Statement by Mady Biaye, UNFPA Representative on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, at the Celebration of National Youth Day and Launch of the Government of Liberia National Youth Policy and Costed Implementation Plan (2025–2029)

Salutations

Members of the National Legislature,

Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports, and other Cabinet Ministers present,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Development Partners,

Leaders and Representatives of Civil Society Organizations,

Colleagues from the United Nations Development System,

And above all, the Young People of Liberia,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a profound honor to join you today on this special National Youth Day and deliver this statement on behalf of the entire UN Development System in Liberia led by the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Christine Umutoni.

We are gathered not just for a ceremony, but for a defining moment —the official launch of the National Youth Policy and its Costed Implementation Plan for 2025–2029. This event marks a critical turning point, as the Government of Liberia, under the leadership of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, transitions a bold vision for its future into a tangible, budgeted plan.

The Centrality of Youth to National Prosperity

The United Nations firmly believes in the power of demographic dividend. In Liberia, this potential is immense, dynamic, and urgent: about 75 percent of the population is under 35. These young people are not just future leaders; they are the leaders, innovators, and essential peacebuilders of today. Their success is Liberia’s success; their prosperity is Liberia’s prosperity.

This policy is the strategic compass required to navigate the complexities and opportunities inherent in such a young population. It is the product of comprehensive, inclusive, and participatory consultations conducted across all 15 counties, ensuring that its core is rooted in the authentic, diverse voices, dreams, and lived realities of youth in Liberia.

We wholeheartedly commend the overarching theme of this Policy: “Optimizing Transformational Change through Youth-led Innovation and Inclusive Participation.” This theme rightly positions youth as active agents of change, partners in governance, and architects of their own and this nation’s future. By focusing on youth-led innovation, Liberia is signaling a commitment to harnessing the creative and entrepreneurial energy needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the Government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The successful development of this groundbreaking policy is a testament to the power of multilateral partnership. I wish to use this platform, on behalf of the UN Development System, to commend the exceptional collaboration that underpinned this entire effort.

First and foremost, we recognize the commitment of the Government of Liberia, specifically the Ministry of Youth and Sports, for its unwavering leadership in championing this crucial national agenda.

I also extend deep appreciation to our sister UN Agencies for their dedication and technical expertise:

To UN Women: We commend your partnership in hiring the national consultant that collaborated with the International Expert brought by UNFPA to support the development of the policy. We also commend your commitment to ensuring gender equality remains at the heart of youth development. Together, the UN Development System has played a vital role in ensuring that the priorities and lived realities of young women —particularly those in marginalized communities— are visible and actionable within this policy and its costed plan. This aligns perfectly with Liberia’s ambition to be a Beijing+30 Trailblazer and its commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

We commend OHCHR for providing the essential human rights-based framework that benefits youth. This contribution ensured that the policy addresses the fundamental rights of all young people, focusing on non-discrimination, equitable access, participation in public life, and the specific needs of vulnerable groups, including youth with disabilities. The integration of a human rights lens was crucial for making this policy truly transformative and inclusive.

We also commend the technical team for supporting the UNFPA-hired International Consultant who led the development of the policy.

Anchoring Peace and Stability through Investment

Policies require resources to move from paper to implementation. We are profoundly grateful for the crucial financial support provided by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

PBF’s investment in this process underscores a fundamental truth: youth empowerment is central to peace and stability. By investing in the education, health, and economic inclusion of youth, we are simultaneously investing in social cohesion, preventing conflict, and building a resilient, democratic future for Liberia. We thank the PBF for recognizing this linkage and enabling the UN Development System to provide technical support that catalyzed the successful completion of this policy.

Ladies and gentlemen

The Costed Implementation Plan prioritizes key areas that are non-negotiable for unlocking the demographic dividend, including:

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR): We cannot address youth empowerment without ensuring young people, especially adolescent girls, have access to comprehensive sexuality education, quality health services, and protection from gender-based violence. The high rates of teenage pregnancy, unmet need for family planning, and risks of HIV continue to threaten their futures. This policy provides a roadmap to reverse these sobering trends through rights-based health, education and social protection interventions.

Education, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Digital Inclusion: The future of work is demanding. The policy’s emphasis on TVET and digital literacy is vital for equipping young people in Liberia with the market-relevant skills needed to compete globally and drive economic diversification at home. Access to technology is no longer a luxury, it is the indispensable infrastructure for economic opportunity.

The Call for Collective Accountability

Today, the journey of implementation begins. A costed plan is a promise of action, but it requires collective commitment from all stakeholders:

The Government of Liberia must prioritize budgetary allocations to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and all sectoral ministries and agencies to ensure the plan is executed consistently and equitably across all 15 counties.

The Private Sector has an important role as a key partner, creating apprenticeships, investing in skills matching, and committing to responsible youth employment practices.

Development Partners must align their support with the priorities clearly articulated in this national document, ensuring predictable and harmonized funding.

The UN Development System stands ready to continue supporting this collective mobilization effort.

Crucially, meaningful youth participation does not end with policy design; their inclusion must match it in decision-making, implementation, and monitoring.

To the young people of Liberia: this policy is your covenant. Take ownership. Demand accountability from all implementing agencies. Your active involvement in the governance of this policy is a right, a necessity, and the most powerful guarantor of its success. When policies are monitored by those whose lives they are designed to change, they are far more likely to deliver real results.

In conclusion, let us commit, together, to making this policy a living instrument that reaches the most vulnerable, leaves no one behind, and truly delivers on the dreams and dignity of the youth in Liberia.

We must create a future where every young person can: Dream Freely, Live Healthily, Work Productively, and Lead Boldly.