Young people across Liberia are gaining greater access and undertsanding of the country’s National Youth Policy (2025–2029) following the completion of regional dialogues aimed at strengthening youth understanding, ownership and participation in its implementation.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, in collaboration with UN Women, UNFPA and OHCHR, completed the regional dialogues from 13 to 20 July 2026 in Monrovia, Buchanan, Gbarnga and Zwedru, with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).
Young people constitute approximately 75 per cent of Liberia’s population and are central to the country’s peacebuilding, governance, economic development and social cohesion. In October 2025, the Government of Liberia launched the revised National Youth Policy and Costed Implementation Plan (2025–2029), establishing a framework to advance youth empowerment, inclusion, participation and leadership.
However, awareness and understanding of the Policy remain limited among many young people, particularly young women, youth with disabilities, rural youth and other marginalized groups.
The regional dialogues sought to close this gap by bringing the Policy directly to young people and creating opportunities for them to discuss what its commitments mean for their lives and communities.
Youth leaders, youth-led organizations, young women’s groups, organizations of persons with disabilities, students, civil society representatives, local authorities and other stakeholders explored the Policy’s priorities and identified practical actions for implementation at county level.
Accessibility was central to the process. Simplified versions of the National Youth Policy, including Braille formats, were made available to help ensure that young people with disabilities can access and engage with the Policy.
UN Women also led discussions on the Policy’s Communication and Dissemination Strategy, equipping young people with practical tools to amplify its messages through social media, WhatsApp, radio, community outreach, flyers and posters. Participants discussed how youth groups can use their own platforms and networks to increase awareness and encourage wider participation.
The dialogues also provided spaces for participants to define the roles of government institutions, youth structures, civil society organizations and partners, while developing county-level actions around implementation, monitoring and accountability.
One of the national delegates expressed their appreciation for the intentional and inclusive approach to disseminating the National Youth Policy and noted that it’s not like any previous policy implementation approaches they’ve witnessed.
The initiative forms part of the Youth Promotion Initiative: Accelerating Digital Opportunities for Youth Civic Participation as a Lever for Building and Sustaining Peace in Liberia, a joint programme implemented by UN Women, UNFPA and OHCHR with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
By making the National Youth Policy more accessible and creating opportunities for young people to shape its implementation, the initiative is helping translate national commitments into meaningful participation and action at community level.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.
