Monrovia – The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the World Bank country office in Liberia have launched a project to empower youths of Liberia.
The project which was officially launched on Thursday, January 30 2020 with over twenty youths in attendance.
Under the Liberia Youth Employability and Empowerment Project the World Bank will support the Government of Liberia by developing a web-based digital platform on youth employability and empowerment as well as provide technical assistance for stakeholders engagement on its agenda.
Speaking at the launching ceremony Youth and Sports minister D.Zeogar Wilson said the young people of Liberia remain a critical focus of the government as youth employment and Skills development are central to the government’s effort.
He expressed excitement in launching the Hackathon project which he considers as a critical milestone for the development of a web based digital platform on youth employment and empowerment.
“ In this age where knowledge is power and information is key to the acquisition of knowledge, this platform will enhance information dissemination on employability and empowerment ad serves as a repository for data and resources focused on promoting better education and economic opportunities for young people in this country,”
“ We are excited and it is worth noting that the production of this tool will be driven by young people, for young people. You have been selected with the objective of generating the most innovative design for the project and a team of you will be selected to support the design and maintenance of the platform. For those of you who have been selected amongst many after a rigorous process, I entreat you to take pride in your selection and bring out the best in you,” minister Wilson said.
Minister Wilson extended his thanks to the world ban and its leadership in the country for continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder to with Liberia in its development effort.
Or his part the the Country Manager of World Bank in Liberi Dr. Khwima Nthara said World Bank is pleased to participate in the start of a very innovative web-based digital platform on youth employability and Empowerment.
He disclosed that the Liberia Youth Employability and Empowerment project is a World Bank excuted supported project aimed at supporting the government of Liberia to improve the employability of youth through access to information on opportunities and programs, policies targeting young innovators.
The World Bank Country Manager to Liberia explained that after consultation with youth and Stakeholders in Nimba, Grand Bassa and Montserrado counties they observed that there exist information gap between youths seeking opportunities and opportunities providers and information and communication technologies present a great opportunity for bridging the gap in Liberia.
According to him, the implementation of the Youth Employability and Empowerment project activities will be executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Liberia Agency for Community empowerment through two components.
“This Project has two components, developing a web based digital platform on youth employability and empowerment which will support the development and hosting of a web platform that promotes information dissemination on employability and empowerment opportunities for youth and technical assistance for stakeholders engagement on Youth Employability and empowerment targeting support towards strengthening coordination mechanisms of the youth sector using existing national structure such as the national youth sector steering and coordination committees.”
“ with support from Rapid Social Response the bank will work with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to develop under the two components, a well-coordinated approach and a common platform to consolidate youth intervention and more effectively address the needs of vulnerable youth in the country,” Dr. Nthara said.
He said the World Bank remains committed to the government of Liberia’s national development plan the Pro-Poor Agenda for prosperity and development and identifies youth development as on of the key drivers of the country’s progress.