The need for Youth Advancement in Liberia

The PowerPoint presentation is urging Liberian society to invest in youth development as a means to secure the future. As commonly known, Youth are the future leader. no one country support sustainable development without investing in the future. This presentation is a call to action for government to promote training mechanism, education and basic tertiary education for women, youth and girls.

1. Topic: The Need for Youth Advancement in Liberia (An Excerpt from one of my papers) NAME OF FACILITATOR: DR. AKIAH P. GLAY CELL NUM: 0777848453/0880259692 EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]/

2. Outline Overview of Youth Demographics in Liberia Challenges Facing Youth in Liberia Government Policies and Initiatives Comparative Analysis Recommendations/

3. United Nations Resolution 36/28, 1981-There is no universally agreed international definition of the youth age group. For statistical purposes, however, the United Nations—without prejudice to any other definitions made by Member States—defines ‘youth’ as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years. USAID considered youth as people from age 10-29 Department for International Development (DFID) considered youth as people from 10-24 The  physical age   of youth is usually  categorized  to be between 15 to 35 years, sometimes younger and/or older. Youth Definition

4. Overview of Youth Demographics in Liberia The census data from 2008 to 2022 reveals a significant increase in Liberia’s annual population growth rate, from 2.1 (1984-2008 tier) to 3.0 , culminating in a population of 5.24 million people by 20222. (50.4% male & 49.6% female) Population trends also indicate a high rate of rural-urban migration, with 52% of the population now residing in urban areas. Remarkably, one-third of the population lives within an 80 km radius of Monrovia alone. The crude birth rate has seen a decrease from 43.61 in 2000 to an estimated 31.29 per 1000 people in 2021. Concurrently, the average life expectancy at birth has risen to 61 years. Liberia is currently experiencing a demographic dividend, characterized by a youthful population. The population distribution reveals that 48% are below 18 years, 47% are aged between 18-60, and a mere 5% are aged 60 and above. Notably, there is a demographic bulge in the adolescent age group (15-19 ). As of 2023, Liberia Median age is 19.7 UNICEF Country Office Annual Report (2023)

5. Challenges Facing Youth in Liberia A significant 82.7% of the population is estimated to lack the financial resources necessary to afford a diet that meets nutritional requirements . This presents a considerable challenge for caregivers, who struggle to ensure that children have access to adequate food. This struggle is particularly pronounced among families residing in rural areas, where employment opportunities are limited. Alarmingly, more than one-third of the population suffers from undernourishment , with rural communities being disproportionately affected by food insecurity. In addition to these challenges, 52.3% of the population experiences multidimensional poverty. This means that, beyond financial constraints, many families and children face deficiencies in various aspects of their lives, including health, education, and living conditions. Access to sanitation and hygiene facilities is also a significant concern. This highlights the complex and interrelated challenges that must be addressed to improve the overall well-being of the population

6. The estimate is that a child born in Liberia today will reach only 32 percent of its potential. This is lower than the average for sub-Saharan Africa region and low-income countries. https:// www.iicba.unesco.org/en/node/103

7. The Child Act of 2011-persons below 18 in Liberia Section 5: Child Right and Government Duty 1. The Government of Liberia shall ensure that primary level education is free and compulsory in line with the Education Law. 2. The Ministry of Education shall provide and encourage the enrolment of children into school and re-enrolment into school or alternative forms of education for those children who may have dropped out of school. 3. The Ministry of Education shall progressively work with local government authorities through the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take special measures in respect of female, gifted and disadvantaged children to ensure equal and equitable access to education for such children. 4. The Ministry of Education shall progressively make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity and ability. 5. The Ministry of Education shall progressively develop various forms of secondary education and progressively make it free and accessible to all children in Liberia. 6. The Government of Liberia shall ensure that primary level education is free and compulsory in line with the Education Law.

8. The National Youth Manifesto: 2017 Priority no 1: Quality Education Priority no 2: Quality Health for All Priority no 3: Employment and Empowerment Priority no 4: Youth in Agriculture Priority no 5: Peace, Reconciliation and Justice Priority no 6: Meaningful Participation Priority no 7: Youth with Special Needs National Youth Policy (2005 ) : The National Youth Policy was established to guide the development and empowerment of young people in Liberia. It aims to create an enabling environment for youth to develop their full potential, participate in national development, and contribute to peacebuilding efforts. Key areas of focus include education, employment, health, and civic engagement.

9. Policies and Acts Related to Youth Empowerment in Liberia Liberia Youth Employment Act (2012) This Act seeks to address the high unemployment rates among Liberian youth by promoting skills development, entrepreneurship, and job creation. It emphasizes vocational training, apprenticeships, and public-private partnerships to create sustainable employment opportunities. Decent Work Act (2015 ) : While not exclusively focused on youth, the Decent Work Act is crucial for youth empowerment as it sets standards for labor practices, including fair wages, working conditions, and non-discrimination. This Act helps to create a safer and more equitable working environment for young people entering the labor market. Budget Law Section 10: women participation National Gender Policy GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT POLICY 2020-2024

10. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard-Investing in People (2023) Health Expenditures 64 % Score 1.36 Median 1.10 Primary Education Expenditures 5 % Score 0.73 Median 1.87 Natural Resource Protection % Score 19.8 Median 41.5 Immunization Rates 27 % Score 62.0 Median 78.5 Girls' Pri Edu Completion Rate 23 % Score 58.0 Median 71.0 Child Health 33 % Score 54.2 Median 59.0

11. What is the Actual Problem

12. Comparison of Botswana and Liberia Infrastructure-66 Geography-35 Demography-68 Quality of Living-45 Infrastructure-24 Geography-39 Demography-81 Quality of Living-32

13. The Gini Index represents a statistical measure used to assess income inequality within a country. It quantifies the distribution of income or wealth among the population, with a higher Gini Index indicating a greater level of inequality, while a lower index suggests a more equitable distribution. Source: The World Bank, 2024 The Index of Economic Freedom measures the degree to which a country's economic policies and institutions promote free markets, open trade, and entrepreneurial activity. It assesses factors such as property rights protection, business regulations, fiscal health, and government intervention in the economy.

14. The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is an indicator of public sector corruption, measured on a scale from zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Source: Transparency International.

15. Recommendations Education: If Liberia invest in education, for example improving access to quality schooling, enhancing teacher training, and expanding educational infrastructure this will empower individuals with knowledge and skills essential for personal and professional growth. Healthcare: Liberian government and private organization ought to allocate resources to advance healthcare infrastructure, carryout massive publicity preventive healthcare campaign to highlight the importance of preventive care, and state monitoring or regulating prices of essential drugs and treatment will ensure prices are affordable thus increase access to affordable healthcare services, which can improve public health outcomes, reduce mortality rates, and enhance overall well-being.

16.   Social Welfare Programs: The Liberian government ought to establish and implement social welfare programs for the vulnerable, such as elders, women and children to address food insecurity, that has the ability to alleviate poverty, reduce inequality, and provide a safety net for vulnerable populations.   Skills Development : The government should offer and enhance vocational training programs, apprenticeships, and job skills development initiatives can equip individuals with the skills needed to enter the workforce, adapt to technological advancements, and contribute to economic growth, and also create or encourage the establishment of necessary industries to employ the youth.

17. Infrastructure Development: Investing in infrastructure development should be the number one priority for the Liberian government and other private sector, such that transportation networks are good, sanitation systems, and access to clean water and electricity, can improve living standards, enhance productivity, and promote economic growth Research and Innovation: Support grassroots local research and social media innovation in science, technology, and entrepreneurship can drive economic forward.