Accountability Lab Liberia (AL Liberia) with funding from UNDP has launched the project, “Promoting Sustainable Peace through National Youth Policy in the Framework of the 2030 Agenda project”.

According to a release  signed by of AL Liberia’s Country Director, W. Lawrence Yealue, II, the project is intended to directly contribute to the key strategic interventions identified in Liberia’s National Youth Policy and Action Plan 2019-2023.

It provides capacity-building support to youth organizations in Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, and Montserrado Counties to enable them  lead peacebuilding efforts to promote youth participation in decision-making,  and remove obstacles that affect the full contribution of youth to society.

The Initiative will also help support the sustainability of local youth organizations through crisis, including COVID-related constraints; strengthen local partnership with youth organizations, movements, and networks on the positive role of young people in peacebuilding as well as foster their inclusion and create a safe space for dialogues to build trust with the government.

AL Liberia will partner with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) and the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) at the county level to identify and vet the participating Civil Society Organization (CSOs)/Community Based Organizations (CBOs), as well as participate in a youth peacebuilding research activity and national stakeholders’ forum involving policymakers and national leaders.

The release further notes that such partnership will include other United Nations (UN) agencies and the UN Governance pillar at the central level, and a network of youth volunteers.

The project is a set to deliver capacity building initiatives for 20 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in the five counties mentioned, building networks to drive local development and Peace-building initiatives; and creating linkages for youths to engage in larger policy-making processes.