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Building Human Capital in Djibouti: Investing in Youth to Build a Better Future

June 6, 2022

Djibouti

Building Human Capital in Djibouti: Investing in Youth to Build a Better Future
  • Djibouti's development policies place a clear emphasis on human capital development and job creation, to ensure economic growth, achieve sustainable poverty reduction and improve the lives of all its citizens. Despite the country's efforts, particularly in the sectors of education, early childhood, health and social protection, many challenges persist, exacerbated by external shocks, such as COVID-19 and climate change. In Djibouti, only 45% of the working-age population—people aged 15 and over—participate in the labor market.

    To address the challenges of human capital, a virtual conference, structured around a lifecycle approach, was organized in December 2020. Building on this first event, the forum Investing in Youth to Build a Better Future will provide an opportunity to renew the dialogue with Djibouti’s authorities and discuss an updated Human Capital Agenda, with prioritized short, medium, and long term interventions. Discussions will focus on the presentation of the World Bank’s Human Capital Project and international best practices in human development.

    To meet this challenge, Djibouti must prepare its population for the world of tomorrow and unlock the potential of youth as a driver of growth.

  • 09:30-10:00

    Registration of participants

    Opening Ceremony

      10:00-10:00

    10:15-10:30

    Video – Human Capital in the MENA Region

    Keiko Miwa, Regional Director for Human Development, MENA Region, World Bank

     

    10:30-10:45

    Ouloufa Ismail Abdo, Minister of Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity

    10:45-11:00

    Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy & Finance, in Charge of Industry, Djibouti

    11:00-11:15

    Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister

    11:15-11:30

    Signing of the Pact: “Acting Together”

     

    11:30-12:00

     

     Coffee Break

    12:00-13:30

    Ministerial Round Table on Human Capital

     

    Participants

    Keiko Miwa, Regional Director for Human Development, MENA Region, World Bank

    Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, Minister of Health

    Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training

    Omar Abdi Saïd, Minister of Labor in charge of Formalization and Social Protection

    Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education and Research

    Moderator

    Ouloufa Ismail Abdo, Minister of Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity

    Discussions will focus on the investments that can be made in Djibouti to elevate their human capital and create the right conditions for the utilization of human capital in terms of improved productivity and inclusive growth.

     

    13:30-14:30

     

    Lunch break

    14:30-15:30

    Panel - Why Investing in Youth is vital for Human Capital Formation and Utilization?

     

    Introductory Speaker

    Fadila Caillaud, Human Capital Specialist, MENA Region, World Bank

    Panelists

    Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy & Finance, in Charge of Industry, Djibouti

    Mouna Osman Aden, Minister of Women and Family

    Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh, Minister of Health

    Hibo Moumin Assoweh, Minister of Youth and Culture

    Melva Johnson, Representative, UNICEF

    Country example : Mauritius

    Jay Tananpakian, Institute of Training and Development, Mauritius

    Moderator

    Sameh El-Saharty, Lead Health Specialist, MENA Region, World Bank

    The objective of this session is to explore how to prepare Djibouti’s adolescents and youth to manage the important life transitions that occur during this period. The session will focus on the value of cross-sectoral collaboration to build human capital from the start of the life cycle to building the resilience and skills of young people to lead productive lives.

     

    15:30-16:00

    Keynote Address

     

    16:00-16:30

    Closing Session : Moving Forward

     

     

    Priorities for Human Capital in Djibouti

    Keiko Miwa, Regional Director for Human Development, MENA Region, World Bank

    Commitments and next steps

    Ouloufa Ismail Abdo, Minister of Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity

  • Kamil Mohamed

    Prime Minister

    H.E. Mr. Kamil Mohamed was appointed Prime Minister on March 31, 2013 and reappointed by the President of the Republic anointed on May 11, 2016. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Mohamed served as Minister of Defence, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, the Sea, in charge of Hydraulic Resources and Director General of the Djibouti National Water Board. Mr. Mohamed holds a Masters in Technical Sciences from the University of Limoges (France).

    Ahmed Robleh Abdilleh,

    Minister of Health

    Dr. Ahmed Robleh was appointed Minister of Health in May 2021. He made his career as a doctor and pediatrician in the various hospitals in the country. Prior to his appointment, he held numerous positions within the Ministry of Health, including the position of Secretary General. He then became a member of parliament and headed the committee responsible for social development.

    Ouloufa Ismail Abdo

    Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity

    Ms. Ouloufa Ismail Abdo has been appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity in 2021. Holder of a master's degree in International Law and Political Science and a master's degree in International Law, Public and Private Administration option in Africa, she began her career professional at the Primature as Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister. Ms. Ouloufa will then occupy the position of Director of the ODPIC (the Djiboutian Office of Industrial and Commercial Property).

