Monrovia – The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a three-day workshop to develop Liberia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security (NAP YPS).
The workshop, held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, on the Royal Grand Hotel Conference Hall in Sinkor, Monrovia, gathered key stakeholders to create methods that empower youth as brokers of peace and sustainable improvement.
Brown McGill, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, highlighted the significance of younger folks actively taking part in shaping Liberia’s peaceable and affluent future.
“Over the next two days, we will design strategies that empower youth as change agents, building resilience and promoting sustainable development,” McGill acknowledged.
The workshop goals to deal with challenges resembling political marginalization, social inequality, and financial hardship, which regularly gasoline instability. McGill acknowledged the dedication of youth leaders like Abdullah Bility, a outstanding advocate for youth involvement in peace-building efforts.
The occasion serves as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and motion, specializing in 4 key areas: Assessing the Current YPS Landscape – Identifying current challenges and alternatives for youth engagement; Strengthening Policy Frameworks – Aligning efforts with UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535, which emphasize the important function of youth in international peace and safety; Developing an Actionable Roadmap – Outlining authorities methods for youth-led peace-building, battle prevention, and inclusive governance and Enhancing Partnerships – Strengthening collaboration between authorities, civil society organizations, improvement companions, and youth-led initiatives.
McGill additionally emphasised studying from profitable fashions in international locations like Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda to tailor methods for Liberia’s context.
Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative for UNFPA Liberia, affirmed the UN’s dedication to supporting youth peace and safety efforts. He famous the presence of UN management on the workshop’s closing as an indication of the UN system’s dedication to advancing the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) agenda in Liberia.
The initiative builds on previous collaborations with the UN Department of Political and Peace-building Affairs, the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, and ECOWAS, and is supported by funding from the UN Peace and Population Trust Fund.
The drafting of the National Action Plan is progressing beneath the management of MYS and the Youth Peace and Security Coordination. Regional consultations have already gathered enter from youth-led organizations, authorities representatives, and civil society stakeholders.
Banica Stephanie Elliot, President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), emphasised the necessity for tangible outcomes. “This must not just be another document on a shelf; it must drive real action,” she urged. She added that the National Action Plan aligns with Liberia’s nationwide youth coverage and the youth-focused improvement agenda launched by President Joseph Boakai in January 2025.
Elliot referred to as for significant youth participation in governance, decision-making, and peace-building processes. “As young people, we must embrace this opportunity with enthusiasm and determination. This is our plan—our future,” she affirmed.
The workshop goals to safe commitments from authorities companies, worldwide organizations, and grassroots actions to put money into youth-led peace and safety initiatives. It additionally seeks to develop a monitoring and analysis framework to trace progress and guarantee long-term affect.