Liberia: UNDP Calls for National Support to Scale Up Youth Eco-Brigade Program

TUBMANBURG, Bomi County – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Liberia’s youth through the Youth Eco-Brigade program, which promotes environmental protection and economic opportunity.

Speaking at the official launch in Tubmanburg on August 20, 2025, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Louis Kuukpen congratulated the newly selected Eco-Brigade members for their resilience and dedication. He emphasized that their role goes beyond volunteering—it represents leadership and a commitment to community service aimed at keeping neighborhoods safe, clean, and green.

“This program is transformative,” Kuukpen said. “It targets vulnerable youth, women, and persons with disabilities, offering them opportunities for environmental stewardship and sustainable livelihoods.”

Participants will receive business training, and a $400 start-up grant to launch income-generating projects. Kuukpen shared success stories from previous cohorts in Zwedru, Voinjama, Buchanan, and Robertsport, where young people turned modest grants into thriving businesses, some even expanding across borders.

“Liberia’s youthful population presents both a challenge and an opportunity,” he noted. “This initiative addresses unemployment while promoting eco-friendly jobs, urban forestry, and improved waste management. It’s about building a clean, green, and healthy Tubmanburg.”

Kuukpen urged the Government of Liberia and local authorities to take ownership of the program, expand it nationwide, and integrate it into national development and youth employment strategies. He called for dedicated funding through county development funds and the national budget to ensure sustainability across all 15 counties.

“UNDP will continue to support the program, but its long-term success depends on national leadership, local government involvement, and active youth participation,” he said. “Together, we can nurture a generation of environmentally conscious entrepreneurs and community leaders.”

Representing the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Anthony Kollie praised the launch as a vital step toward addressing Liberia’s environmental challenges and empowering youth to build sustainable futures.

“This initiative links environmental care with economic empowerment,” Kollie said. “It equips youth, women, and persons with disabilities with training, toolkits, and start-up grants to create green jobs and reduce poverty.”

He emphasized that the program is designed for lasting impact. “By training participants in environmental protection across seven counties, we are cultivating a new generation of leaders committed to preserving Liberia’s natural resources.”