The National Youth Movement for Transparent Election (NAYMOTE) Liberia’s partner for development and peacebuilding platform has officially launched the Democracy Advancement Program (DAP) to cover several indicators geared towards the developmental agenda of the country.
The program funded by the government and people of Sweden through the Swedish Embassy in the tone of US$1, 1500 has a duration of three years with focus on five counties.
Naymote’s Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo said during the kickoff of the program yesterday in Monrovia that unlike other projects conducted over the years by his institution, will focus on youth advancement, accountability and good governance in the most populated counties namely; Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties.
He said though a major component of the program focuses on democratic governance that enthused the innovation of targeting the bigger counties, the rest of the country will also get some direct or indirect beneficiary programs.
According to many expected outcomes of the program features women and girls getting informed about political leadership as well as informing and building their capacities to take the lead becoming part of the country’s democratic governance processes.
He added that efforts to increase the tracking of political promises as well as the President monitoring meter and legislative performance will become more effective to ensure the promotion of accountability and transparency under the three years DAP program.
Presenting on the goal of the program, Jarwolo stressed that they are going to enhance democratic governance for inclusive development.
“Responsive and accessible government we are going to be pushing. We will work to make the people demand from their government and the government in return delivering to the people where quality leadership will be shown,” he intimated.
Jarwolo noted that the reason for which the demand could be so high on government by its people under the program is to make the government politically accountable so that citizens can benefit from national leadership.
“This program is also going to strengthen our flagship program the Young Political Leadership School of Africa. Providing mentorship and internship to young women who will form part of campaign teams of political parties in the various communities,” he maintained.
The program which is built on Research, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement (RACE) according to Jarwolo will also ensure that citizens are aware of the operation of the service county’s service centers and local government is responsive to the needs of citizens especially women and youths with in the selected counties.
Launching the program formally, Banica Elliott, President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) lauded Naymote for the works done over the years in attracting international organizations to funding the unique plans in the Democracy Advancement Program.
She revealed that it is not in any way much suppressing to have Naymote implementing the program because the institution remains outstanding in the insurance of good governance, democracy and political development.
Elliott added that Naymote with resilient focus on the young generation of Liberia under her three-year program could reshape the style of the Liberian society.
She said with the program’s objectives highlighting accountability, democracy and governance the youth inclusion clause with emphasis on women participation and commitment shows that Naymote and her political leadership school is set to make more impacts.
