The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive development during the official launch of Liberia’s expanded National Cadet Program, hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The National Cadet Program 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. Participants will be placed in public institutions, private sector organizations, and other entities across all 15 counties.
Speaking at the event on May 15, 2026, UNDP Liberia Resident Representative Aliou Dia, commended 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 holds immense potential for national transformation when equipped with the right skills, opportunities, and support systems.
“Youth are not a problem to solve—they are a solution to accelerate,” he said.
Dia underscored the importance of bridging the gap between education and employment by ensuring that young people gain practical, market-relevant experience, noting that the National Cadet Program aligns with broader UNDP-supported youth empowerment initiatives, including YouthConnekt Liberia, UNIPOD, and the SEED Project.
Additionally, he highlighted UNDP’s sustained support to the National Cadet Program in recent years.
Following earlier donor support that ended in 2020, UNDP has supported the revitalization and expansion of the programme 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 this support, the programme has recorded steady growth from 75 cadets in 2022, to 107 in 2023, 140 in 2024, and an estimated 150 in 2025, reflecting increasing national investment and strengthened institutional coordination.
UNDP’s contribution has included funding support, technical assistance in programme design and delivery, and the provision of job-readiness and pre-deployment training in areas such as work ethics, communication, and leadership skills.
These efforts have helped equip young people with practical, market-relevant experience and improve their employability, with strong early results—in one cohort, two-thirds of cadets secured employment with their host institutions following completion of their placements.
The support has also emphasized inclusive participation, ensuring greater access for young women and persons with disabilities, while aligning the Cadet Program with broader national and UNDP-backed youth employment and livelihood initiatives.
During his remarks, the UNDP Liberia Resident Representative also announced the launch of the Youth Engagement Dialogue, an initiative designed to amplify young people’s voices and ensure they contribute ideas and solutions to challenges affecting them.
UNDP reaffirmed its continued commitment to supporting Liberia’s youth through strategic partnerships that expand opportunities, strengthen skills development, and promote inclusive growth.
The event brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and young beneficiaries from across the country to mark the nationwide expansion of the National Cadet Program.
