STORY: Somalia’s young entrepreneurs using technological

innovation to tackle socio-economic challenges

DURATION: 3:14
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ SOMALI NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 14/JULY/2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST

1. Med shot, iRise innovation Hub offices in Mogadishu

2. Wide shot, a group of youths in a discussion
3. Med shot, a youth typing on a computer
4. Close up shot, computer
5. Wide shot, Abdihakim Ainte, Co-founder of iRise Hub listens to a youth
6. Close up shot, iRise Hub logo
7. Med shot, Naima Gurey, the lead trainer and Community Manager at iRise hub
talking to the youth
8. Wide shot, youths listening
9. Med shot, Naima Gurey, the lead trainer and Community Manager at iRise hub
speaking
10. Close up shot, a youth taking notes
11. Close up shot, notebook
12. Med shot, youths taking notes
13. Wide shot, Naima Gurey, the lead trainer and Community Manager at iRise hub
speaking
14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Naima Gurey, the lead trainer and Community Manager
at iRise hub
“The start-up industry in Somalia is very new and it started in early 2017.So far we
have a number of start-ups based in Somalia, with the majority being based in
Mogadishu. So there are a lot of opportunities when it comes to technology and
innovation in Somalia which we can all take advantage of especially as the young
generation of Somali youth.”

15. Med shot, Abdihakim Ainte, Co-founder of iRise Hub addressing the youth
16. Wide shot, partners of iRise Hub addressing the youths
17. Close up shot, a youth listening
19. Close up shot, another youth listening
20. SOUNDBITE: (English) Naima Gurey, Lead Trainer and Community Manager at
iRise Hub
“When it comes to partnerships, we have banks like Premium Bank, IBS
(International Bank of Somalia) who give us access to finance for the young start-
ups. When it comes to youth, we have a good partnership relationship with SOS
(Village International) and other youth institutions that train youths. We also have
partnerships with universities such as Simad University, Jamhuriya and a couple of
others.”

21. Wide shot, youths at the iRise Hub attending an innovation and start-up training
22. Wide shot, an iRise Hub partner talking to the youth
23. Close up shot, a youth listening
24. Wide shot, youths listening
25. Close up shot, a youth asks a question at the innovation and start-up training
26. Med shot, iRise Hub partners
27. Close up shot, youths attending the talk
28. Med shot, an iRise partner answers a question
29. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Ilyas Omar, Founder Maan Ifiye Graphic Design Company
“I have learnt graphic design skills in 2015 online via Lynda.com university online
training. I have been doing design work for the last 4-5 years.”

30. Wide shot, Abdihakim Ainte, Co-founder of iRise Hub discussing start-ups with
the youths
31. Med shot, Abdihakim Ainte speaking
32. Close up shot, Abdihakim Ainte writing on the board
33. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Ilyas Omar, Founder Maan Ifiye Graphic Design Company
“I have designed some work for Hormuud Telecom and iRise, which I still work with.
My company was behind the full brand for Mogadishu Technology Summit.”

Somalia’s young entrepreneurs using technological innovation to tackle socio-

economic challenges

Mogadishu - Ilyas Omar (22) engages in animated discussion with colleagues at the
lounge of iRise, a technological innovation hub in Mogadishu’s Hodan district. Ilyas is
representing his company ‘Maan Ifiye’ which is one of 20 start-up groups participating
in a workshop organised by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) under its growth, enterprise, employment and livelihoods (GEEL) programme.

Ilyas is happy to be one of the participants of the GEEL programme which promotes
inclusive economic growth throughout Somalia by addressing challenges and
opportunities that are common in multiple sectors, among them agriculture, fisheries
and renewable energy.

“I am here to learn how to draft contract agreements, employee contracts, business

plan writing, marketing/brand strategy among other strategic ideas which will help my
graphic design company to grow,” says the Mogadishu-born young entrepreneur.

After years of conflict, Somalia’s youthful population, which was one of the most
affected groups by the decades-long war, is slowly but steadily reclaiming its space in
the country’s development agenda by establishing start-ups to address some of the
economic challenges facing the horn of Africa country.

Since 2007, Somalia has been on a trajectory towards peace and security thanks to
efforts made by the African Union Mission and Somalia (AMISOM) and the federal and
state governments in stabilising the country. The achievements, coupled with the
high-speed fibre optic internet, connected in 2013, are encouraging the youthful
population to come out of isolationism by using technology to improve their lives.

Learning design work was not easy for the 22-year-old, given the fact that there are
no specialised institutions teaching contemporary design, let alone skilled tutors
capable of imparting the necessary skills. As a result, Ilyas had to rely on online
tutorials uploaded on YouTube to learn basic design.

“There are very few skilled designers in Somalia. Furthermore, there are no colleges
or institutions to help you train as well. I had to learn the hard way that is through
online tutorials,” Ilyas reminisces.

After grasping the basics of design and working for various employers for five years,
Ilyas established his design company in 2017 before joining iRise the following year,
whose objective is to promote collaboration between innovators and investors, while
offering resources needed by budding entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Some of the support offered by the Mogadishu-based technological hub to upcoming

entrepreneurs are business training, mentorship, project evaluation and support
during incubation stages of their projects.

According to Naima Gurey, the lead trainer and community manager at iRise Hub,
innovation hubs have the potential of contributing to the development and
technological transformation of the country if well implemented.
“The start-up industry in Somalia is very new. There are a lot of opportunities when it
comes to technology and innovation in the country which we can all take advantage
of, especially as the young generation,” said Naima.

She urges youths with innovative ideas to seek support from innovation hubs, saying
that despite the challenges currently faced, the industry is set to grow into a major
economic contributor and source of employment in the next three to five years.

“We have a lot of partnerships. When it comes to youth trainings, we are coordinating
with universities such as Simad University, Jamhuriya University and other educational
institutions to train youths on entrepreneurship,” Naima adds.

iRise has also partnered with financial institutions, such as Premium Bank and
International Bank of Somalia, to help youths to access funding for their business
projects.

Despite the progress made, bringing more youths on board has not been easy. Access
to finance, for example, still remains one of the main challenges hindering the growth
of youth entrepreneurship in the country.

To ensure Somalia keeps pace with its neighbours in technology, Ilyas urges
development partners to provide more funding for youth start-ups to enable them to
successfully go from the incubation phase to maturity stage.

Though ‘Maan Ifiye’, loosely translated as Brand Nourisher in English, makes enough
money which can be used to employ a few young people, the 22-year-old says getting
skilled youths with knowledge in modern design has been a challenge, which has
hindered the company’s expansion.

“Clients in Somalia also don’t understand much about graphic design work and the
effort it takes to come up with the designs. We need to educate them about the
importance of design in the production of goods and services and as a source of
employment,” observes Ilyas.

Despite the challenges, the young entrepreneur is optimistic about the future of
technological start-ups in Somalia.

“Start-ups will play a significant role in creating employment for the youth and will
contribute immensely in the economic development of the country, hence we need
to exploit the opportunity to our advantage,” he adds.
As Somalia celebrates the World Youth Skills Day, Ilyas urges his fellow youths who
want to venture into technological entrepreneurship to first seek education and
training to open up their world view about entrepreneurship.

“After acquiring the necessary education and skills, they (youths) should not be afraid
to start with the resources available and also make sure to seek help from innovation
hubs like iRise. Hard work will eventually pay,” he adds.

“I have designed some work for Hormuud Telecom Company. My company was
behind the full brand for Mogadishu Tech Summit. I have also provided design work
for individuals,” says Ilyas, explaining why patience and hard work pays.

ENDS