Djibouti Launches $57.4 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Project to Combat Climate Change

Djibouti, (SONNA) -The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock, and Marine Resources, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), officially launched the Youth Entrepreneurship for Climate Adaptation Project (PEJACC) on Sunday. The launch ceremony, attended by Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, AfDB delegation head Pascal Sanginga, and Secretary-General of Agriculture Ibrahim Elmi Mohamed, marked a significant milestone in Djibouti’s efforts to address climate challenges while fostering agricultural innovation.

Key Highlights of PEJACC:

• Funding: $57.4 million (10.4 billion DJF), supported by AfDB and IFAD.
• Focus: Empowering youth and women to transform agricultural and horticultural value chains nationwide.
• Credit Line: $10 million allocated to help young entrepreneurs access funding for new ventures.
• Impact Goals:
  • Creation of 200 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
  • Generation of 3,500 permanent and 2,300 temporary jobs.
  • Direct benefit to 80,000 individuals across Djibouti, including Ali-Sabieh, Dikhil, Obock, Tadjourah, Arta, and Djibouti City’s outskirts.
• Food Security: Reduction of food import dependency by 30–40%, focusing on crops like tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and melons.

PEJACC aims to enhance horticultural and goat production systems, promote climate-resilient agribusiness, and establish robust management and coordination frameworks to ensure long-term sustainability. Speaking at the event, Minister Awaleh emphasized the strategic importance of PEJACC in transforming Djibouti’s agricultural landscape. Minister Dawaleh praised the partnership as a critical step toward economic resilience, while AfDB’s Sanginga commended Djibouti’s commitment to tackling climate and economic challenges. With its ambitious goals and collaborative approach, PEJACC is poised to drive modern, inclusive, and resilient agricultural practices, strengthening Djibouti’s food security and economic independence. Source: Mogadishu24