Who We Are

  • Profile

Somali Center for Education & Consultancy (SCEC) is a pioneering non-profit institution established on March 1, 2011. Born out of the need to address critical gaps in education and consultancy services within Somalia, SCEC has continuously strived to empower vulnerable communities and strengthen institutional capacities through a multifaceted approach that blends education, vocational training, literacy and numeracy, entrepreneurship, consulting services and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS).

  • Summary

At its core, SCEC is dedicated to serving vulnerable groups by offering tertiary education and specialized consultancy services. Guided by the fundamental humanitarian principles of impartiality, neutrality, independence, and humanity, the center has successfully implemented numerous projects in partnership with internationally recognized organizations such as the Danish Refugee Council, SomReP, and GIZ. These projects have included robust vocational skills
training, comprehensive literacy and numeracy programs, entrepreneurship development initiatives, and essential psychosocial support services. SCEC’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals and communities is reflected in its ongoing efforts to bridge the educational and employment gaps in Somalia’s Southwest State and beyond.

  • Background Information

SCEC was established to streamline vocational training centers across Somalia, with a dual focus on education and consultancy. Recognizing that many courses and consultancy services were absent from the market, SCEC conducted extensive assessments to identify and address these gaps.
As a result, the center has tailored its offerings to meet the specific needs of local communities, including secondary school graduates, university students, and professionals from both private and public sectors. Additionally, the center provides services such as skill training, auditing, monitoring and evaluation, research, and assessments to organizations ranging from non-governmental entities to government bodies. In the near future, SCEC also envisions the publication of locally relevant research, contributing further to the Somali educational and developmental landscape.

Our Vision

SCEC aspires to be recognized as the premier non-profit institution in Somalia, renowned for its close collaboration with humanitarian agencies and its dedicated work with vulnerable populations. Through the provision of high-quality skill training, psychosocial support, education, and consultancy, SCEC envisions a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.

Our Mission

To realize this vision, SCEC is committed to establishing centers in key locations such as Baidoa and expanding further. These centers are designed to produce a workforce that is not only well trained in essential skills but also equipped to address employment gaps, drive urban development, and conduct impactful research. By nurturing talent and fostering innovation, SCEC aims to build a brighter, more resilient future for communities across Somalia.

Values for Excellence

SCEC is built on a robust foundation of values that drive every aspect of its operations:

  1. Human Dignity and Gender Equality:
    o Every individual, regardless of gender, is given an equal opportunity to participate and contribute to development.
    o Special emphasis is placed on empowering women and ensuring they have a prominent role in all initiatives.
  2. Honesty, Integrity, Sincerity, and Transparency:
    o Staff and stakeholders operate with a commitment to ethical behavior and openness.
    o All information is shared transparently with partners, donors, and beneficiaries.
  3. Cost Consciousness and Sound Resource Management:
    o Resources are utilized efficiently, with measures in place to ensure cost effectiveness.
    o Projects are designed to not only maximize impact but also to ensure sustainability through cost recovery where applicable.
  4. Environmental Responsibility:
    o All projects are conducted with a conscious effort to preserve the environment.
    o SCEC maintains a workplace that is safe, clean, and free from harmful environmental influences.
  5. Quality Services:
    o High standards are upheld in every program, ensuring that all services provided meet rigorous quality benchmarks.
    o Staff are continually trained and evaluated to maintain excellence in service delivery.
  6. Capability and Accountability:
    o Beneficiaries are empowered with the skills and knowledge to identify and solve their own challenges.
    o The organization adheres to strict accountability measures to ensure that all activities align with planned objectives and responsible fund utilization.
  7. Creativity and Innovation:
    o Innovative solutions are encouraged across all projects, with a culture that rewards creative thinking and problem-solving.
    o Successful innovative approaches are replicated and scaled for broader impact.
  8. Discipline:
    o A strong adherence to organizational rules and regulations is maintained.
    o All staff and beneficiaries are expected to commit to the policies and procedures that guide SCEC’s operations.

Our Goal & Activities

  • Goal

SCEC’s primary goal is to empower individuals by imparting practical skills that enable them to secure employment, while simultaneously offering psychosocial support to those facing stigmatization. By building capacity and fostering resilience, SCEC helps transform challenges into opportunities for personal and communal growth.

  • Activities

To achieve its goal, SCEC undertakes a wide array of activities:

  1. Education and Literacy

Education serves as the foundation for individual development, workforce readiness, and economic stability. SCEC provides structured
literacy and numeracy programs, ensuring that beneficiaries—especially displaced persons, vulnerable groups, and returnees—have access to essential academic skills.

Children’s Education (Ages 5–14)
Recognizing the importance of early education, SCEC offers primary education programs designed to provide structured learning for children
aged 5 to 14 years.
These initiatives focus on:

  • Basic literacy and numeracy, equipping young learners with fundamental reading, writing, and mathematical skills.
  • Access to structured schooling, ensuring children progress to higher education levels with a solid academic foundation.
  • Inclusivity for displaced children, guaranteeing access to quality education in a safe and supportive environment for those affected by conflict or instability.

