Freetown, Sierra Leone --- A group of nine Norwegian youth politicians will begin a one-week field visit to Sierra Leone on 19 January 2008. The visit, organised by the UNDP Nordic Office, is aimed at acquainting the youth politicians with UNDP and the UN's practical development work in the country. Special focus will concentrate on how to strengthen support to development aid and the multilateral system, which is considered especially significant for this new generation of Norwegian politicians.

The UNDP office in Norway recently initiated a project with political youth parties to find practical political solutions for reaching the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. The partnership aims to create more substantive debate on Norwegian and international development, as well as shaping committed development politicians for the future, by providing them with increased knowledge on development issues and inspiration to continue working within the field. This visit is part of the project of incorporating development issues into the Norwegian political agenda.

During the course of their visit to Sierra Leone , the youth politicians are scheduled to meet with senior Government officials, UN representatives and other key development stakeholders. They will visit the National Electoral Commission (NEC), the Special Court of Sierra Leone, and a selection of youth and microfinance projects around the country.

PRESS BRIEFING

What: A press briefing is scheduled to take place between the media and the Norwegian youth politicians, to brief the press on the outcomes of their visit.

When: Thursday, 24 January at 10AM

Where: Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) Headquarters, Freetown