President’s Young Professionals Program celebrated fifteen-year anniversary in Liberia with graduation of tenth cohort
Twenty young leaders completed their two-year public service fellowship program and joined an alumni network of more than 400+ professionals committed to good governance in Africa.
MONROVIA – On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP) in collaboration with the Civil Service Agency (CSA) celebrated 15 years of service to Liberia and the graduation of 20 fellows from PYPP Class X who successfully completed their two-year intensive public service fellowship in ten government ministries and agencies.
The 15th-anniversary celebration and graduation ceremony were held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex Theatre in Congo Town. A full list of the graduated President’s Young Professionals (PYPs) is available here.
His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. signed the graduates’ certificates and the Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, made special remarks on behalf of the President during the graduation ceremony, recognizing their service and charging them with the responsibility to uphold the reputation of excellence the PYPP as they go forward into their professional careers.
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also attended the graduation and spoke openly with the new alumni, emphasizing the continued need for public service to have dedicated and passionate youth to drive the future of Liberia. She extended her gratitude to the young people in attendance and congratulated them noting their incredible capacity and courage.
Fifteen years ago, on August 20, 2009, former President Sirleaf launched the President’s Young Professionals Program at the Monrovia City Hall with her co-founder Betsy Williams. Since then, PYPP has continued to nurture the next generation of Liberia’s leaders; recruiting, training, and placing more than 200 young Liberian university graduates from across the country to work in 40 ministries and agencies across the government and private sector.
Ms. