CONGO: War-affected youth target of reintegration project

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

BRAZZAVILLE, 2 Dec 2005 (IRIN) - An estimated 5,000 young people in four war-shattered regions of the Republic of Congo (ROC) are scheduled to benefit from a US $1.6-million project launched by the government and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The government and the UNDP inaugurated the 18-month project on Wednesday in the capital, Brazzaville, in efforts to rehabilitate "young people at risk".

The programme would be implemented in the departments of Pool, Niari, Bouenza and Lekoumou, which were the most severely affected during the country's civil wars.

"In these departments, young people are mostly unemployed, because they often lack educational qualifications and professional experience; there is also the absence of tangible opportunities for an effective economic and social reintegration," UNDP said.

Thus, the project would comprise the rehabilitation of socioeconomic infrastructures; the improvement of access to basic social services; the development of income-generating activities; the improvement of public health and environmental protection; the social rehabilitation of the marginalised populations; the promotion of civic and moral education; and the encouragement of mutual confidence and respect of residents in their communities.

This programme is the result of a consolidated appeal in December 2004 by the Congolese government and UNDP. It is being funded by Japan and Sweden, which respectively gave $1 million and $575,540.

The goal of the venture is to support the restoration of peace and lasting social rehabilitation of young people in ROC.

"At the end of this project, in synergy with other programmes already in progress, approximately 5,000 young people who could have threatened stability in the country will have reinserted economically," the UNDP said in a statement.

The UNDP resident representative in Congo, Aurélien Agbenonci, said the initiative would emphasise civic education.

Emilienne Raoul, minister for social affairs, solidarity, humanitarian action and the family, said: "This project is of capital importance, because it contributes to peace and safety necessary for durable development."

[ENDS]