What happens when young people are given a real seat at the table? At the MRU YouthConnekt Summit 2026 in Freetown, youth from across Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire are not just participating—they are influencing policy, raising critical challenges, and proposing solutions that will shape the future of the Mano River Union (MRU).

From funding gaps to mobility barriers, their voices are helping to build a more inclusive, connected, and forward-looking region.The inaugural MRU YouthConnekt Summit 2026 has brought together young leaders from the four MRU countries—Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire—for dialogue, innovation, and collective action aimed at advancing regional integration, peace, and sustainable development.

Call for Collective Regional Action

During a high-level panel discussion, UNDP Liberia Resident Representative Aliou Dia emphasized that creating jobs and expanding opportunities for young people requires a collective regional effort. He called on governments, development partners, the private sector, and youth themselves to collaborate in unlocking the region’s full potential.

“The challenges facing young people in our region do not stop at national borders, and neither should our solutions. Governments, partners, the private sector, and young people themselves must come together to unlock opportunities at scale,” said Aliou Dia.

He further encouraged young people to be creative, innovative, and confident in presenting their ideas, assuring participants that partners are present not only to listen but also to support and invest in transformative youth-led initiatives.

“We are not here just to listen—we are here to support, to invest, and to help turn your ideas into real impact,” he added.

His remarks build on the momentum of the Youth Engagement Dialogue (YED) convened earlier this year by UNDP Liberia. The dialogue brought together nearly 100 young people from across the country to openly discuss their lived realities and propose actionable recommendations.

UNDP Liberia supported five of these young leaders to represent their peers at the MRU YouthConnekt Summit, elevating youth voices to the regional stage.

Through their participation, these representatives are helping ensure that national-level discussions inform regional strategies and solutions, strengthening youth inclusion in decision-making processes.

Addressing Urgent Challenges

Delegates at the summit highlighted several pressing challenges affecting young people across the MRU region, including:

• Limited access to financing for youth-led businesses
• Barriers to cross-border trade
• High costs and restrictions related to regional mobility

One participant underscored the issue of mobility noting that travel between MRU countries can often be more expensive than traveling outside the continent, highlighting the urgent need for improved regional connectivity and enabling policies.

“It is often more expensive for us to travel within the region than outside Africa. This makes collaboration difficult and limits opportunities for young people to grow their businesses across borders.”

Another participant emphasized the issue of  access to finance. “We have the ideas and the drive, but access to finance remains a major barrier. Without investment in youth-led businesses, we risk losing the enormous potential of our generation,” the participant said.

Driving Solutions Across Key Sectors

Summit discussions are focused on key sectors critical to the region’s development:

• Trade and Entrepreneurship
• Agriculture and Food Systems
• Technology and Artificial Intelligence
• Peace and Security
• Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement

These conversations go beyond dialogue—they represent a call to action to strengthen collaboration, remove systemic barriers, and unlock opportunities for millions of young people.

A Youth-Driven Future

As one of Africa’s youngest regions, the Mano River Union holds immense potential. The MRU YouthConnekt Summit 2026 is amplifying youth voices and fostering partnerships that will drive sustainable and inclusive growth.

The summit provides a unique platform for young people to engage directly with policymakers, development partners, the private sector, and the United Nations to co-create practical solutions to regional challenges and opportunities.

The message is clear: the future of the Mano River Union is youth-driven—and that future is being shaped today.

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