Gbarnga, Bong County – The Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) has concluded a five-day Sub-Regional Democracy School for youth from political parties, aimed at strengthening inclusive political participation, democratic leadership, and policy engagement among young people across Liberia. Under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), the training took place at Gbarnga, Bong County, from May 4–8, 2026. With assistance from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, the initiative is overseen by UNDP and carried out in collaboration with UN Women and NIMD.
In order to expand their knowledge of democratic government, political involvement, peacebuilding, and responsible civic engagement, the program brought together young representatives from a wide range of political parties. The Democracy School was created to give individuals the information, useful skills, and resources they need to participate actively in democratic processes outside of election seasons.
Participants investigated strategies for improving internal party democracy, encouraging accountability, and expanding youth engagement in local and national governance and policymaking through expert-led seminars, role-playing, peer education, and group activities. NIMD Program Manager Darren Domah stressed the need of changing young people’s involvement in politics during his introductory remarks.
“If young people do not take deliberate steps to change the current political culture, nothing meaningful will shift in political participation and inclusion. We must move beyond being mobilized only during elections and begin shaping the systems, institutions, and decisions that define our democracy.”
The curriculum, which included major topics like democracy and governance, political engagement, Liberia’s multiparty system, constitutional democracy, peacebuilding, digital political communication, and youth and gender inclusion in politics, used a pragmatic, context-driven approach.
The constitutional and legislative foundations governing multiparty democracy, the historical development of political parties in Liberia, and new tendencies in political involvement were also discussed. The origins and effects of the Liberian civil war, as well as the importance of justice and reconciliation in maintaining peace and democratic governance, were discussed by the participants.
Facilitating a session on transitional justice, Counselor Jallah Barbu, Executive Director of the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court, highlighted the importance of accountability. “Reconciliation cannot come without justice. If we do not address these wounds through the law, people will continue to seek revenge in their own way.”
The role of digital media in democratic participation, including political communication, civic engagement, advocacy, and combating hate speech and false information, was further examined by participants. The Executive Director of Local Voices Liberia, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, urged participants to use responsible and positive political messaging.
Ignatius Boyah Wisseh of the National Elections Commission of Liberia led a session on the composition and operations of the Inter-Party Consultative Committee (IPCC), which was one of the program’s main highlights. Participants examined the 2025 Revised IPCC Memorandum of Understanding between registered political parties and the National Elections Commission.
Participants demanded the creation of a separate IPCC organization for political party youth wings after lengthy deliberations. This platform would improve young involvement, representation, coordination, and inclusion in political processes across the country. With the aim avoid electoral violence and encourage peaceful political activity, participants also suggested developing tools to facilitate discussions on intra-party conflict resolution and to support youth-led initiatives.
Reflecting on the training, participants highlighted its positive impact on their understanding of democracy, governance, peacebuilding, public speaking, and inclusive leadership. The program is part of NIMD Liberia’s larger LESP initiatives to grow democratic government, inclusive political involvement, and positive interaction among political players, especially women and young people.
The UNDP-managed Liberia Electoral Support Project, which is carried out in collaboration with UN Women and NIMD, the National Elections Commission of Liberia, and other stakeholders, supports initiatives to improve democratic processes in Liberia that are inclusive, credible, and participatory. Sweden, Ireland, and the European Union all contribute to the project’s funding.
Reported by: Naneka Hoffman
