INVESTING in youth continues to be an important focus of the UN Peace Building supported project in Solomon Islands.

A partnership agreement signed today between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Coconut Technology Centre (CTC) will enhance the knowledge and skills of marginalised youth in peace building and maximise their capability to capitalise on existing economic and social opportunities in their respective communities and villages.

This catalytic and innovative approach is supported by the UN Peace Building Fund project in collaboration with the Coconut Technology Centre (CTC).

It will provide training in peacebuilding, business skills and techniques for economic empowerment for up to 100 young people who have been carefully selected from the communities in North Malaita and Guadalcanal Weather Coast.

The training to be led by CTC will provide young people in these selected communities with the necessary technical skills to operate and manage the Direct Micro Expelling (DME) mills as a means to encourage youth participation in community development.

The training curriculum will incorporate the DME operation training, basic business and financial literacy, life skills and community engagement.

They will also be introduced to peacebuilding concepts and techniques to be peace advocates in their respective communities.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has a vision for transforming global development over the next fifteen years to build a more peaceful, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive future.

The Agenda asserts that young women and men are critical agents of change, and are central to achieving sustainable development.

During the signing ceremony, UNDP Country Manager Azusa Kubota reiterated that: “To cement the peace and development gains achieved and to realize greater cohesion and unity that are needed for the achievement of sustainable development for all, young people in Solomon Islands must be empowered and equipped with the required skills and knowledge.”

Manager for CTC, Francis Kapini thanked UNDP for the support and stated that: “my organisation is very much looking forward to working with and supporting the young people in these communities to encourage them to positively engage with their communities and to utilise the resources around them to improve their livelihoods and income generating potential”.

UNDP is committed to supporting youth in Solomon Islands through their enhanced engagement in the peacebuilding process during the critical transitional period for the country, marked by the drawdown of RAMSI.

–UNDP PRESS