Monrovia – The President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP) was established in April 2009 as an initiative to support the government of Liberia’s goal to develop a stronger and responsive civil service to enhance better service delivery through public service leadership and training opportunities for talented young Liberian university graduates.
Over the years, the PYPP has been committedly executing this mandate in an unbiased, meritocratic, diligent and professional manner. Moving forward, the President’s Young Professionals Program has recently recruited 23 young Liberian university graduates from various Universities around the country to form a part of Class six of the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP).
Those recruited to form a part of Class VI are from the following academic background: Accounting, Economics, Mining, Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nursing, Biology, Human Resource Management, Public Health, Sociology, Chemistry, Management and also a final year medical student.
According to the Executive Director, Hh Zaizay, All 23 graduates underwent a two (2) week of job-readiness training and were placed within the following government ministries and agencies in February of this year (2016): Liberia Revenue Authority, Governance Commission, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ministry of State/Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Land, Mines and Energy and Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Of the 23 new PYP, 11 are females and 12 males, which totaled a gender breakdown of 44% females and 56% males. All members of class VI PYP’s are assigned a direct supervisor and paired with a mentor (seasoned professional) to provide on the job coaching and guidance.
From introductory meetings held with supervisors from various ministries, agencies and Corporations (MAC’s), PYPs are reported to be very impactful at their various job placements and their respective supervisors are all impressed with their outputs.
As part of the Program’s core components (two-year regular Monthly Responsive Training), the PYPP has conducted three responsive trainings for class VI in effective Office Communication, Reinforcing Ethical Behaviors at the Workplace and Emotional Intelligence.
These responsive trainings are intended to address real-time placement challenges and enhance the young professionals’ performance at their workplace.
Background
The Presidents Young Professionals Program (PYPP) which was launched in 2009 by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Liberia’s premiere and most competitive capacity building initiatives for youth Leadership in civil service. The PYPP recruits, trains and prepares promising and talented Liberian university graduates for a future in public service.
In short terms, President’s Young Professionals (PYP’s) provide support to government ministries and agencies by performing varieties of critical task as needed.
The program’s long term goal is to create the next generation of qualified professionals who are able and committed to working for the Government of Liberia (GOL), thereby increasing public sector capacity and contributing to good governances and strong leadership.
The two-year program includes a strong training and mentoring component, pairing each young professional with a seasoned professional within a ministry or agency as well as offering a monthly responsive training, one on one monitoring and evaluation, and a monthly stipend.
The PYPP continues to support the Government of Liberia by recruiting and placing willing and committed young Liberian university Graduates in ministries and agencies creating a tipping point for good governance and effective service delivery.
Since 2009, PYPP has recruited 102 young university graduates and has placed in about 15 government ministries and 10 agencies. 63 of them have graduated and continue to provide critical support to the government of Liberia’s goal of developing a strong public sector.
Chosen through a highly competitive and meritocratic recruitment process, these PYPs have demonstrated outstanding willing and commitment to work for the government of Liberia. The PYPP is more than just an important employment opportunity; it is a career growth channel for young people.