Sierra Leone has marked International Youth Day with a renewed focus on youth development, peacebuilding and employment, as the government unveiled three major initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young people and strengthening their participation in national development.
The initiatives were launched on Wednesday at the Julius Maada Bio Conference Centre in Lungi during a national commemoration that brought together government officials, development partners, private-sector representatives, civil society organisations and youth leaders.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, represented Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh at the ceremony and formally launched the Youth Development Cooperation Framework, the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, and the Youth Employment Portal under the PSSNYE Project.
The event was held under the global theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” and Sierra Leone’s national theme, “Harnessing Youth Innovation and Resilience for National Transformation.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Barlay said the Youth Development Cooperation Framework is intended to strengthen coordination between government institutions, development partners, civil society and private-sector actors involved in youth development.
She explained that the framework would help align investments in young people with national priorities while improving coordination, accountability and the measurement of results.
According to the minister, youth development must go beyond simply creating jobs. She identified employment, skills development, entrepreneurship, wellbeing, digital participation and community development as important areas requiring coordinated national attention.
She therefore called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that programmes designed for young people deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
The government also used the occasion to reaffirm its commitment to giving young people a meaningful role in peacebuilding and national development through the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security.
Minister Barlay stressed that young people should be recognised not merely as beneficiaries of peace initiatives but as active partners in building and maintaining peaceful communities.
She highlighted the role of young people in strengthening social cohesion, democratic participation and national stability, particularly at a time when countries across the region continue to face challenges linked to youth unemployment, social exclusion and insecurity.
The National Action Plan is expected to provide a framework for strengthening youth participation in peacebuilding and ensuring that their voices are reflected in national processes.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the launch of the Youth Employment Portal, developed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs with support from the World Bank.
The digital platform is designed to connect young people with employment and other economic opportunities while providing employers with a more efficient way to identify potential candidates.
Through the portal, young people can create professional profiles, upload and present their skills and qualifications, search for available vacancies and apply for jobs. They can also access information about programmes and opportunities relevant to their career and economic development.
Employers, meanwhile, can use the platform to advertise vacancies and search for candidates whose skills and qualifications match their requirements.
Minister Barlay encouraged government institutions, development partners and private-sector organisations to actively use the platform by posting genuine employment and training opportunities.
She also urged young people to register and maintain accurate and credible profiles so they can take advantage of opportunities available through the system.
The minister emphasised that the platform should contribute to creating a more transparent and merit-based pathway to employment.
She encouraged a shift away from dependence on personal connections, stressing that access to opportunities should increasingly be determined by skills, competence and preparedness.
Beyond the launch of the three initiatives, the International Youth Day celebration also provided a platform to showcase the creativity and resilience of Sierra Leone’s young people.
The Creative Economy Talent Exposition featured 100 youth-led enterprises operating in areas including fashion, arts and music.
The event also highlighted livelihood interventions implemented in Moyamba, Tonkolili and Western Rural districts, demonstrating efforts to provide young people with alternative pathways to income generation and self-reliance.
Another significant moment was the symbolic certification of 1,200 youth bike riders who had undergone training in alternative livelihood skills.
The initiative reflects broader efforts to equip young people with practical skills that can help them diversify their sources of income and improve their economic independence.
Minister Barlay also called on development partners to align their interventions with Sierra Leone’s national development priorities and ensure that their investments produce measurable results.
She further appealed to private-sector actors to increase their investment in youth development and create more pathways into productive employment.
With thousands of young people entering the labour market each year, she stressed the importance of expanding opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship and decent work.
The minister also encouraged young people themselves to take greater advantage of the opportunities being created by government and its partners.
She urged them to embrace innovation, acquire relevant skills, remain prepared for emerging opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.
The launch of the three initiatives marks another step in the government’s efforts to place youth development at the centre of Sierra Leone’s national transformation agenda.
As the country continues to pursue economic growth, peace and inclusive development, the success of these initiatives will depend on effective implementation, strong coordination and meaningful participation from young people, government, development partners and the private sector.