Nineteen young leaders gathered in Monrovia on 31 July 2026 for the first time in a series of workshops aimed at equipping young Liberians with the skills to navigate the digital information landscape responsibly and contribute to peaceful, credible and inclusive democratic processes. 

The participants, who included student journalists, political party youth wing leaders, civil society actors and media practitioners participated in the one-day training - “Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for Democracy: Strengthening Youth Participation through Information Literacy”. Implemented by UNDP through the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP) in partnership with the National Elections Commission (NEC), Local Voices Liberia, and the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). 

Representing the NEC, Director of Communications Titus W. Tokpah highlighted the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen public information and transparency following the 2023 General Elections.

“Every opportunity to learn builds your capacity to deal with the evolving challenges of this day and age,” Tokpah told participants adding that elections are won at the ballot box, not on social media. He young people understand electoral information within its proper context and learn how to verify facts and engage critically with political narratives.

The UNDP LESP Communications Specialist, Mambu James Kpargoi noted that the initiative reflects UNDP’s commitment to empower young people as defenders of democratic values in an increasingly complex digital environment.

“Young people are at the center of this digital transformation. As content creators, community leaders, student journalists and active citizens, you have tremendous influence in shaping public discourse. With that influence comes the responsibility to verify information, engage responsibly online and promote constructive dialogue that strengthens democracy rather than divides it,” he said.

He noted that the workshop builds on the global MIL4Elections initiative and demonstrates confidence in Liberian youth leadership. “We are particularly proud that this training is being led by Ms. Aria Deemie, whose proposal was selected globally following her participation in the UNDP-UNESCO training in Spain, demonstrating the potential of Liberian youth to lead innovative democratic initiatives,” he added.

The Executive Director of Local Voices Liberia, Atty. Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, underscored that information integrity is fundamental to democratic governance saying every decision made is based on information. “When the information ecosystem is distorted, it can fuel conflict, polarization and violence. Young people must therefore develop the skills to verify information, understand the motives behind online content, and become responsible consumers and producers of information,” he stated.

The PUL president, Julius Kanubah, reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to promote ethical journalism and combating misinformation. Kanubah said responsible use of social media is essential, and he urged journalists and citizens to develop the skills to verify information before sharing it. “Information integrity is critical to protecting democracy, and the Press Union remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen these capacities, particularly among young people.”

The workshop forms part of the follow-up phase of the global MIL4Elections: Media and Information Literacy for Youth in Elections programme that took place in 2025, where Liberian youth leader Ms. Aria Deemie was competitively selected to participate alongside 20 young leaders from around the world at the 24th University on Youth and Development in Mollina, Spain. Her proposal to localize the training for Liberia was among a select number approved for implementation, demonstrating the country’s growing leadership in advancing youth participation and information integrity. The initiative was supported by Global Affairs Canada through the Project for Resilience and Integrity in the Management of Elections (PRIME) and builds on the global MIL4Elections programme jointly developed by UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and UNESCO.

Throughout the workshop, participants explored how traditional and digital media influence civic participation, examined the threats posed by misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, and discussed practical approaches to responsible digital citizenship. Through group exercises, discussions and case studies adapted from the UNDP Youth Civic and Political Participation Curriculum and UNESC’s Journey through the MILtiverse, participants strengthened their ability to critically evaluate online content, identify credible sources and engage constructively in democratic discourse.

The workshop is the first of three sessions, expanding the reach of the initiative to additional youth leaders from political parties, universities, and civil society organizations. By investing in young people as champions of information integrity, the initiative seeks to build a network of informed digital citizens capable of promoting peaceful elections, strengthening democratic participation, and fostering greater resilience against misinformation in Liberia.

The LESP supports national institutions and processes to promote inclusive, transparent, and accountable governance in Liberia. It is managed by UNDP and implemented in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, in collaboration with NEC and with support from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.