The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Nine years after the end of a civil war that ravaged the country for more than a decade, Liberian youth continue to face staggering unemployment, lack of access to quality education and limited representation in government policymaking.

Of the 64 percent of Liberians living below the poverty line, 68 percent are young people. Among the unemployed, 58 percent are youth, members of a generation that grew up without access to education and are unqualified for many of the jobs currently available. Many have turned to crime as a result.

To help tackle this problem, more than 125 individuals, including legislators, policy experts and representatives from youth institutions, such as the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), came together in Monrovia last month to address key priorities for lawmakers to improve the situation. The seminar, entitled “Toward the Fulfillment of a Robust Youth Development Process in Liberia,” educated Liberian legislators about the challenges the youth population faces and policy options to address them.

For Burkina Faso’s last election – a presidential poll in 2010 –difficult and confusing requirements resulted in overwhelmingly low voter registration. Only three million of the country’s six million eligible citizens registered. And of those, only 1.7 million showed up at the polls. Women, in particular, faced formidable obstacles because of a requirement that citizens obtain a birth certificate before they can register.