THE GOVERNMENT OF the Republic of France has taken a major step to promote the socio-vocational integration of young people in Liberia in the economic sector, which bears the promise of growth and employment, developing new economic opportunities in rural areas: the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), represented by French Ambassador, Terence Wills, on Tuesday July 14, 2020 signed a 10 million Euros grant agreement to support Liberia’s National TVET Policy. Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel Tweah, signed on behalf of the Government of Liberia (GOL).
FRANCE AMBASSADOR TO Liberia Terence Wills said the signing of the grant will support Liberia’s National TVET Policy by ensuring that over 2,000 youths are trained in electricity, reconstruction, agriculture, and by supporting six vocational training centers to develop agriculture through fish farming and vegetable gardening.
AMBASSADOR WILLS STATED that it was important to connect the TVET with the private sector to ensure that young people will get jobs after training, stating that the program is now the second generation of TVET program.
HE EXPRESSED OPTIMISM that the Institute European de Cooperation de Development (IECD) will fit into government policy to diversify the economy, because Liberia imports all consumable goods. Through the program, the IECD will help to process resources by adding value, which will create jobs for the youths.
THE PROGRAM WILL be developed by IECD, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education to support TVET policy to develop income generation in the agriculture sector for the next five years. It will also serve the development of sustainable income generation in the agriculture sector through fish farming and vegetable gardening beginning September 2020.