegating to the# the

responsi)ility to send the #oney the#selves.

• o write children-s na#e on so#e o$ the properties parents are )uying )ac, ho#e so that

the child $eels that he has property in his ho#e country and thus has a sta,eholder #ind.

• Introducing $a#ily #e#)ers6relatives )ac, ho#e to these youngsters to esta)lish a

relationship.

/.2. Role o! overn&ent

• Set a policy and guidelines on the )est way to utili negotiate with other govern#ents to ,eep #oney trans$er channels open )ecause

withdrawal or even disruption o$ these $unds would )e a catastrophic )low $or So#ali

co##unities )ac, ho#e. he case o$ So#alis in the state o$ Minnesota is alar#ing $or

potential $oreign regulations that can li#it So#ali Diaspora-s a)ility to send #oney to

their country.

•

"reate a #inisterial position $or Diaspora A$$airs and representatives at So#alie#)assies a)road that register the#/ advocate $or their rights and ta,e responsi)ility $or

their #atters.

• 0sta)lish 0#)assies and consular services and co##ercial attachQs in the #aor world

cities where So#ali Diaspora is concentrated and instruct the# to organi


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• Register the Diaspora at the So#alia e#)assies in order to ena)le the# to participate in

$uture elections.

• 8rovide special incentives $or the econo#ic proects shared )y #e#)ers o$ So#ali

Diaspora and $oreign co#panies registered in their second country.

• Instruct its visitors to the destination country to target the So#ali co##unity living there

in order to share stories a)out the country as well encourage the# to participate in their

country-s develop#ent.

• "reate advocacy and lo))ying groups $or the So#ali cause in countries where #uch o$

So#ali Diaspora live.

• I#prove political and econo#ic in$rastructure and invite young people to the country/

tour the# and cover all cost so that they )eco#e engaged in their country.

/.3. Role o! o&&unity and (% 'eaders

• 'rgani


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the literature o$ Second youth generation #igrant re#ittances in So#alia. =owever/ the $indings

o$ this study were su)ect to several li#itations:

he $irst li#itation arose $ro# the sa#ple o$ respondents. In order $or a researcher to generali


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&D8. B299*C So#alia-s #issing #illion: the So#ali Diaspora and its role in develop#ent.

&D8 report.

**

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Somali Youth migrants and Development in Somalia

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