Skills map: which professional skills the 37 proposals would need

Where Xidig members may contribute

Skills and collaboration openings, not job offers:

• Teach what's missing: refrigeration, ship repair, biomedical maintenance and solar upkeep have little or no local training.
• Review and design: diaspora engineers can review feasibility work, often remotely.
• Mentor local firms preparing bids for donor-funded tenders.
• Short placements for specialists, such as clinicians, marine engineers or plant operators, alongside local staff.

Possible services, research, supplier or collaboration roles

• A member skills register, so project groups can find the people they need.
• Short courses tied to real projects: solar maintenance, cold-chain equipment and welding (see Cold chain for fish, milk and meat in Somalia).
• Research: checking the booklet's job figures against what each project would actually need.

Who may find this useful

• Engineers of every discipline.
• Technicians and trades: electricians, welders, refrigeration and plant operators.
• Clinicians and biomedical engineers.
• Teachers and TVET trainers.
• Finance, procurement and legal professionals.
• Students choosing a field of study.

What the sheets say about skills

Only a few sheets mention skills or training directly:

• Education (ED-01, pp.83–84) calls for "harmonization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs with industry requirements".
• Dry dock (LI-06, pp.61–62) aims to "Provide local repair services, reducing reliance on Dubai and Mombasa".
• Referral hospitals (HE-03, p.79) list "Medical Training Institutions" as existing infrastructure.
• Fisheries (FI-01, pp.44–45) proposes modernising fishing practices as well as vessels.

Most sheets give job numbers instead, such as "Create 400 new jobs" for the regional airports (AV-01) or "around 165 jobs" for the gas plant (EN-02). None of them say what kind of jobs, or where the skilled staff would come from.

The skills map

Fur cabbirka buuxa

How many of the 37 sheets would need each skill group, in Xidig's reading. One sheet can need several groups.

Four smaller groups appear on two sheets each: environment and waste (EV-01, MF-02), aviation (AV-01, AV-02), oil and gas regulation (EN-01, EN-02) and sport (SP-01, SP-02).

Skills every sheet needs. Project management, procurement, finance and contract law apply to all 37. With PPP ticked on 27 sheets, people who understand PPP structuring, concessions and lender requirements would be needed across sectors.

Dependencies and implementation constraints

• Proposals must go ahead before most of these skills are needed, and all 37 are at pre-feasibility stage.
• Recognition of qualifications and professional licensing in Somalia.
• Security and travel for diaspora professionals working on site.

Risks and unknowns

• Interpretation: the grouping is Xidig's reading, not the booklet's.
• Job numbers on the sheets are unsourced and don't specify skills.
• Timing: skills trained too early may leave before projects start.

Questions members should verify before acting

1. Which of these proposals is actually moving forward, with a tender or partner?
2. Which local training centres already teach the skill you have?
3. Is your qualification recognised in Somalia for the work you'd do?
4. Could you contribute remotely, or does the work need you on site?

What is confirmed, and what isn't

Confirmed

• The sheets quoted above and their wording.
• 27 sheets tick public–private partnership.

Our interpretation

• The skill groups and counts in the chart and table.
• Construction, power and plant maintenance are the most widely needed skills.

Not yet verified

• Actual staffing needs for any proposal.
• The full list of TVET courses available in Somalia today.

Relevant next steps

• Add your skills and location to Xidig so project groups can find you.
• Read the sector report for your field (see Related reports).
• Training providers: consider pairing with members to run a short course in a gap area.