Monrovia – The Government of Liberia (GoL), in collaboration with international partners, has officially launched a five-year US$15.4 million National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS). The plan, which will run through 2029, aims to empower young Liberians as key agents of peace, security, and national development.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), was developed in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and is grounded in UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535 — global mandates recognizing youth as critical actors in peace building
Structured around five core pillars — Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnerships and Disengagement & Reintegration — the plan promotes youth inclusion in national decision-making, safeguards them from violence and exploitation, and provides pathways for the reintegration of former combatants and at-risk youth.
‘A Collective Belief in the Power of Youth’
Speaking on behalf of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah described the action plan as “a statement of our collective belief in the power, potential, and promise of Liberia’s youth.”
She emphasized that youth inclusion is vital not only for social equity but also for national peace, security and sustainable progress.
“Our commitment to this plan reaffirms the government’s dedication to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s ARREST Agenda,” Minister Jallah stated. “But its success depends on coordination across all sectors of society.”
A National Milestone with Global Impact
Delivering a solidarity message, Ms. Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, hailed the launch as a national milestone and a powerful global signal.
“Liberia is joining a growing global movement that recognizes young people as central to building and sustaining peace,” Ms. Freeman said.
She highlighted that the plan is rooted in the International Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Framework and that Liberia’s upcoming role on the UN Security Council in January — it is first since 1961 — makes the launch even more significant.
“Liberia understands the causes of conflict and, more importantly, the transformative power of youth-led leadership in peace building,” she noted.
Freeman commended the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UNFPA, UN Women, WANEP and especially Liberia’s youth for their commitment and meaningful participation in crafting the plan.
“This is more than a document,” she added. “It is a vision — one that puts young people at the heart of preventing conflict and shaping a more secure and inclusive future.”
Youth Not as Victims, But as Leaders
In his opening remarks, Youth and Sports Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu emphasized that the NAP-YPS is a Liberian-led movement.
“We are not just fulfilling a global mandate. This is our national commitment — to recognize youth not as passive recipients of support, but as active agents of change,” Bangalu declared.
He praised the extensive nationwide consultations that informed the plan, ensuring voices from all 15 counties were heard.
“Peace cannot be sustained without equipping young people with the opportunities they need to move forward,” he said. “With nearly 75 percent of our population made up of young people, we cannot afford to sideline their voices, ideas, and aspirations.”
Bangalu concluded by describing the action plan as a roadmap to a future where young Liberians are seen as partners and leaders, not bystanders.
About the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security
The NAP-YPS is Liberia’s first comprehensive framework to operationalize the global YPS agenda at a national level. It addresses the root causes of youth exclusion and conflict while providing clear strategies to foster youth engagement in peace building, governance, and economic empowerment. The plan will be implemented through cross-sectorial collaboration among government institutions, civil society, youth organizations, and international development partners.
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