The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has concluded a three-day awareness workshop on Enhancing Digital Transformation and SDGs-based Programming Capacities for Sustainable and Inclusive Human Security, Empowerment, and Development last week in Ganta Nimba County. 

The purpose of the workshop was to enhance the capacities of local communities and project stakeholders on digital technologies' transformative role and alignment with the SDGs. It was aimed at equipping the participants with the necessary tools and skills that could enhance human security, community empowerment, and sustainable development initiatives in their respective communities. 

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for Programmes Louis Kuukpen, in his remarks, called on participants to forge ahead for the collective good of the project catchment communities. Kuukpen urged them to promote social cohesion and local economic development which reflects the SDGs slogan of “Leave No one Behind”. Kuukpen further stressed that it is time that local development brings positive and transformative changes to the lives of the community dwellers.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the focal point on the human security project, from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Horace D. Zaway emphasized that human security is critical to achieving sustainable development and goes beyond traditional concepts of security, such as physical safety, adding that the human security concept includes economic, social, and environmental dimensions.  

He reiterated that the workshop was part of the government of Liberia’s ongoing commitment in partnership with the UNDP, to empowering local communities with the skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods through inclusive service delivery in line with the project goals.

At the end of the workshop, Robert Dorliae, UNDP Human Security Project Manager, acknowledged the passion and participation seen during the sessions and encouraged participants to use the knowledge and skills they gained in a very innovative way to solve challenges at the community level. 

Dorliae reminded community members about the need to work together to achieve sustainable solutions that could help improve the quality of life in their respective communities.

He also mentioned that the concept of a Smart Village encompasses the promotion of health, hygiene, environmental protection, and decent living conditions along with digital integration.  

“True progress in human security demands communities not only to be digitally connected but socially, economically, and environmentally as well,” said Dorliae. 

The workshop is the seventh in a series that UNDP has organized to create awareness of Human Security and the Smart Village concepts through capacity enhancement. 

It brought together 67 participants which included 37 women from Yeala, Zorzor, and Salayea in Lofa County; Zuluyee and Gbanquoi in Nimba County; and Totota and Botota in Bong County. 

Among the participants were Commissioners, City Mayors, youth and women leaders, and leaders of persons with special needs. 

The participants were taken through topics that ranged from digital transformation, including digital literacy, the National Development plan, drivers of development and integration of technology into service delivery.  

Facilitators presented case studies to show how innovations in the digital world successfully improve human security, education, health care, and economic empowerment in other developing nations.