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, at the Royal Grand Hotel Conference Hall in Sinkor, Monrovia, gathered key stakeholders to create strategies that empower youth as agents of peace and sustainable development.
Brown McGill, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, highlighted the importance of young people actively participating in shaping Liberia’s peaceful and prosperous future.
“Over the next two days, we will design strategies that empower youth as change agents, building resilience and promoting sustainable development,” McGill stated.
The workshop aims to tackle challenges such as political marginalization, social inequality, and economic hardship, which often fuel instability. McGill acknowledged the dedication of youth leaders like Abdullah Bility, a prominent advocate for youth involvement in peace-building efforts.
The event serves as a platform for dialogue, innovation, and action, focusing 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 government, civil society organizations, development partners, and youth-led initiatives.
McGill also emphasized learning from successful models in countries like Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda to tailor strategies for Liberia’s context.
Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative for UNFPA Liberia, affirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting youth peace and security efforts. He noted the presence of UN leadership at the workshop’s closing as a sign of the UN system’s dedication to advancing the Youth Peace and Security (YPS) agenda in Liberia.
The 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, and is supported by funding from the UN Peace and Population Trust Fund.
The drafting of the National Action Plan is progressing under the leadership of MYS and the Youth Peace and Security Coordination. Regional consultations have already gathered input from youth-led organizations, government representatives, and civil society stakeholders.
Banica Stephanie Elliot, President of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), emphasized the need 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 national youth policy and the youth-focused development agenda launched by President Joseph Boakai in January 2025.
Elliot called for 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,” she affirmed.
The workshop aims to secure commitments from government agencies, international organizations, and grassroots movements to invest in youth-led peace and security initiatives. It also seeks to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress and ensure long-term impact.