The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a three-day workshop focused on Liberia’s National Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security (NAP YPS).
The event, held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Royal Grand Hotel Conference Hall in Sinkor, Monrovia, brings together key stakeholders to develop strategies that empower young people as agents of peace and sustainable development.
Brown McGill, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, emphasized the importance of young people’s active participation in shaping a peaceful and prosperous Liberia. “Over the next two days, we will collaboratively design strategies that empower young people as agents of change, resilience, and sustainable development,” he stated.
The workshop aims to address critical challenges such as political marginalization, social inequality, and economic hardship issues that often fuel instability. Recognizing the dedication of youth leaders, McGill highlighted the efforts of Abdullah Bility, a key advocate for youth involvement in peacebuilding.
This workshop serves as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and action, ensuring that young voices play a central role in national and regional peace-building efforts. It focuses on four key areas: Assessing the Current YPS Landscape – Identifying existing challenges and opportunities for youth engagement, Strengthening Policy Frameworks – Aligning efforts with UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535, which emphasize the critical role of youth in global peace and security, Developing an Actionable Roadmap – Outlining government strategies for youth-led peace- building, conflict prevention, and inclusive governance, and Enhancing Partnerships – Strengthening collaboration between the government, civil society organizations, development partners, and youth-led initiatives.
McGill also stressed the importance of learning from successful models in other countries, such as Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, to develop a context-specific approach that best serves Liberia’s youth.
Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative for UNFPA Liberia, conveyed greetings from the UN Resident Coordinator and the UNFPA Country Representative, reaffirming the UN’s commitment to supporting youth peace and security efforts. “The presence of key UN leadership at this workshop’s closing underscores the UN system’s dedication to advancing the YPS agenda in Liberia,” Kamugisha noted.
This initiative builds on past collaborations with the UN Department of Political and Peace- building Affairs, the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, and ECOWAS. It also benefits from funding provided by the UN Peace and Population Trust Fund.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Youth Peace and Security Coordination, the process of drafting the National Action Plan is well underway. Regional consultations have gathered insights from youth-led organizations, government representatives, and civil society stakeholders, ensuring that diverse perspectives shape the plan.
The workshop serves as a crucial step in finalizing the NAP YPS, ensuring that it meets the aspirations of young Liberians. It also aims to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to track its implementation effectively.
Banica Stephanie Elliot, President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), underscored the importance of translating discussions into tangible outcomes. “This must not become just another document that sits on a shelf; it should be a catalyst for real action,” she urged.
Elliot highlighted that the National Action Plan aligns with existing frameworks, including Liberia’s national youth policy and the youth-focused development agenda launched by President Joseph Boakai in January 2025. She called on policymakers, development partners, and civil society actors to ensure meaningful 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—and we have a responsibility to see it through,” Elliot affirmed.
The workshop is expected to yield concrete commitments from government agencies, international organizations, and grassroots movements to invest in youth-led peace and security initiatives. It also seeks to establish a framework for continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure long-term impact.
