Shaping Policies Through People Centered Leadership: Liberia Launches Legislative Committee on Population and Development

Policies are most powerful when they reflect the real lives of the people they serve.

In a significant step toward evidence‑based policymaking, Liberia officially launched the Legislative Committee on Population and Development, under the leadership of the Vice President of the Republic, with support from the United Nations system, led by UNFPA.

The committee brings lawmakers together to integrate population data, gender equality, youth empowerment, and reproductive health considerations into national development policies.

“Population trends affect everything—from education and health to jobs and climate resilience,” the Vice President noted at the launch. “This committee ensures that our laws respond to the realities of our people.”

For young people like James, a university student in Monrovia, the move signals hope. “When leaders use data to plan, it means our needs are being considered,” he said.

Through technical assistance and policy dialogue, the United Nations continues to support Liberia in harnessing the demographic dividend, advancing women’s rights, and investing in young people as agents of change.

The committee reinforces Liberia’s commitments under the ICPD Programme of Action and the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that development policies are inclusive, equitable, and grounded in human dignity.