Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNICEF Sign Pact to Boost Adolescent Development
Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNICEF Sign Pact to Boost Adolescent Development
The Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNICEF signed a partnership agreement on Thursday, June 4, 2026, reaffirming their commitment to improving the lives of adolescent girls across Liberia.
During the signing ceremony, Minister of Youth and Sports Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah praised UNICEF for its continued support and longstanding dedication to expanding opportunities for adolescent girls. She stressed the need for gender mainstreaming and stronger coordination among government institutions working on youth issues. The Minister also announced plans to engage the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Education to enhance collaboration and maximize resources for programs targeting adolescent girls.
“We want to improve coordination, monitoring, and accountability so that the resources invested in these programs produce meaningful results for Liberia’s young people,” Minister Kruah said.
She further assured UNICEF of the Ministry’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective project monitoring under the partnership.
UNICEF Country Representative Andy Brooks lauded Minister Cornelia Kruah for being on the right path as far as UNICEF and continuing the commitment. He welcomed the whole-of-government approach, noting that adolescent girls remain one of UNICEF’s flagship priorities in Liberia. He highlighted the unique challenges these girls face, including barriers to education, health, and protection, and called for coordinated interventions to address them.
The signing marks another milestone in the longstanding partnership between UNICEF and the Ministry. Both institutions pledged to continue working together to empower young people and create greater opportunities for future generations.
The overarching goal of the Action for Adolescent Development (A4AD) program is to provide out-of-school or at-risk children and adolescents with foundational learning, life skills, employable skills, and economic opportunities. The program aims to help these young Liberians realize their full potential and contribute to the nation’s development.
