World Bank, Youth and Sport Launch Youth Employability and Empowerment Project

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.