Summit of the Future: The Hopes and Aspirations of Liberia’s Youthful Population

As the saying goes, “nothing about us without us”. 

On September 11, at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, this couldn’t be truer, as the consultations, validation and consensus-building around the Global Summit of the Future was attended by Liberia’s youth and children. The process, led by the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning; Ministry of Youth and Sports; Ministry of Gender, Children& Social Protection is supported by the United Nations in Liberia.

From the start of the meeting, it was clear that the participants had a clear vision of what they wanted to contribute. Roberto Cooper Jr., speaking on behalf of the Children’s Forum noted that Human Rights (Children’s Rights), Digital Technology, and Governance are their three positions for advocacy. “To realize our full potential, we all must continuously remind policy makers of these protocols (on Children’s rights)”, he stated, as he called for full implementation of the Convention on Child’s Rights in Liberia. Another key point he highlighted was the importance of digital technology and the digital divide. “Digital technology exacts influence on how we learn, connect and play as children. Harnessing the potential of technology for children while mitigating the negative impact is crucial. He strongly recommended increasing accessibility and affordability for the children of Liberia to reach their aspirations and dreams for a better future. 

Joining their younger counterparts, the youth, represented by Banica Elliot, President of the Federation of Liberian Youth, also presented their hopes for a better future for all Liberian youth. She noted inclusivity in governance, better education systems, job opportunities, social cohesion and national stability as cardinal to youth’s vision of a better tomorrow. 

UN Resident Coordinator, Christine Umutoni, speaking on behalf of the UN in Liberia lauded the approach of the government in having the children and youth present the country’s position on a global stage. She stressed her delight in supporting and hearing the aspirations and voices of the children and young people seated around the table. “Young people bring innovative ideas and think out of the box”, she stated. She further noted that having everyone around the table enables ownership and empowerment of all stakeholders. ” With you all, our future is in safe hands”, she concluded. 

Deputy Minister of Finance and Development Planning, as well as the Deputy Ministers of Youth & Sports and Gender, Children & Social Protection commended the partnership with the United Nations Family for their support to the consultation process of the Summit of the Future. 

Background

The age structure of the population of Liberia is young; 63 per cent is less than 25 years old and 32.8 per cent is 10-24 years old. The youth and children face formidable challenges, including limited access to employment, technology, education etc. 

The Summit is a high-level event, which brings world leaders together to forge a new international consensus on how we deliver a better present and safeguard the future. Liberia has been preparing for this Summit following the request from the Government to the UNRC for support, and a roadmap guide for the preparation developed.  As part of this roadmap, consultations were held at the county level, and with Children and youths.  The National Forum seeks to bring all this information together to prepare an evidence-informed country position for the global summit, scheduled to be held from 22-23 September 2024.  The SoTF builds on the SDGs summit last year.

The summit is proposed out of the recognition that effective global cooperation is increasingly critical to survival but may be difficult to achieve in an atmosphere of mistrust, using outdated structures that no longer reflect today’s political and economic realities. 

The SOTF is therefore a once-in-a-generation opportunity that serves as a moment to mend eroded trust and demonstrate that international cooperation can effectively achieve agreed goals and tackle emerging threats and opportunities. In September, world leaders will convene at the United Nations to adopt the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations.  In preparation for this, Liberia is holding a National Forum (dubbed, the Liberia Summit of the Future) to craft a common country position.