The Government of Liberia has launched a comprehensive five-year, $15.4 million National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS), aiming to empower young people and integrate them into national development and peace-building efforts. The initiative, which runs through 2029, is a collaborative effort between the Liberian government and its international partners, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The plan is a direct response to global mandates outlined in UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, and 2535, which recognize youth as crucial actors in peace-building. It is structured around five core pillars: Participation, Protection, Prevention, Partnerships, and Disengagement & Reintegration. These pillars are designed to promote youth inclusion in decision-making, shield them from violence, and provide pathways for at-risk and former combatant youth to re-enter society.
A Global Signal
Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Barrie Freeman, hailed the launch as a significant milestone, noting it positions Liberia within a growing global movement that prioritizes youth in peace-building. Freeman emphasized that Liberia’s upcoming role on the UN Security Council, its first since 1961, underscores the importance of the plan.
“Liberia understands the causes of conflict and, more importantly, the transformative power of youth-led leadership in peace-building,” Freeman stated, commending the extensive consultations that included youth voices from all 15 counties.
Youth as Leaders, Not Victims
During the launch, Liberian Youth and Sports Minister, Jeror Cole Bangalu, stressed that the NAP-YPS is a Liberian-led national commitment, not merely a fulfillment of an international mandate. He highlighted that with nearly 75% of the population being young people, their voices and aspirations cannot be ignored.
“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 said. He described the plan as a roadmap to a future where young Liberians are seen as partners and leaders.
Echoing this sentiment, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, speaking on behalf of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, called the action plan “a statement of our collective belief in the power, potential, and promise of Liberia’s youth.” She affirmed that the plan aligns with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr.’s ARREST Agenda and stressed that its success will depend on cross-sectoral collaboration.
The NAP-YPS is Liberia’s first comprehensive framework to operationalize the global youth peace and security agenda nationally, addressing the root causes of youth exclusion and conflict through cross-sectoral collaboration among government, civil society, and development partners.