    Mouna Osman Aden

    Minister for Women and the Family

    Prior to serving as Minister for Women and the Family, Ms. Mouna Osman Aden had been Minister of Social Affairs and Solidarity since 2016. In this capacity, she led initiatives aimed at improving the delivery of public services and bridging the gap between state and citizens and led the new national social protection strategy, making it a fundamental right. Previously, she had a career in the field of public health.

    Nabil Mohamed Ahmed

    Minister of Higher Education and Research

    Dr. Nabil Mohamed Ahmed has been Minister of Higher Education and Research of Djibouti since May 2011. His contributions in the development of human capital in Djibouti include, among others, improving the quality of infrastructure and courses at the University of Djibouti, the creation of the Faculty of Engineering, the Center of Excellence for Logistics and Transport and the Center for Digital Technologies and Innovation, as well as the creation of new laboratories and the human and material capacity building at the Djibouti Research Center.

    Hibo Moumin Assoweh

    Minister of Youth and Culture

    Dr. Hibo Moumin Assoweh is part of the second class of teachers trained at the CFPEN in Djibouti between 1992 and 1994 and has a doctorate in general and comparative literary sciences at the Centre International d'études Francophones de Paris Sorbonne. She is particularly interested in the issues of education, the promotion of culture, the involvement of women in sustainable development and its challenges in Africa.

    Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh

    Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy & Finance, in Charge of Industry, Djibouti

    Before joining the government of Djibouti in 2011, Mr. Dawaleh served as CEO of a family business group, in Djibouti and abroad. He led President Ismail Omar Guelleh's campaign in 2011 and was elected MP in 2013. Previously, Mr. Dawaleh held various roles in the administration and port of Djibouti where he was head of the project management office and head of operations. Outside of his professional commitments, Mr. Dawaleh has devoted time to humanitarian and civic activities in several not-for-profit organizations.

    Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud

    Minister of National Education and Vocational Training

    Mr. Moustapha Mohamed Mahamoud became Minister of National Education and Vocational Training in May 2016. He is dedicated to improving the quality of teaching and learning at all levels, strengthening the access and equity, managing for results and performance. A teacher at the Djibouti State High School, he began his career at the Ministry of Education where he held various positions, including head of establishment, head of department and director of sectoral and prospective monitoring within the

    Omar Abdi Saïd

    Minister of Labor in charge of Formalization and Social Protection

    Mr. Said was appointed Minister of Labor in charge of Formalization and Social Protection in January 2022. He previously served as Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti, notably in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. He was also Permanent Representative of the Republic of Djibouti to the European Union. A Member of Parliament for many years, he notably chaired the Finance Committee of the National Assembly.

    Melva Johnson

    Representative, UNICEF

    Melva Johnson was appointed as the new UNICEF Representative in Djibouti in July 2019. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Johnson held the position of Regional Chief of Program Planning, Monitoring and Knowledge Management at the UNICEF Regional Office for East Asia and the Pacific. Ms. Johnson also served as UNICEF Deputy Representative in Peru from 2009 to 2014 and Chief of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in Uganda from 2006 to 2009.

    Jay Tananpakian

    Institute of Training and Development, Mauritius

    Jay Tananpakian is Head of School at the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development. With more than 20 years in professional training, his expertise includes training engineering, project management and implementation, and team coaching. Jay holds a Master’s in Education from Middlesex University, YK and is a graduate of the University of Brighton, UK.

    Annette Dixon

    Vice President for Human Resources, World Bank

    Annette Dixon is currently Vice President of Human Resources at the World Bank Group. She was previously the Bank's Vice President for Human Development, overseeing global practice for education; health, nutrition and populations; genre ; social protection and employment. In this capacity, she launched the Human Capital Project, as well as the Human Capital Index. She joined the World Bank in 1999.

    Keiko Miwa

    Regional Director for Human Development, MENA Region, World Bank

    Prior to serving as Regional Director of Human Development for the MENA region, Ms. Miwa was Director of the Global Practice for Education at the World Bank. Keiko has worked on various educational projects and analytical work in Africa, East Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia and South Asia. She served as education manager in the South Asia region and country manager in Laos. Keiko has spent half of her career working in country offices including Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Laos.

    Fadila Caillaud

    Human Capital Specialist, MENA Region, World Bank

    Prior to serving as Human Capital Specialist for the MENA region at the World Bank, Fadila was responsible for human development programs for the MENA region. Fadila joined the World Bank in 2008. An economist by training, Fadila holds a doctorate in macroeconomics from the University of Aix en Provence (France).

    Sameh El-Saharty

    Lead Health Specialist, MENA Region, World Bank

    Currently Lead Health Specialist for the MENA region at the World Bank, Sameh El-Saharty was previously responsible for health, education, social protection and labor advisory services for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. . Since joining the World Bank in 1998, he has led public policy dialogue and strategic direction activities and ensured the preparation and management of programs and projects in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.