Demonstrating a strong commitment to youth inclusion in peacebuilding and national development, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, supported by UNDP Sierra Leone and development partners, concluded the country’s first National Workshop on the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) Agenda on August 4, 2025, in Freetown.
The two-day workshop marks the initial phase in the formulation of Sierra Leone’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth, Peace and Security. The plan will serve as a guiding framework to ensure the meaningful participation of young people in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and sustainable national development.
Bringing together youth leaders, Government officials, civil society organizations, UN agencies and international development partners, the workshop underscored the urgency of positioning young people as central stakeholders in the country’s peace and security architecture.
Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to empowering young people as active partners in national peace and development. He emphasized that the initiative aligns fully with Sierra Leone’s Mid-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030), which prioritizes youth inclusion and leadership.
Representing UNDP, Mabulara Tsuene underscored the importance of youth leadership in shaping the nation’s future. “Youths are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but the change makers of today,” she said. “Their voices, creativity and leadership are essential in building a peaceful and resilient Sierra Leone.”
Also addressing the gathering, Dr. Julius Foday, International Aid & Cooperation Manager at the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone, called attention to the long-standing issue of youth exclusion from policymaking processes. He emphasized that tackling that challenge is critical to advancing the YPS agenda in the country.
Over the course of the workshop, participants, including representatives from Government Ministries and Civil Society Organizations focused on governance and security, youth-led groups and other stakeholders delved into the five core pillars of UN Security Council Resolution 2250: participation, protection, prevention, partnerships and reintegration.
Participants also benefited from shared experiences and lessons learned from Nigeria and The Gambia, where National Action Plans on YPS are already in place and being implemented. Those insights provided valuable guidance on best practices and potential pitfalls to avoid as Sierra Leone moves forward with its own roadmap.
At the close of the workshop, there was a collective commitment among stakeholders to domesticate the YPS agenda by developing a comprehensive national roadmap. That roadmap will guide countrywide consultations to ensure that young people across all regions and communities have a voice in shaping the NAP, ensuring it reflects their diverse realities, needs and aspirations.
The workshop was jointly supported by UNDP Sierra Leone and the EU Support to ECOWAS in Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project. EPSG, co-funded by the European Union and commissioned by the German Government, is implemented by GIZ, EF and FIAP in collaboration with ECOWAS. The project aims to strengthen ECOWAS’ capacity to advance peace, security and good governance throughout West Africa.
Sierra Leone’s historic journey toward institutionalizing youth participation in peace and development gains renewed momentum, with the outcomes of the workshop setting a hopeful tone for the future of the country’s young generation.