As part of the Integrated Community Resilience Project (PIRC), the Djiboutian Agency for Social Development (ADDS), in partnership with local authorities, organised two days of awareness-raising and exchanges in Ali Sabieh dedicated to entrepreneurship and local economic development.

These meetings were chaired by the Director General of ADDS, accompanied by the Director of Financing and the Agency’s Entrepreneurship Program Manager. They were held in the presence of the President of the Regional Council of Ali Sabieh, the Regional Delegate of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, and the President of the regional merchants’ association.

The first day was dedicated to discussions with representatives of the newly formed GEA groups. This meeting provided an opportunity to present the opportunities offered by the project and to encourage the women beneficiaries to develop income-generating activities and promising entrepreneurial initiatives.

The regional representative of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce also explained to the female traders of Ali Sabieh the various conditions and procedures necessary to transform their businesses into truly structured enterprises. For his part, the President of the regional traders’ association emphasized the importance of developing small businesses into SMEs capable of creating more jobs and contributing to local economic development.

The second day brought together local business owners for constructive discussions on the prospects for developing local commerce. The discussions highlighted several high-potential sectors, such as cross-border trade, digital technology, and other innovative activities capable of sustainably stimulating the local economy.

Through this initiative, the project plans to create 15 Women’s Empowerment Groups (GEAs) in Ali Sabieh, bringing together nearly 450 women beneficiaries. Each group will receive US$10,000 in funding, equivalent to approximately 1,750,000 Djiboutian francs. The project also includes support for and the creation of 50 SMEs in the region, with total funding of several million Djiboutian francs.

The event attracted a large audience of local business owners and representatives from GEA women’s groups. Discussions provided an opportunity to gather participants’ concerns, identify local needs, and highlight opportunities to boost economic activity and employment in the region.

The main objective of these meetings was to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of young people and women in the region, while contributing to the development of local trade and the revitalization of the regional economy.

In his speech, the Director General of ADDS emphasized the strong potential of the youth in the Ali Sabieh region and the importance of supporting local economic initiatives to promote the empowerment of the population.

The presence of the Director General at these meetings demonstrates the importance that ADDS attaches to regional economic development as well as to the promotion of entrepreneurship as a lever for social inclusion and the creation of opportunities.

Through this initiative, ADDS reaffirms its commitment to the economic empowerment of young people and women, as well as its ambition to contribute sustainably to the socio-economic development of the country’s interior regions.