Africa-Press – Liberia. Youth Bridge Inc., in collaboration with the Liberian Youth for Climate Action and the Youth Humanitarian Movement, with support from ActionAid Liberia, has concluded a one-day Youth-Led Stakeholder Engagement on Policy Brief Development aimed at strengthening youth participation in disaster risk reduction and resilience building in Liberia.
Held under the theme “Enhancing Youth Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Building,” the event brought together several civil society leaders, advocates, and student representatives.
Addressing participants, Youth Bridge Executive Director, Bill K Nuquay Jr, emphasized that the dialogue marked a new step toward greater inclusion of youth voices in national disaster and resilience policies.
“We want to assure the young people of Liberia that the policy brief on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Building will be more inclusive and will reflect international best practices on youth vulnerability and participation in disaster issues,” Nuquay said.
“We continue to work with the National Disaster Management Agency and all of our longstanding development partners to make this a reality.”
The engagement also sought to empower young leaders to meaningfully contribute to policy discussions while calling on policymakers to recognize youth as critical stakeholders in disaster preparedness, response, and resilience efforts.
Representatives from key development organizations attended the session, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), and the Liberian National Student Union (LINSU).
Speaking during an online session, Mr. E. Abraham Tumbey Jr., UNDP Program Coordinator, encouraged young people to seize the spaces made available to them.
“While we are looking for inclusive and meaningful youth participation, when that opportunity is provided, they must make sure they make use of that opportunity when it is afforded to them,” Tumbey said.
The Local Manager of Catholic Relief Services, Mr. Emmanuel Kapee, also called for continuous capacity building for youth-led organizations involved in disaster risk and climate resilience work.
The dialogue was highlighted by the presence of Hon. Ansu S. Dorley, Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency of Liberia, who reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to integrating youth perspectives into national disaster strategies.
“Young people are not the future; they are the present. Any national disaster plan that leaves them out is incomplete. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with Liberia’s youth to build a resilient nation,” Dorley said.
The Executive Director of Youth Bridge noted that the outcome of the dialogue will feed directly into the ongoing development of a national youth-centered disaster risk reduction policy brief, which organizers say will serve as an advocacy tool for meaningful youth engagement with national and international stakeholders.
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