ONE UN Youth Programme in the Pacific
Observing World Food Day 2015 in Samoa coincided with the Agriculture Week which was hosted by the Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Supporting youth in agriculture
As part of the celebrations, a competition was held aimed at High Schools that give agriculture a high profile in their school curriculum. The competition provided an opportunity for the students to showcase projects and to provide an incentive to continue with agriculture in their studies and possibly as a career.
Vouchers to winning schools for agricultural equipment were supplied by FAO through the UN Youth Employment Programme.
Avele College won first prize for their efforts in raising cattle at their school. Avele College principal Matafeo Reupena was pleased his school received equipment which would enhance the cattle rearing project. “Avele College has put to good use the equipment and tools obtained through the competition by building a secure enclosure for the cattle. Previously, cattle could wander onto other properties. The enclosure solves this issue.”
ONE UN Youth Programme
FAO is one of five UN agencies that are supporting the Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development to reduce youth unemployment. The other agencies are United Nations Development Programme, International Labour Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and United Nations Volunteers.
The five UN agencies are combining and coordinating their activities to fulfill their commitment to the Government to ‘deliver as one UN’ in Samoa.
The Ministry and the UN agencies will partner with both private sector and civil society organisations to provide this range of services to youth.
The programme activities will include support to the Samoa National Youth Council to establish a ‘Youth Employment Network’ that will provide information and basic employment services to facilitate successful entry to the labour market.
The programme has been designed with the specific objective of assisting young women and men to develop the knowledge and skills needed to enter the labour market, and to provide them with the additional supporting services needed to secure employment opportunities in either waged employment or in small business development.
ILO Youth Employment Programme provides assistance to countries in developing efforts on youth employment.