By Vaye Abel Lepolu
Monrovia – Liberia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has promised to place young people at the center of national disaster risk reduction and resilience strategies, underscoring the need for inclusive policymaking that reflects the perspectives of all stakeholders.
The assurance came during a one-day Youth-Led Validation Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience (DRRR) held Saturday in Monrovia under the theme “Enhancing Youth Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience.” The gathering was organized by Liberian Youth for Climate Action, in collaboration with Youth Bridge Liberia, with support from ActionAid-Liberia.
Addressing participants, NDMA Administrative Director Augustine Kemokai reaffirmed the agency’s drive to build an inclusive system that strengthens community preparedness. “At NDMA, we are working with communities and partners to foster teamwork, professionalism, and resilience. Our mandate requires us to coordinate efforts, address capacity gaps, and ensure that disaster management is community-driven,” Kemokai said.
He also called for stronger partnerships to improve Liberia’s preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
In his remarks, Lovett Michael, Youth Coordinator at UNDP Liberia, stressed the importance of sustainability in policy design, warning that Liberia must prepare for a future with less external assistance.
“We must shift from being reactive to being proactive. Our policies should remain strong even when outside support fades,” Michael urged. Youth representatives seized the occasion to push for greater inclusion. Patrick F. Wee, Montserrado Coordinator of the Federation of Liberian Youth, criticized the draft 2024 DRRR policy for overlooking youth input.
“The climate crisis is already upon us. Young people are not just observers—we are builders of our future. Excluding our voices is a major setback,” he said, encouraging his peers to demand space in national decision-making.
Development partners and civil society actors echoed the call. CRS Senior Project Officer Idrisa L. Kamara pledged the organization’s continued support for youth-led community resilience efforts, while Children’s Parliament Speaker Roberto R. Cooper Jr. described NDMA’s new pledge as a “much-needed breakthrough” in disaster policy planning.
The forum ended with consensus that Liberia’s disaster risk policy must evolve to prioritize youth perspectives, ensuring that their energy, innovation, and leadership shape the nation’s resilience agenda.
