Employment Opportunities and Working Conditions of Rural and Peri Urban Youth in Liberia LOIC, 2006 Prepared for ILO and UNDP by Jairo Munive, George Wisner II and Carina Lakovits December 2006 The opinions expressed in this report are those of the study team and not necessarily shared by the International Labour Organization, UNDP or the individuals who have shared their experiences and observations in numerous interviews and work sessions. The study team expresses its sincere appreciation for the enthusiasm and commitment on the part of the UN country team and UNMIL who have freely and generously contributed to the planning and implementation of this report and whose insights have been invaluable. CONTENTS CONTENTS...................................................................................................................................................... 2 ACRONYMS..................................................................................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. 5 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY .................................................................................................... 8 1.1 Methodology................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Thinking Youth..........................................................................................................................................10 1.3 Structure of the Report.............................................................................................................................11 PART I: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK AND GENERAL THEMES .....................................12 2. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................................12 2.1 The iPRSP...................................................................................................................................................12 2.2 The National Employment Strategy for Decent Work........................................................................13 2.3 The UN Cluster Approach.......................................................................................................................14 2.4 Towards the Operationalisation of the National Youth Policy..........................................................15 3. GENERAL THEMES...............................................................................................................................17 3.1 Formal Education......................................................................................................................................17 3.2 Skills Training.............................................................................................................................................19 3.2.1 Public and private institutions providing vocational or technical training ................................19 3.2.2 The provision of education and skills within the DDR framework...........................................20 3.2.3 Traditional skills training - apprenticeships....................................................................................21 3.3 Access to Cash and Credit........................................................................................................................21 3.4 Infrastructure..............................................................................................................................................22 3.5 Economic Activities ..................................................................................................................................23 3.5.1 The informal economy: Small businesses and petty trade ...........................................................23 3.5.2 Agriculture and rural non-farm economies....................................................................................25 3.6 Gender.........................................................................................................................................................26 3.7 Mobility .......................................................................................................................................................27 3.8 Cross- Border Markets and Employment..............................................................................................28 PART II: CASE STUDIES ...........................................................................................................................31 4. MARYLAND..............................................................................................................................................31 4.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................31 4.2 Formal Education......................................................................................................................................32 4.3 Skills Training.............................................................................................................................................32 4.3.1 Reintegration of ex-combatants.......................................................................................................33 4.4 Economic Activities ..................................................................................................................................35 4.4.1 Agriculture...........................................................................................................................................35 4.4.2 Fishery..................................................................................................................................................35 4.4.3 Plantations...........................................................................................................................................36 4.5 Maryland Findings & Recommendations:.............................................................................................38 5. LOFA COUNTY........................................................................................................................................39 5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................39 5.2 Formal Education......................................................................................................................................39 5.3 Traditional Skills Training ........................................................................................................................40 5.4 Economic Activities ..................................................................................................................................41 5.4.1 From Subsistence Farming to Commercial Agriculture...............................................................41 5.4.2 Cooperatives .......................................................................................................................................42 5.4.3 Cross Border Trading........................................................................................................................42 2 5.5 Lofa Findings & Recommendations: .....................................................................................................43 6. NIMBA.........................................................................................................................................................44 6.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................44 6.2 Formal Education......................................................................................................................................44 6.3 Skills Training.............................................................................................................................................44 6.4 Economic Activities ..................................................................................................................................46 6.4.1 Agriculture...........................................................................................................................................46 6.4.2 Mining..................................................................................................................................................46 6.4.3 Motorcycle Riders Union..................................................................................................................47 6.4.4 Cash and Credit..................................................................................................................................48 6.5 Nimba Findings & Recommendations: .................................................................................................50 7. MAJOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................51 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................................................................55 Annex 1. Terms of Reference........................................................................................................................59