Monrovia, Liberia – The Youth Professional Internship Program (YPIP), launched by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) as part of a strategic capacity-building drive, aims to give recent high school and university graduates real-world experience as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Following the official launch ceremony on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening Liberia’s human resource base, particularly in the public sector.
The YPIP’s reintroduction is part of a larger government initiative aimed at giving young Liberians practical experience, professional exposure, and a deeper appreciation for public service, according to Hon. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, in his special remarks.
Minister Ngafuan discussed about his own early internship experience and shared personal stories about how internships shaped his path to public service and helped him gain competence and confidence at a critical juncture in his life.
“Working hard entails arriving with the appropriate mindset and the drive to change things. If you are arrogant or rude, you will not succeed. Everything comes down to hard work and God’s grace,” He addressed the interns.
As the custodian of Liberia’s financial resources, MFDP is accountable for upholding the highest ethical standards, he added, underscoring the significance of integrity in public service.
“Our Ministry is responsible for managing the country’s economy and finances. The level of obligation is huge. We are not allowed to keep the money we designate and see, even if we are poor. You must cultivate that level of integrity and self-control.”
Hon. Bill McGill Jones, the Deputy Minister for Administration, provided an overview of the internship program and discussed his own professional journey. He related an internship opportunity to his beginnings in public service fifteen years ago.
Minister Jones emphasised that the goal of YPIP is to provide interns with a solid foundation for future employment in the public sector by exposing them to important areas such as budgeting, policy execution, administrative operations, and public financial management.
He challenged the interns to adopt a culture of service, responsibility, and moral conduct, noting that the rise of a capable and morally upright generation of public officials is essential to Liberia’s progress.
He stated that the initiative is more than just an internship and that it demonstrates the government’s larger dedication to institutional development and youth empowerment.
Young people will also be placed at other ministries and agencies through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Youth Professional Internship Program, which provides structured mentoring, on-the-job training, and assistance with career development.
