National Youth Policy Dialogue Advances Inclusive Land Governance in Liberia Monrovia, Liberia
BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr
The Center for Public-Private Development (CEPPDVE), in collaboration with key national and international partners, successfully convened a National Youth Policy Dialogue on Land Governance, Land Use, and Public–Private Partnerships at the European Union Delegation Hall in Monrovia.
Held under the theme “Youth at the Center of Land Governance, Land Use, and Public–Private Partnerships in Liberia,” the dialogue brought together a diverse group of policymakers, civil society actors, development partners, and young leaders to promote inclusive, transparent, and sustainable land governance systems.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. W. Lawrence Yealue, II, Chairperson of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia, presented a powerful reflection on “From Inheritance to Influence.”
He emphasized that land governance conversations must move beyond closed rooms, stressing that “land rights discussions need to be held in open and accessible spaces where direct actors—especially communities and youth—can fully participate and shape decisions that affect their lives.”
The dialogue featured strong and thought-provoking contributions from panelists across government and civil society. Diarran J. T. Appleton, representing the National Commission on Disabilities, called for intentional inclusion, noting that persons with disabilities must be fully integrated into land rights and governance frameworks to ensure equity and justice for all citizens.
Prof. Alaric K. Tokpa, Chairman of the Governance Commission, underscored the demographic reality of Liberia, stating that young people constitute the majority of the population and their platform for land rights and ownership must not be ignored, but rather prioritized within national policy and implementation frameworks.
Adding to the conversation on youth empowerment, Mr. Thomas Duana, Head of Social Empowerment Through Learning (SELL) Liberia, emphasized that young people must be intentionally encouraged and economically empowered to acquire land and actively participate in land governance processes, positioning them as key drivers of national development.
From a gender and inclusion perspective, Ms. Success Leela Sulonkolo, Head of the Multi-Actor Platform on Land Governance, highlighted that women’s land rights remain a critical concern in Liberia.
She stressed that the Land Rights Act of 2018 must be implemented in ways that are more responsive, accessible, and enabling women to conveniently acquire and own land. From a legal and institutional perspective, Cllr. James T. Y. Fallah, Head of Legal Affairs at the Liberia Land Authority, emphasized that transitioning from policy to practice requires a deliberate repositioning of all stakeholders—including youth, women, government institutions, and the private sector—to ensure coordinated and effective land governance.
Addressing transparency and accountability, Director Armah, Acting Director for Compliance at the Independent Information Commission, highlighted that clear communication on the obligations of both land sellers and buyers is essential to mitigating land-related conflicts and building public trust in land transactions.
Further contributing to the discussion on inclusive development, Abraham Varney, Team Lead at CEPPDVE, proposed a forward-looking approach to land-based investments, stating that lease agreements should be structured to allocate at least 10 percent of generated income toward youth development initiatives, ensuring that young people directly benefit from land resources and investments.
The event also featured key programmatic and partner contributions. Mr. Asa D. Chon, Country Manager at ForumCiv, provided an overview of the dialogue, emphasizing the critical importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening land governance systems and enhancing youth participation in land ownership and decision-making processes.
Additionally, Mr. Goton Mulbah, Program Consultant, delivered a special statement on behalf of the Embassy of Ireland, representing Mr. Megan Beare, Development Lead.
The statement reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to advancing a more inclusive, transparent, and accountable land governance system in Liberia—one that safeguards equitable land rights and expands access for all, particularly women and young people.
It highlighted the strategic value of sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration in strengthening institutions, promoting responsible land stewardship, and driving reforms that position land as a catalyst for economic empowerment, social stability, and long-term national development.
The dialogue was structured around three high-level panel discussions focusing on: Strengthening land governance systems and youth participation; Land use, livelihoods, and youth economic empowerment; and Public–private partnerships and land-based investments.
Participants represented a broad spectrum of institutions, including the National CSO Council, Governance Commission, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Public Works, National Bureau of Concessions, Liberia Land Authority, Independent Information Commission, National Commission on Disabilities, Liberia Youth Foundation, World Food Forum, Zero Plastic Liberia, SELL, the Land Multi-Actor Platform, and several civil society and youth-led organizations.
Additional participation from development partners, grassroots organizations—including the Embassy of Ireland, ForumCiv, FAWE Liberia, Liberia National Fire Service, the Liberia Youth Foundation—demonstrated a growing national commitment to inclusive dialogue and cross-sector collaboration.
The strong engagement of young people throughout the dialogue highlighted a renewed sense of urgency and ownership in shaping policies that directly impact their access to land, livelihoods, and economic opportunities.
CEPPDVE remains committed to amplifying youth voices, strengthening partnerships, and advancing policy reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable development within Liberia’s land governance sector.