FLY Challenges  Youth Exclusion -Dialogue examines barriers weakening democratic participation

MONROVIA – Liberia’s democratic future depends on whether its youthful majority can influence decisions between elections, rather than merely mobilize during campaigns. That concern framed a Monrovia dialogue where 75 young leaders, students, civil society actors, politicians and development partners examined barriers to participation. Their discussion exposed a familiar contradiction. Young people constitute most of Liberia’s population, yet remain poorly represented where policies and national priorities are decided. The Federation of Liberian Youth and Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy used the International Day of Democracy to press for deeper engagement. Participants connected democracy with education, employment, health and accountability. Their message was direct: voting matters, but meaningful citizenship also requires continuous access to leadership, dialogue and policymaking. The analyst reports.

MONROVIA, Liberia — Young Liberians, civil society representatives, political actors and development partners have examined the barriers limiting young people’s influence over public decisions, calling for a broader understanding of democracy that extends beyond elections and political campaigns. The discussion took place in Monrovia on September 15, 2026, as Liberia joined the global community in commemorating the International Day of Democracy.

“Democracy is more than elections. Democracy is a daily practice of ensuring human rights, the rule of law, and the meaningful participation of all people,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared in his message marking International Day of Democracy 2026. His statement provided the broader context for the Monrovia dialogue.

For many young Liberians, democracy has long been associated with election day, political rallies and campaign promises. That understanding was challenged when 75 young leaders, students, civil society representatives, political actors and development partners gathered to discuss participation, accountability and inclusive governance.

Dialogue Moves Beyond Elections

The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), in partnership with the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), organized the dialogue under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP). The gathering created a safe space for young people to reflect on one central question: What does democracy really mean for Liberia’s young people?

The project supports national institutions and citizens in advancing democratic governance, peaceful participation and accountable public institutions. The United Nations Development Programme manages the initiative in partnership with NIMD and UN Women, with support from the European Union, Ireland and Sweden.

Rather than delivering prepared speeches, participants challenged long-held assumptions about democratic participation. They examined the barriers that continue to limit young people’s influence in public decision-making.

Opening the dialogue, NIMD Programme Officer Relda Scott reminded participants that democracy extends far beyond voting. She emphasized participation, inclusion, accountability and continuous dialogue as essential elements of democratic governance.

“Democracy is more than an election. It is about participation, inclusion, accountability, dialogue, ensuring that every citizen has a voice in decisions that affect their lives,” Scott stated. Her message echoed this year’s United Nations theme on deliberative democracy, emphasizing that stronger democracies are built through continuous dialogue, collaboration and citizen engagement.

Youth Priorities Take Centerstage

Scott challenged young people to broaden their understanding of political participation beyond electoral politics by addressing issues that directly affect their lives. Drawing from NIMD’s recent regional youth consultations across Liberia, she highlighted three priorities consistently identified by young people: quality education, skills development linked to employment opportunities and sexual and reproductive health.

Addressing these concerns, Scott noted, is essential to strengthening democratic participation and improving the well-being of young people. She maintained that democracy should give young citizens opportunities to demand change and participate in shaping the policies and decisions that determine their future.

“For young people especially, democracy provides an opportunity not only to demand change, but to actively contribute to shaping the policies and decisions that determine their future,” Scott declared. Her remarks placed everyday social and economic concerns within the broader democratic debate.

The discussion quickly evolved into an honest reflection on the realities confronting Liberia’s youth. Speaking on behalf of FLY, Head of Secretariat Rosetta Fardolo challenged participants to examine whether democracy truly reflects the principle of inclusion that it promises.

Fardolo acknowledged that young people constitute the majority of Liberia’s population. She questioned, however, why their representation in political leadership and national decision-making remains disproportionately low.

She encouraged young people to move beyond being beneficiaries of governance processes and become active contributors to shaping them. Her intervention reinforced calls for youth participation to move from ceremonial inclusion to meaningful involvement in public affairs.

Structural Barriers Confronted

Throughout the discussion, participants examined structural barriers affecting democratic participation, including age, gender, economic inequality, political-party structures and access to leadership opportunities. They considered how those barriers restrict the ability of young Liberians to influence decisions even when they are numerically dominant.

Rather than focusing solely on political competition, the dialogue encouraged participants to see democracy as a shared responsibility requiring accountability, constructive engagement and commitment to the national interest. The conversation also reinforced the importance of issue-based participation, a principle promoted through NIMD’s Democracy Schools and youth-engagement initiatives.

Participants agreed that unemployment, education, technical and vocational training, health and opportunities for young people are democratic issues deserving equal attention alongside electoral politics. Their discussions connected democratic participation with the social and economic conditions shaping the lives of young Liberians.

For many in attendance, the dialogue offered an opportunity to reconsider democracy as a continuous process of listening, engaging and working together to solve national challenges. Participants stressed that citizens’ involvement in public life cannot begin and end at the ballot box.

Project Promotes Inclusive Governance

The International Day of Democracy dialogue forms part of broader efforts by the Liberia Electoral Support Project to strengthen inclusive democratic governance. The initiative promotes meaningful participation by young people and women in public life.

As participants departed, they carried a renewed understanding that democracy is not simply about choosing leaders during each election cycle. They emphasized that democracy must ensure that every voice counts and that every generation has a meaningful role in shaping Liberia’s future.