Monrovia, Liberia; September 30, 2026: As Liberia continues conversations around strengthening its democratic institutions and electoral framework, young political leaders from political parties gathered on Monday, 28 September for a one-day dialogue to explore how they can contribute to shaping the future of electoral reform.
The Youth Dialogue on Electoral Reform, Temporary Special Measures, and Inclusive Representation brought together representatives from political party youth wings to discuss pathways for greater inclusion and meaningful participation in Liberia’s political process.
The engagement was implemented by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) in collaboration with UNDP, UN Women, the UN Electoral Affairs Division and the National Elections Commission under the Liberia Electoral Support Project.
Supported by the European Union, Irish Aid, and the Government of Sweden, the UNDP-managed Project aims to strengthen inclusive electoral processes, democratic resilience, and accountable governance in Liberia.
For many young political leaders, the dialogue represented an opportunity to move beyond discussions about electoral reform and begin identifying practical issues they want to champion as Liberia considers future reforms.
Opening the dialogue, Oscar Bloh, Country Director of NIMD, welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of engaging young political actors in conversations that will influence Liberia’s democratic future.
He described the forum as a safe space where youth representatives from different political parties could openly exchange ideas, share experiences, and identify priorities for electoral reform.
“This is a process of engaging young political actors in preparation for what will be taking place over the next year and beyond in terms of meaningful and relevant electoral reform for the country,” Mr. Bloh said.
He encouraged participants to take ownership of the conversation, noting that their perspectives would be critical in ensuring that future reforms respond to the realities and aspirations of Liberian citizens.
UN Women Liberia Programme Analyst Fatima Hallal encouraged participants to approach the engagement as a genuine dialogue rather than a lecture.
She reminded participants that young people are not only future leaders but are already contributing to Liberia’s political landscape through their roles within political party structures.
“This is an opportunity to hear from you, understand what you think, and learn what reforms you believeare necessary,” she said, encouraging participants to ask questions, challenge ideas, and share their experiences.
Speaking on behalf of UNDP Robert Irish highlighted the critical role young political leaders’ play in strengthening democracy. “You are not only the leaders of tomorrow; you are the leaders of today,” he told participants.
Mr. Irish explained that electoral reform is fundamentally about improving representation and ensuring that all citizens have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making.
He challenged participants to reflect on a central question throughout the dialogue: “What change do you want, and what change do you want to advocate for?”
The one-day engagement featured discussions on electoral reform priorities, challenges to inclusion, women and youth political representation, temporary special measures, and advocacy strategies.
Speakers, Maarten Halff from the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division and Rebecca Cox, a consultant from UN Women throughout the day emphasized that political representation is for everyone, and inclusive democracy requires the participation of women, young people, persons with disabilities, and other groups whose voices may not always be adequately represented.
Participants explored Liberia’s electoral and political context, examined barriers affecting participation, considered how the legal reform can respond to these challenges, and discussed how political parties and young leaders can contribute to a more inclusive electoral system.
Through interactive discussions and breakout sessions, youth representatives identified key advocacy areas and reflected on strategies for promoting greater participation of women and young people within political processes.
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