|
March 2024
USAID Official’s Historic Return to Benghazi Revives Hope
 USAID Country Representative John Cardenas met with eastern Libyan mayors in Benghazi to discuss Derna reconstruction.
On February 29, USAID Libya County Representative John Cardenas traveled to Benghazi – the first visit of a USAID official to the city in over a decade. Cardenas met with the mayors of Derna, Shahat, Alsahel, Albayda, and Omar al-Mukhtar to discuss rebuilding efforts for communities badly affected by Storm Daniel in September 2023. Cardenas also met with local civil society organizations to learn more about their role in providing citizen feedback into recovery and rebuilding efforts, civic space in the East, and local governance issues. Both meetings highlighted a coordination gap between the Derna Reconstruction Fund and local entities, resulting in a constrained environment where local governments and citizens don’t have opportunities to provide input in the rebuilding process.
Building on more than $15 million in USAID humanitarian assistance following Storm Daniel, USAID is incorporating feedback from its community lead assessment and working with the UN and donors to develop impactful programming for recovery and reconstruction in Derna. USAID is also committed to finding ways to partner with those implementing reconstruction activities to promote transparency, accountability, and coordination. Cardenas reinforced USAID’s commitment to strengthening engagement in the region as communities undertake an inclusive rebuilding process, while also highlighting USAID’s work at the sub-national level to build a more peaceful, unified, and stable country that benefits all Libyans. Within the context of Libya’s political divide, the renewal of in-person diplomacy through development engagements in the East strengthens the effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy efforts across Libya.
USAID and Murzuq Steering Committee Join Forces for Civic Entrepreneurship
 Mohamed Othman Adam signs an MOU with USAID initiating the Civic Innovators partnership.
On February 20, USAID forged a significant partnership with the Murzuq Steering Committee to launch a civic entrepreneurship initiative through the newly established municipal entrepreneurship office. Mohamed Othman Adam, Acting Committee Head signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the "Civic Innovators: Entrepreneurship for Public Solutions" activity that will train 15 entrepreneurs to develop innovative business solutions to effectively address Murzuq's municipal priorities.
Drawing inspiration from a successful pilot program in the Sebha municipality, this activity underscores the vital role of local government in cultivating the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through its Libyan Economic Acceleration Program, USAID partners with local communities like Sebha and Murzuq to foster economic growth and tackle challenges, contributing to the overall development of marginalized communities in southern Libya.
Skills Development Empowers Libyan Youth
 Youth participated in a resume writing session at the Cultural Center in Tawergha.
Youth unemployment poses a significant challenge in Libya, driven by a mismatch between graduates' skills and labor market demands, limited job opportunities in key sectors, and the impact of political instability and conflict. To help address these challenges, USAID organized workshops with youth clubs in Tawergha, Sahl Jfara, and Zawiya to equip young Libyans with essential skills for the modern job market.
Youth clubs in Tawergha and Sahl Jfara hosted resume writing sessions where participants learned to craft effective resumes tailored to showcase their strengths and experiences. The event was so successful that participants requested a follow on training on email etiquette. In Sahl Jfara and Zawiya 43 young people learned how to effectively use digital marketing in today’s competitive e-commerce space. These initiatives not only equip young Libyans with vital skills for job seeking and employment, but also foster a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement, driving sustainable socio-economic progress in marginalized communities.
USAID's Playground Initiative Brightens Southern Libya's Communities
 Vollunteers visited Albawanees' new playground to see how to properly install the playground equipment.
Communities in southern Libya are recovering from years of intercommunal violence that left both infrastructure and community cohesiveness badly damaged. USAID is collaborating with the municipalities of Murzuq, Wadi Etba, Bint Bayya, Alsharguiya, and Brakin to install playgrounds that will not only provide a safe place for children to play, but also a spot where communities can come together, helping to promote stability.
With the assistance of USAID, the municipality of Albawanees developed family-friendly spaces, including a newly installed playground and a community soccer pitch that opened in 2022. USAID recently helped Albawanees organize a workshop to share its expertise with its neighboring municipalities receiving playground equipment from USAID. The weeklong peer-to-peer event taught volunteers how to design a playground and properly install the equipment.
Through initiatives like these, USAID is not only fostering social cohesion between neighboring communities but also improving the overall quality of life for southern Libya’s youngest residents.
USAID Enhances HNEC's Capacity in Event Management
Graduates of the event management workshop receive certificates. (photo credit: HNEC)
Hosting and managing high quality events can serve as a tool for government organizations to facilitate public engagement and promote transparency and accountability. Well conceived and executed public events serve as platforms for disseminating information about policies and initiatives, building a positive public image and fostering relationships with stakeholders.
USAID recently trained High National Election Commission's (HNEC) Outreach and Media Department in event management. Throughout the workshop participants learned time management skills, logistics planning, diplomatic protocol for national events, and how to execute media events including press conferences. They also received an event management manual and checklists to help organize large events more efficiently.
The new skills were reinforced with the participants managing a two-day outreach training at the HNEC the following week better preparing them to execute external events. With USAID support, HNEC is professionalizing its outreach capabilities, and event management is an additional tool to help them better reach constituents, improve trust and transparency, and ultimately promote a culture of democracy in Libya.
USAID's Partnership with GECOL Sparks Brighter Future for Libya's Power Sector
Infographic shows the increase in power in Libya in two years.
Three years ago, Aldurra, a catering company providing ready-made meals for flights in and out of Tripoli, faced a significant setback when over 140,000 Libyan dinars’ worth of food had to be thrown away due to spoilage during an electricity outage. Libya’s prolonged turmoil had severely strained its electricity sector, resulting in frequent power outages averaging approximately 17 hours a day, badly impacting businesses like Aldurra.
Through a collaborative effort between USAID, the General Electric Company of Libya (GECOL) has made considerable strides to address Libya's power challenges. USAID partnered with GECOL to conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify the underlying constraints hindering adequate power generation. This initiative culminated in the establishment of the Emergency Grid Stabilization Program, including physical maintenance and repairs coupled with data-driven technological enhancements. The result - virtually no power outages in 2023 and sufficient energy supply to address all of Libya’s electricity needs.
Reflecting on the transformation, Essam Elmarghani, CEO of Aldurra remarked, "We used to spend our days counting the hours until the electricity returned. The stability in power supply now allows us to concentrate on ensuring customer satisfaction."
The positive impacts of uninterrupted electricity extend beyond the realm of commerce, significantly improving the quality of life for all Libyans, especially during the sweltering summer months. This progress heralds a pivotal juncture for Libya, as enhanced power reliability lays the foundation for economic growth and a higher quality of life.
|
|
