The Federal Republic of Somalia and Republic of Yemen are facing a number of challenges that impact negatively on their respective employment generation and poverty alleviation programmes. To assist Somalia and Yemen to overcome these challenges, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) developed the Somalia and Yemen Development Programme (SYDP), which provide the opportunity to a third country to host a capacity building programme for Somalia and Yemen. 

The Somalia-Yemen Development Program brought together experts and officials from Somalia and Yemen, as well as IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners with a view to : 

• To promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices of IORA Member States in Somalia/Yemen; 
• To integrate the less privileged and marginalized communities of Somalia/Yemen; and, 
• To enhance the capacity for human development in Somalia/Yemen.

Past events:

First Somalia and Yemen Development Programme (SYDP) on Banking and Artisanal Fisheries, 13-14 August 2017, Abu Dhabi.

11 IORA Member States attended the First SYDP on Banking and Artisanal Fisheries took place at Abu Dhabi on 13-14 August 2017. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in collaboration with the IORA Secretariat. The training aimed at enhancing the knowledge and capacities of participants from IORA Member States, mainly from Yemen and Somalia, on banking services in support of developing small-scale activities and the artisanal fisheries sector through appropriate banking services. The training included lectures, presentations and interactive discussion sessions that resulted in concrete outcomes, especially for developmental projects in Yemen and Somalia.
 

Second SYDP (SYDP-II) Workshop on Improving the Quality and Value of Fisheries Products for Food Security, Coastal Livelihoods, 28 – 29 November 2019, Kochi, Kerala (State), India
 

The Ministry of External Affairs and the Federation of Indian Commerce and Industries (FICCI), in collaboration with the IORA Secretariat hosted the Second SYDP (SYDP-II) Workshop on Improving the Quality and Value of Fisheries Products for Food Security, Coastal Livelihoods, on 28 – 29 November 2019 in Kochi, Kerala (State), India. The workshop aimed at enhancing knowledge and capacities of participants on ways to improve value and quality of fisheries products through the use of simple methods and technologies in support of developing small-scale fisheries activities and businesses. The event workshop brought together experts from various field/sectors and comprised of several modules including: developing artisanal fisheries: capacity building across the value chain – catch to markets; microfinance and Banking for artisanal fisheries development; regulatory Framework and Participatory Governance: engaged decision making to empower fishermen; and technology as an enabler; Market access strategy for artisanal fisheries. 

Third Somalia-Yemen Development Programme (SYDP-III) on “Development and Management of Somalia's and Yemen’s Marine Fisheries”, 27 September - 1 October 2021, Italy

Participants from Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of Yemen and Republic of Kenya participated in the Third Somalia-Yemen Capacity Building Program (SYDP-III) on the Development and Management of Somalia’s and Yemen’s Marine Fisheries that took place on 27 September – 01 October 2021. The aim of the project was to foster actions supporting the development of fishing local companies and management fisheries. The Workshop focused on the Empowerment of the fishing and fish value chain’s industries and cooperatives aiming to foster actions supporting the development of a “service-oriented Fisheries Employers Union” in each country, which would in turn be able to provide consultancy services, both at environmental, social and economic level, and promote commercial exchanges both at local and international level for the Somali and Yemeni fishermen