Speeches Shim
![The Libya External Office Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Josh Harris speaks with participants at the Libya Women's Economic Empowerment Conference The Libya External Office Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Josh Harris speaks with participants at the Libya Women's Economic Empowerment Conference](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/pressreleases/USAID-2019-Libya-Women-Charge.jpg?itok=8hIyWCgs)
On July 18-19, 2019, USAID/Libya convened a cross section of prominent Libyan business women, activists, and Libyan local government representatives for a Women’s Economic Empowerment conference in Tunis, Tunisia to discuss opportunities and constraints to entrepreneurship and political participation for women in Libya.
The USAID Asia and the Middle East Economic Growth Best Practices Project (AMEG) employment program recently completed a workforce development and enterprise competitiveness pilot activity. From June to August of 2017, business experts provided targeted technical training and support resources to a select group of Libyan firms in Tripoli and Sabha to enhance their competitiveness and growth capacity, and generate increased employment. The pilot project contributed to job growth in 16 private sector firms.
![](https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/news/12-15-2017/abaroli.jpg?itok=Bi7iU9wB)
Libyans are working to decentralize basic services, to bring governance closer to the people. Key actors in this effort are the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), elected mayors and council-members, and municipal government staff. Recognizing the significant gaps in the legal framework for decentralization, USAID has begun a legislative drafting capacity building program with the MoLG’s legal office and municipal councils’ lawyers.
The PSES pilot project supports Libya’s private sector to play a proactive and constructive role in bridging divides and reducing conflict in five Libyan communities. Based on Libyan-led community consultations, PSES supports targeted economic activities that build citizen trust, economic cooperation and interdependence between the sides of five communities in conflict, with a particular focus on engaging women and youth. The overall goal is to boost stability and reduce community-level conflict while strengthening Libya’s burgeoning private sector.
Objective: To help Libyan local government entities build capacity, and ensures that local government is informed by, and inclusive of, citizen concerns. In addition, IRI supports Libyan local government officials to fulfil their roles and responsibilities while engaging in sound policy making.
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