Jowhar Youth Centre Operationalization

Jowhar—located approximately 90 kilometers north of Mogadishu—is the capital of both Middle Shabelle Region and Hirshabelle State. Known for its fertile agricultural lands and rice production, the city is one of Somalia's most important farming centers along the Shabelle River. Alongside its agricultural importance, Jowhar is home to a rapidly growing youth population whose energy, creativity and ambition represent one of the district's greatest opportunities for lasting peace, social cohesion and economic development. Recognizing the importance of investing in young people, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Hirshabelle State established the Jowhar Youth Centre, located within the Ministry's compound. As the first dedicated public Youth Centre in Jowhar, the facility represents a historic opportunity to create a permanent space where young people can learn, innovate, build leadership skills and actively contribute to their communities. Although the building now exists, it still requires equipment, furniture, digital resources and operational support before it can become a fully functional Youth Hub capable of serving the growing needs of young people across the district. Under the YOU-ACT Project, communities in Jowhar participated in a community-driven planning and prioritization process to identify the development challenges that matter most to them. Through consultations involving young people, women, community leaders, civil society organizations and local authorities, several community projects were proposed and assessed based on their relevance, community ownership, feasibility and expected long-term impact. Following a validation process conducted jointly by the Jowhar District Administration and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Hirshabelle State, the Operationalization of the Jowhar Youth Centre was selected as one of the priority community projects because of its potential to benefit thousands of young people while strengthening youth participation, social cohesion and local development. The project aims to transform the existing facility into a vibrant and fully operational Youth Hub by providing essential furniture, computers, internet connectivity, multimedia equipment, training and meeting facilities, innovation and co-working spaces, learning resources and recreational equipment. Once operational, the Centre will provide opportunities for digital skills development, entrepreneurship, leadership training, peacebuilding initiatives, civic engagement, career guidance, sports development and youth-led innovation. It will also serve as a common platform where government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations and youth groups can work together to design and deliver programmes that respond to the aspirations of young people in Jowhar. To demonstrate community ownership, a Jowhar Youth Centre Community Committee, nominated through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has been established to lead local resource mobilization efforts. The committee has been mandated to mobilize USD 7,000 through a community crowdfunding campaign, while Youth Ambassadors will conduct door-to-door awareness and fundraising campaigns, engage local businesses, community members and the Somali diaspora, and encourage everyone to contribute towards making the Youth Centre operational. This community contribution will be matched through the YOU-ACT Project, reinforcing the principle that sustainable development is built on shared responsibility between communities and development partners. In support of this community-led initiative, the YOU-ACT Project will provide USD 80,000 in matching funds for the operationalization of the Jowhar Youth Centre, with financial support from IOM, FAO and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, while Shaqodoon Organization serves as the implementing partner. The Operationalization of the Jowhar Youth Centre is more than preparing a building for use. It is an investment in the future of Jowhar's young people and in the long-term development of the district. By creating the first fully functional public Youth Hub in Jowhar, the project will provide young women and men with a place to learn, collaborate, innovate and lead positive change in their communities. At the same time, it demonstrates the power of community-driven development, where local communities, government institutions and development partners work together to transform shared priorities into lasting opportunities. Jowhar—located approximately 90 kilometers north of Mogadishu—is the capital of both Middle Shabelle Region and Hirshabelle State. Known for its fertile agricultural lands and rice production, the city is one of Somalia's most important farming centers along the Shabelle River. Alongside its agricultural importance, Jowhar is home to a rapidly growing youth population whose energy, creativity and ambition represent one of the district's greatest opportunities for lasting peace, social cohesion and economic development. Recognizing the importance of investing in young people, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Hirshabelle State established the Jowhar Youth Centre, located within the Ministry's compound. As the first dedicated public Youth Centre in Jowhar, the facility represents a historic opportunity to create a permanent space where young people can learn, innovate, build leadership skills and actively contribute to their communities. Although the building now exists, it still requires equipment, furniture, digital resources and operational support before it can become a fully functional Youth Hub capable of serving the growing needs of young people across the district. Under the YOU-ACT Project, communities in Jowhar participated in a community-driven planning and prioritization process to identify the development challenges that matter most to them. Through consultations involving young people, women, community leaders, civil society organizations and local authorities, several community projects were proposed and assessed based on their relevance, community ownership, feasibility and expected long-term impact. Following a validation process conducted jointly by the Jowhar District Administration and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Hirshabelle State, the Operationalization of the Jowhar Youth Centre was selected as one of the priority community projects because of its potential to benefit thousands of young people while strengthening youth participation, social cohesion and local development. The project aims to transform the existing facility into a vibrant and fully operational Youth Hub by providing essential furniture, computers, internet connectivity, multimedia equipment, training and meeting facilities, innovation and co-working spaces, learning resources and recreational equipment. Once operational, the Centre will provide opportunities for digital skills development, entrepreneurship, leadership training, peacebuilding initiatives, civic engagement, career guidance, sports development and youth-led innovation. It will also serve as a common platform where government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations and youth groups can work together to design and deliver programmes that respond to the aspirations of young people in Jowhar. To demonstrate community ownership, a Jowhar Youth Centre Community Committee, nominated through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has been established to lead local resource mobilization efforts. The committee has been mandated to mobilize USD 7,000 through a community crowdfunding campaign, while Youth Ambassadors will conduct door-to-door awareness and fundraising campaigns, engage local businesses, community members and the Somali diaspora, and encourage everyone to contribute towards making the Youth Centre operational. This community contribution will be matched through the YOU-ACT Project, reinforcing the principle that sustainable development is built on shared responsibility between communities and development partners. In support of this community-led initiative, the YOU-ACT Project will provide USD 80,000 in matching funds for the operationalization of the Jowhar Youth Centre, with financial support from IOM, FAO and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, while Shaqodoon Organization serves as the implementing partner. The Operationalization of the Jowhar Youth Centre is more than preparing a building for use. It is an investment in the future of Jowhar's young people and in the long-term development of the district. By creating the first fully functional public Youth Hub in Jowhar, the project will provide young women and men with a place to learn, collaborate, innovate and lead positive change in their communities. At the same time, it demonstrates the power of community-driven development, where local communities, government institutions and development partners work together to transform shared priorities into lasting opportunities.