BONG COUNTY, LIBERIA — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive national development during the official launch of Liberia’s expanded National Cadet Program, hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The initiative will provide more than 1,000 graduates and graduating seniors from universities, colleges, and technical institutions across Liberia with six months of practical workplace experience, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
Participants will be placed in public institutions, private sector entities, and other organizations across all 15 counties.
Speaking at the launch ceremony on May 15, 2026, Aliou Dia, UNDP Liberia Resident Representative, praised the Government of Liberia for prioritizing youth development and creating pathways that support young people’s transition from education to employment.
Dia emphasized that Liberia’s youthful population possesses enormous potential for national transformation when provided with the right skills, opportunities, and support systems.
“Youth are not a problem to solve — they are a solution to accelerate,” he stated.
He underscored the importance of bridging the gap between education and employment by ensuring that young people acquire practical, market-relevant experience capable of improving their employability and long-term career prospects.
According to Dia, the National Cadet Program aligns with broader UNDP-supported youth empowerment initiatives, including YouthConnekt Liberia, UNIPOD, and the SEED Project.
The UNDP Resident Representative also highlighted the organization’s sustained support to the Cadet Program over recent years.
Following the conclusion of earlier donor support in 2020, UNDP has played a key role in revitalizing and expanding the initiative since 2022 through its Livelihood and Employment Creation Programme, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Through the partnership, the programme has recorded consistent growth, increasing from 75 cadets in 2022 to 107 in 2023, 140 in 2024, and an estimated 150 in 2025, reflecting growing national investment and improved institutional coordination.
UNDP’s support has included funding assistance, technical guidance in programme design and implementation, as well as job-readiness and pre-deployment training focused on work ethics, communication, and leadership development.
According to UNDP, these interventions have helped equip young people with practical workplace skills while significantly improving their chances of securing employment.
The organization revealed that in one previous cohort, nearly two-thirds of cadets were retained and employed by their host institutions after completing their placements.
The programme has also prioritized inclusive participation by expanding opportunities for young women and persons with disabilities, while aligning with broader national and UNDP-backed youth employment and livelihood strategies.
During his remarks, Dia additionally announced the launch of the Youth Engagement Dialogue, an initiative intended to amplify the voices of young people and ensure they actively contribute ideas and solutions to challenges affecting their communities and the country.
UNDP reaffirmed its continued commitment to supporting Liberia’s youth through strategic partnerships aimed at expanding opportunities, strengthening skills development, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
The launch ceremony brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and young beneficiaries from across Liberia to mark the nationwide expansion of the National Cadet Program.
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