PHOTO: Xav Flowers
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) election and democracy Activity (EDA) Chief of Party, Xav Flowers has said the 16m five years program seek to support women and youth participation in Politics.
Mr. Flowers made the disclosure during the official Launch of the program at a local hotel in Monrovia recently.
Giving overview of the program, the EDA chief of party added that their support will be done through candidate and leadership training and through targeted mentoring and skills building for female legislators.
In this way, the program aims to support the next generation of Liberian leaders, preparing them to govern ethically in the interest of their constituents he added.
The program will also help consolidate those gains and succeed in strengthening it democratic order.
According to Mr. Flowers, the program in particular EDA will build on previous USAID support to the National Elections Commission and it will also continue to support for local election observers, and for grassroots organizations to carry out voter education.
The goal is to cement previous gains and ensure that Liberia can independently, administer peaceful and credible election USAID EDA chief of party narrated.
Additionally, the new program will plant the seeds for young students to learn about their fundamental rights and responsibilities and also about the role of the government and the responsibilities of lawmakers to their constituents.
Mr. Flowers further indicated that to all elected leaders, let me say this, you have nothing to fear and everything to gain from providing accountable leadership he narrated at the launching ceremony.
“You know better than me this wonderful Liberian saying: if the townspeople or villagers are happy, ask for the chief. So provide wise, accountable and transparent leadership to your constituents and many will come looking to see and thank you,” he added.
He told civil the society in Liberia that they have critical role to play in supporting the objectives of the program and hold key to assuring transparent domestic election observation, which serves to reassure the public that process is credible; or to call out irregularities when you see them and to raise concern directly to the National Elections Commission, so that they can be resolved.
Furthermore, he said civil society partners will directly support the introduction of Civic education in schools through the Parent Teacher Associations and also through complementary intervention involving community radio and peace clubs.
Civil Society will also work to identify and support women political aspirants so they can take up leadership in the Legislative, Executive and Judiciary. USAID believes strongly in the importance of removing barriers that prevent women from realizing their full potential.
The program also seek to empower Liberian women and girls with skills and confidence they need to attain top Leadership positions.
For her part, the president of organization for women empowerment Florence Malorbah Dorley who served as one of the panelists said she wants a democracy where people will discuss the issue and not personality.
Miss Dorley added that right to vote is one thing but what happened to those votes or the protection of those votes.
She expressed that there should be a democracy where there be checks and balances from top to bottom everywhere adding that the issue of democracy is everybody business and it is upon everybody to uphold the responsibility and values.
Madam Dorley maintained that women representation should be everywhere indicating that democracy without check and balance is democracy.
Another panelist on the program, Miatta Dawolo Thomas revealed that the electing female president in Liberia affirmed their commitment of supporting women in politics.
Miss Thomas is the board secretary of Sister aid Liberia (WONGOSOL) explained that her organization had made tremendous efforts in training women in politics and their campaign.
She narrated there should be a democracy with receptive electoral environment and biological makeup during election time. Report by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com