Gov’t/UNDP project to train potential youth leaders – MOU signed for start of Youth Empowerment Inclusion Project
Georgetown GINA, May 18, 2012
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud and UNDP Resident Representative in Guyana Khadija Musa as the signing of the MOU for the Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project.
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today signed an agreement for the commencement of the Youth Empowerment Inclusion and Reconciliation Project.
Slated to commence at the conclusion of the Enhanced Public Trust Security and Inclusion programme which was also implemented by the Local Government Ministry, the new project will cost US$150,000.
The Project Unit will be located at the Ministry’s Kingston Office, and will be manned by a Project Coordinator and Project Support Staff. Also partnering in the venture are the Ministries of Finance and Culture Youth and Sport.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Ganga Persaud observed that the project is among many others aimed at enhancing the development of human resources across the regions. Noting that the target is capacity building for the development of Guyana’s young people, he expressed the hope that their empowerment would provide a multiplier effect which would encourage many others to benefit from the project.
He noted that Government expects that the objectives of the project will bring a higher degree of efficiency and effectiveness in the execution of works at the community level. Minister Persaud also noted that the project will enable leaders in working with communities, which will enhance capacity at the NDC level and will impact on how business is done at the regional level. It will also provide good examples for municipal governance, he said.
Aims and objectives
The aim of the project is to address the challenges of inadequate youth participation in Government and the persistent social changes that deprive them of fulfilling their right. It is also expected to provide youth with the opportunity to prepare for leadership roles in their community.
Resident UN Representative to Guyana Ms. Khadija Musa said the project also aims to increase youth participation in development programmes, and to provide feedback for both youth and policy makers to resolve issues at the local level.
Observing that youth make up more than 60% of the nation’s population, Musa stated it is an opportune time to begin the programme, since they are increasingly at risk of being exposed to crime and violence due to unemployment. She noted that this is combined with the fact that today’s generation is facing increasing challenges related to changing times.
The objective of the project is to identify and develop the capacity of potential youth leaders at the community level and develop their skills to participate in government both locally and nationally.
The project will engage 30 such youths who will be competitively selected by the UNDP, Ministry of Local Government, and the RDCs of Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10. Civil society groups and the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport will also participate in their selection.
The components of the project include training of the potential youth leaders in areas such as social media and ICT; and placing them in internship programmes with the relevant institutions within their local government structure.
The UNDP hopes that participants will use the skills acquired to further develop their communities.