Shell, alongside BP, Maersk, Stena and the Japanese shipping companies NYK, MOL and “K” Line has announced that it has entered into a joint collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support job creation and capacity building projects in Somalia.
The collaboration is part of an initiative launched in February 2012, to stabilize Somalia and reduce the risk of piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Grahaeme Henderson, VP Shell Shipping said,” The safety of seafarers is the priority of all of us involved in this maritime industry led initiative. By working with the UNDP to help provide alternative livelihoods we hope to support local communities and help reduce the threat to seafarers in the area.”
The UNDP was chosen because of its existing footprint in coastal and city centres in Somalia and the alignment of the objectives of the shipping industry partners with those of the UNDP’s “Alternative Livelihoods to Piracy in Puntland and Central regions” project.
The UNDP will focus on supporting long term youth unemployment with the aim of providing viable employment alternatives to piracy for Somalia’s youth by offering opportunities in the agriculture, livestock and fishing industries.
The funding will also help the UNDP to build up local youth facilities to encourage community collaboration and mutual support. The initiative aims to help lay the foundation for a future generation in Somalia that has choices and no longer supports or condones piracy.
The shipping industry initiative will provide additional funding of $1.5 million to support other capacity building projects in Somalia and this will be the subject of a further announcement.
