Young political leaders from more than 15 registered political parties have reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive dialogue, peaceful political engagement, and stronger youth representation through the Inter-Party Youth Council (IPYC) of Liberia.

The two-day strategic engagement, hosted from 16 to 17 June 2026  by the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) with support from the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), brought together youth representatives from across the political spectrum to strengthen institutional coordination, build consensus, and reinforce the Council’s role as a non-partisan platform for youth engagement in democratic governance. Executed under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), jointly supported by the European Union and the governments of Ireland and Sweden, and managed by UNDP with implementation in partnership with UN Women and NIMD.

The session provided an opportunity for participants to review the Council’s governance framework, leadership structure, and operational mechanisms while identifying practical measures to strengthen its effectiveness, inclusiveness, transparency, and long-term sustainability. Discussions focused on enhancing democratic decision-making, promoting accountability, and improving coordination among the youth wings of political parties.

A key milestone of the engagement was the presentation and validation of the Council’s leadership structure and constitutional framework. Participants reached consensus on key governance provisions aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, fostering shared ownership, and promoting collaboration among member political parties. The review process also generated recommendations to further enhance the Council’s operations and future programming.

Marie-Paule Neuville, representative of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, emphasized that the platform is intended to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders. She reaffirmed the commitment of development partners to facilitate the process while stressing that its long-term success depends on the ownership, leadership, and sustained engagement of participating institutions and stakeholders. “Your participation is not only during the campaign for the election. It's during all the election process. Meaning all the time.”

The engagement highlighted the importance of issue-based politics, constructive dialogue, and peaceful collaboration as essential pillars of democratic participation. Addressing participants, Inter-Party Youth Council Chairperson Trokon George reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to promoting political tolerance and responsible leadership. “We will not respond to political disagreement by throwing stones; we will respond with ideas and constructive dialogue.”

Participants also reflected on the evolving role of youth leadership within political parties and the importance of preparing a new generation of leaders. Czar Paly, Youth Chairperson of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction, emphasized the need to build on existing experiences while creating opportunities for emerging leaders. “We cannot rely solely on our current youth chairpersons as the motivation for future leadership, as many of us are now beyond the youthful age bracket. However, we can use our experiences to inspire innovation and create opportunities for the next generation of young leaders.”

The discussions reinforced the importance of mentorship, succession planning, and continuous leadership renewal as critical elements for strengthening youth participation in political processes.

At the conclusion of the engagement, participants agreed on strengthening communication and coordination among member parties, promoting meaningful youth participation in governance processes, supporting civic and voter education initiatives, and advancing advocacy on issues affecting young people, including education, employment, leadership development, and political inclusion.

The IPYC serves as an important platform for fostering dialogue and collaboration among young political actors across party lines. By strengthening institutional structures and promoting inclusive participation, the Council contributes to building a more peaceful, participatory, and democratic political environment.

The Liberia Electoral Support Project continues to support national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance across Liberia.