By: Olkeriil Eoghan Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — The Palau Division of Youth is developing a National Youth Repository to gather data and inform youth employment policy and programs.
The repository will be a database containing information on young Palauans aged 14 to 35, including educational attainment, employment status, and health data. This information will be accessible through an online Resource Center linked to the Palau government website under the Ministry of Human Resource, Community, Tourism and Development, as well as Palaufutures.com.
“The National Youth Repository is intended to be a positive influence on youth employment policy and program decisions,” said Youth Division Chief Alonz in a statement. Alonz also noted the current lack of a central data repository, stating, “We need to bring all stakeholders to the table to consolidate efforts in terms of data collection, analysis, and use.”
The two-year project, launched in June 2024, is scheduled for completion in 2026. Led by the Division of Youth, it involves partnerships with 14 agencies, including non-governmental organizations and state governments.
Funding for the initiative comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Projects grant program.