Somalia, 5 November 2025 -The World Bank has approved a new 112million-dollar project to strengthen social protection and youth employment in Somalia, expected to benefit more than 738,000 people across the country.
The initiative, known as the Building Opportunities and Outcomes in Social Protection and Youth Employment Project (BOOST-You), will provide regular and emergency cash transfers, youth job opportunities, and conditional cash support for health and education.
According to the World Bank, the project aims to create 28,000 jobs by 2029, including 16,800 for women, while enhancing the government’s ability to manage and deliver social programs through improved digital systems and data-driven targeting.
“BOOST-You is a testament to Somalia’s commitment to building resilient institutions and creating real opportunities for its youth and vulnerable population,” said Hideki Matsunaga, World Bank Country Manager for Somalia.
“It builds on the success of the government’s flagship Baxnaano program, reinforcing the social contract between the state and its citizens, ” Matsunaga added.
The project is financed through a combination of $100 million from the International Development Association (IDA), $10 million from the Somalia Multi-Partner Fund (MPF), and $2 million from the Global Shield Financing Facility (GSFF).
Ali Qureshi, the project’s Task Team Leader, described the initiative as “a milestone in addressing Somalia’s high youth unemployment and expanding social protection coverage,” noting that it will “invest in people, build resilience to climate shocks, and foster inclusive job creation.”
BOOST-You is embedded within the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, featuring strong governance and citizen engagement mechanisms.
It will build on earlier World Bank-supported projects such as the Shock Responsive Safety Net for Human Capital (SNHCP) and Baxnaano, which established Somalia’s first government-led cash transfer system for vulnerable families.
The new project marks another step in Somalia’s shift from humanitarian relief to a sustainable, government-led social protection framework, designed to reduce poverty, strengthen resilience, and promote inclusive growth.
