By Patrick Stephen Tokpah-Bong
The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), in collaboration with the NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development, has launched a one-week program for the Liberia Democracy School Training in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) works to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive democracies worldwide.
Cllr. Oscar Bloh, Country Director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy in Liberia, said the Democracy School Training is a transformative initiative to foster inclusive decision-making in the political processes in Liberia.
The Democracy School is intended to increase the capacity of young people for meaningful participation in political processes in Liberia
He said the ongoing one-week Democracy School Training will provide a dynamic learning environment for thirty (30) emerging young leaders from several different political parties and student leaders from universities in Liberia.
The NIMD Country Representative said the Democracy School Training aims to promote a more inclusive and accountable democracy in Liberia.
“Democracy in its many forms across the world is the only governance system founded on the equality of every individual; the only system capable of serving the interests of society as a whole in a fair way,” he added
In democracies, the quality of governance improves as the powerful are held to account by the checks and balances of strong institutions and a free and independent media. Democracy carries the promise that every individual can live with dignity.
Cllr. Bloh further revealed that the Democracy School offers an extensive curriculum covering topics such as political theory, constitutional democracy/separation of powers, social contract theory, citizenship/participation, formation of Liberia as a nation-state, evolution of political parties, political coalitions and their implications for inclusive politics and governance, leadership, responsive politics, and governance to the needs of young people, accountability and democratic institutions as well as budgetary allocation, disbursement, and oversight.
According to him, through expert-led discussions, interactive workshops, and hands-on exercises, participants will acquire knowledge about the principles and values of democracy and practical approaches to increase their capacity for meaningful participation in political processes in Liberia.
Furthermore, Bloh emphasized that the Democracy School is part of the Liberia Electoral Support Project, which aims to promote a more inclusive and accountable democracy in Liberia.
He noted that the project is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD), with the support of the European Union, Irish Aid, and the Embassy of Sweden.
He spoke in an interview with journalists after the launch of Liberia’s first Democracy School on February 17, 2025, at the DEN-L Training Center in Gbarnga, Bong County.
