Concluding his visit to Tunisia with a special focus on Libya, the UN Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi was joined by the UN Resident Coordinator in Libya Ali Al-Zatari in highlighting three strategic areas the UN will focus on in working with and for Libyan youth.

The three areas of focus include: enhancing youth participation in the Libyan political process; developing a joint UN program on youth; and conducting advocacy and outreach activities that highlight the positive contributions of Libya’s youth and that call for better investment in their development needs.

The announcement follows a series of meetings held by the Envoy with the heads of UN agencies in Libya and with Libyan youth facilitated by the UNFPA Libya Office. The meetings focused on discussing ways to enhance youth-focused programs in the country.

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Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya and the head of the UN mission in the country (UNSMIL), stressed the need to further promote the active participation of youth in the ongoing national dialogue and in the implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA). Speaking at a donors’ meeting convened by UNFPA Libya and hosted by the Embassy of Canada, Alhendawi stressed the urgent need to increase investments in youth development in Libya. Both Alhendawi and Al-Zatari invited the donor community to support youth programs and to increase funding directed at youth development.

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Ahmad Alhendawi meeting with the Libya UN Country Team.

Considering the complexity of challenges facing young people in Libya, the UN Country Team agreed on the necessity to develop a joint program that focuses on youth development. The new plan echoes directly the principles outlined by Security Council Resolution 2250 and will be adapted to effectively address the Libyan context. Click here for more coverage: http://goo.gl/QfUBJS

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  UN Youth Envoy Meets Libyan and Tunisian Youth