Business thriving in the new QudhacDheer market, Hargeisa
ILO, through the Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) supported the Hargeisa District Council in the construction of QudhacDheer marketwhich was identified as a community priority.
The economy of Hargeisa district is dominated by a Labour intensive predominantly livestock and agricultural sector. The town is also a large distribution centre of trade and manufacturing light industries.
ILO, through the Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) supported the Hargeisa District Council in the rehabilitation of QudhacDheer market which was identified as a community priority. . The market, located in one of the most populous areas of Hargeisa, caters to approximately 30,000 people in the district, therefore regarded as an important activity for many.The rehabilitation of the market was completed in June 2013, and the market was handed over to the local council of Hargeisa. The market was officially opened by the Mayor in August 2014 in the presence of district council members, JPLG team members and the entire community.
According to one community member, nearly 700 hundred families depend on this market for their daily income. The market supports a variety of activities including vegetable selling, meat selling, milk selling,fish stalls, general merchandise and clothes traders.
Before rehabilitation, the market was disorganized and overcrowded thus posing some serious health and safety threats to the traders and the consumers. This situation affected the small businesses in the market but since majority of the traders were low income sellers they lacked the capacity to improve the situation themselves.
The renovated market was designed to alleviate most of these challenges and provide a more favourable environment for trade. The new market was designed in a standard way with high quality materials, divided into sections, above all with proper sewage system and new latrines. Additionally, there is a big hanger in the middle of the market which will provide shade to many of the small vendors who were previously sheltered in small shacks.
The upgrade and renovation of the QudhacDheer market has had considerable social benefits for the community by increasing incomes by an average of 94%, increasing customer base by an average 200%, reducing the amount of produce wasted due to transportation and storage, improved trading, improved working environment with potable water, solid waste management, access to toilets and shade for protection against intense heat.
The minimum income per day of the market was USD 1- 60, with the rehabilitation the traders expect it to increase to USD 5- 75 while the current minimum number of customers per day was 10 - 80, they also expect these to increase to 20 - 100.
“I have been selling meat in this market for about 10 years and for almost one and a half years we have been sitting under the sun and the wind with no shelter. It was a really difficult situation. Today the market is in a much better situation than it was. This place was so congested and disorganized everyone was placing his/her table in small spaces. It became overcrowded and uncomfortable to work making it unhygienic and a risk to our health. The market was on the verge of destruction from poor drainage system and waste management.
The market is now more organized and people who are selling different things can sit in different places. The meat sellers like me have special raised platform to place our products. I believe that the new market will improve our businesses. Now the market is going to be organized in different sections so customers have space to move around and shop.”
ILO, through the Joint Programme on Local Governance and Decentralized Service Delivery (JPLG) supported the Hargeisa District Council in the rehabilitation of QudhacDheer market which was identified as a community priority. . The market, located in one of the most populous areas of Hargeisa, caters to approximately 30,000 people in the district, therefore regarded as an important activity for many.The rehabilitation of the market was completed in June 2013, and the market was handed over to the local council of Hargeisa. The market was officially opened by the Mayor in August 2014 in the presence of district council members, JPLG team members and the entire community.
According to one community member, nearly 700 hundred families depend on this market for their daily income. The market supports a variety of activities including vegetable selling, meat selling, milk selling,fish stalls, general merchandise and clothes traders.
 before the rehabilitation |
The renovated market was designed to alleviate most of these challenges and provide a more favourable environment for trade. The new market was designed in a standard way with high quality materials, divided into sections, above all with proper sewage system and new latrines. Additionally, there is a big hanger in the middle of the market which will provide shade to many of the small vendors who were previously sheltered in small shacks.
 poor waste management in the market before its rehabilitation |
 opening ceremony by the Mayor |
 inside the market after rehabilitation |
The minimum income per day of the market was USD 1- 60, with the rehabilitation the traders expect it to increase to USD 5- 75 while the current minimum number of customers per day was 10 - 80, they also expect these to increase to 20 - 100.
 meat seller selling her product in the newly rehabilitated market |
The market is now more organized and people who are selling different things can sit in different places. The meat sellers like me have special raised platform to place our products. I believe that the new market will improve our businesses. Now the market is going to be organized in different sections so customers have space to move around and shop.”
 business thriving in the new market |