UNMIL continues to build the entrepreneurial capacities of its national staff members as the Mission gradually reduces the number of peacekeepers in the country as part of its drawdown. On 16 May 2014, the Integrated Mission Training Center (IMTC) graduated 17 national and international staff members in a small entrepreneurial management course called “Starting and Managing a Small Business.”

Barbara Klopp, Officer in Charge of Mission Support, said building capacities of UNMIL national staff is one of the programmes initiated by IMTC to prepare national staff members for jobs in the Liberian market in the absence of UNMIL.

Some courses offered at the training included developing new business ventures, small business marketing, managing small businesses, financial management, business planning, and pitching business plans.  The recently concluded training programme is the second of such programmes to be supported by UNMIL. Forty-two staff members were graduated last year in Voinjama, Lofa County, following completion of a small business management course.

As part of activities preceding the graduation, the participants demonstrated some of their newly acquired skills before their visiting guests to the wonder of Klopp who described their performances as “brilliant presentations.”  Klopp promised that “UNMIL will continue to support the capacity and career development programmes of national staff.” She congratulated the graduates and reminded them about UN’s provisions on conflict of interest in provision of employment services to United Nations.

Lucy Stewart Saint-Jean who spoke on behalf of fellow participants said “the knowledge gained will positively impact lives of the trainees” within and outside UNMIL.  She assured UNMIL management that the trainees will fully utilize the skill acquired. Another participant Patrick R. Kailie, Sr. said the excellent display of their skills before their guests signified the quality of training they have acquired.

IMTC Programme Coordinator Anne Njoroge congratulated the graduates for their achievements and thanked UNMIL for supporting the programme. The training was facilitated by staff from Top Consulting Incorporated and IMTC.
       
The graduates included Lucy Stewart Saint-Jean, Rebecca Nagbe, Anthony Yeah, Alice Debrum, Ruby Ofori, Mabel F. Sondah, Monica Boykai, David Sandy, Patrick R. Kailie, Sr., Priscilla Kotey, Jeremiah W. K. Kolleh, Augustus S. N. Nimley, Michael Wilson, Bendu Gborkorquellie, Reginald Taylor, Sarah S. Neufville and Bilali S. Massaquoi.  Twenty-five other staff members in Voinjama, Lofa County received the same training.