Primary & Secondary Education
SCEC facilitates both primary and secondary education programs, aiming to bridge educational gaps for school-age children and adolescents.
These programs:
• Provide structured curriculums aligned with national education standards to prepare students for higher education or vocational pathways.
• Ensure qualified teachers and educational resources support student development.
• Offer mentorship and counseling to help students navigate social and psychological challenges that may affect their education.

  2. Vocational Skills Training
Recognizing the demand for practical employment opportunities, SCEC offers industry-relevant vocational training across various fields.
These programs aim to bridge skill gaps and enhance marketable capabilities for unskilled individuals. Training areas include:

  • Beauty salon services for professional grooming and cosmetic treatments.
  • Tailoring to equip individuals with garment-making expertise.
  • Auto mechanics for vehicle maintenance and repair.
  • Electrical installation and maintenance to support careers in energy systems.
  • ICT training to enhance digital and technical literacy.
  • Welding and carpentry for construction-related professions.
  • Construction skills, ensuring individuals gain proficiency in masonry, plumbing, electrical work, and infrastructure development.
  • Tie Dye skills, equipping artisans with expertise in fabric dyeing and creative textile design, fostering entrepreneurial opportunities.
  • Mobile phone repairing, teaching essential technical skills for diagnosing and fixing mobile devices, creating sustainable career paths.
  • Solar technician training, providing practical knowledge in solar panel installation, maintenance, and renewable energy solutions.
  • Cooking & baking skills, offering hands-on instruction in culinary arts, pastry making, and food preparation techniques, ensuring
    participants gain skills relevant to the hospitality sector. 
  • Secretarial studies for administrative career readiness.
  • Smart Farming techniques, equipping farmers with modern agricultural strategies to improve productivity and sustainability.
  • Livestock management, ensuring proper breeding, veterinary care, and resource utilization for commercial and sustainable farming.

These vocational programs are conducted in dedicated training centers equipped with modern tools and facilities, providing students with hands-on experience and real-world expertise. Graduates are linked to employment or entrepreneurship opportunities through SCEC’s extensive partner networks.

    3. Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
SCEC recognizes the significant psychosocial challenges faced by conflict-affected communities, displaced persons, and marginalized groups.
Its MHPSS programs provide:

  • Individualized and family-based support to foster emotional resilience.
  • Therapeutic interventions to promote social cohesion and mental well-being.
  • Counseling and mentoring services for individuals experiencing social stigma, such as rape survivors and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Additionally, MHPSS includes capacity-building programs, training social workers, community mobilizers, frontline health workers, and essential
responders to ensure long-term mental health support for vulnerable populations.

    4. Entrepreneurship and Business Development
SCEC provides entrepreneurship training, equipping individuals with the skills needed to launch and sustain businesses successfully.
The program focuses on:

  • Business development strategies tailored to local market conditions.
  • Startup incubation and financial planning to assist new entrepreneurs.
  • Microfinance accessibility, ensuring beneficiaries receive financial support for business growth.

Through partnerships like the one with Midnimo Microfinance Institution, eligible graduates receive up to $1,000 USD under a 4% Murabaha financing rate, facilitating self-employment and economic sustainability.

   5. Consulting Services
SCEC provides expert consultancy services, supporting organizations, government entities, and NGOs with:

  • Policy development, assessments, and research initiatives to improve service delivery.
  • Monitoring & Evaluation strategies ensuring project effectiveness.
  • Capacity-building workshops to strengthen institutional frameworks and workforce development.

This sector plays a key role in enhancing Somalia’s development strategies through technical solutions and expert insights.

   6. Capacity Building
SCEC’s capacity-building programs aim to strengthen institutional resilience, equipping organizations, communities, and individuals with the skills required
for sustainable development.
Key activities include:

  • Training service providers such as health workers, social workers, and educators.
  • Developing leaders and community influencers, ensuring grassroots advocacy and intervention.
  • Empowering frontline responders with MHPSS knowledge, improving crisis response.

These initiatives ensure trained individuals can drive positive change within their communities, supporting long-term development and stability. SCEC’s integrated approach bridges education, employment, entrepreneurship, and psychosocial support, ensuring holistic community development and long-term economic sustainability. By fostering skills, resilience, and institutional capacity, the organization plays a pivotal role in empowering individuals and contributing to Somalia’s social and economic transformation.

Target Group

SCEC’s services are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of beneficiaries, including:

  • Vulnerable men, women, and children such as IDPs, returnees, and host community members.
  • Unskilled individuals seeking to acquire marketable skills.
  • Poor and marginalized farmers in need of capacity-building and support.
  • Persons with disabilities who require specialized assistance.
  • Health-affected populations, including patients living with chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS.

By targeting these groups, SCEC ensures that its programs are inclusive and that no one is left behind in the pursuit of sustainable development.