US$3,188,000 Earmarked for ECOWAS Youth Volunteers

The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, has disclosed that the African Development Bank (ADB) has increased its contribution for ECOWAS youth volunteers from USD$758,000 to USD$2,888,000, adding that the total amount mobilized thus far is to the tune of USD$3,188,000.

The ECOWAS Commission President made the disclosure Friday March 26, 2010 during the official launch of ECOWAS volunteers program.

In his speech, Ambassador Gbeho said the volunteers program is designed to cover all 15 member states in the future. He named Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau and Guinea as countries that had been selected as pilot countries for the launch of the program.

According to him, the pilot phase of the program will consist of 160 volunteers recruited from the 15 member states, adding that they will be posted to the four aforementioned countries. He added that the pilot program requires an amount of US$5,335,876.55 to cover the implementation costs within two years.

For the purpose of promoting regional integration, Ambassador Gbeho disclosed that no volunteers will serve in their home countries, adding that the ECOWAS youth and sports development center will be responsible for carrying out the daily implementation of the program, while the ECOWAS peace fund will coordinate the mobilization of resources and monitor the program, followed by the United Nations Volunteers Program that will assist the ECOWAS youth and sports center.

Already, the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) has given US$300,000 for the conduct of the program. Ambassador Gbeho told the audience that one of the major challenges facing the region is youth empowerment. He explained that after thorough reflections, the ECOWAS Commission, in conjunction with its partners, decided to address a specific aspect through the initiative of a regional volunteer corps.

He narrated that ECOWAS volunteers will be a group of volunteer men and women between the ages 18 to 35 from ECOWAS member states, who may have the capacity to adapt to different social, cultural and political circumstances.

Accordingly, he added, they will be deployed in selected community-based associations, national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and specialized agencies that are active in socio-economic, cultural, political and humanitarian work.

The volunteers are expected to help consolidate peace, recovery, national reconciliation and rehabilitation in crisis-affected communities. It is also expected that members of the volunteer corps will strengthen the capacities of local organizations by assisting them in the development and implementation of projects and programs. This initiative complements existing programs for peace-building and national volunteer programs in ECOWAS member states. It will help address the structural causes of vulnerability, instability or outbreaks of violence in the region.

During the program at SKD Sports Complex, the National Coordinating Council was sworn in as part of the launching, depicting a clear manifestation of the willingness of the authorities and other stakeholders to take ownership of the program and to really fast-track the implementation process.

Mr. Augustine Zayzay, president of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) in remarks, expressed his organization's gratitude to the history-making process of ECOWAS volunteer youth.

He said young people in the sub-region who are to serve through volunteerism will help reduce violence and bring about the promotion of lasting peace.

The Liberian youth president informed his fellow youth that the spirit of enthusiasm should be built among young people and they should bear in mind that God has given this region as a blessing and not a curse.

Mr. Zayzay called on interested youth to take advantage of the opportunity afforded them and apply to the National Coordination Council, chaired by the ECOWAS focal point which serves as a management organ.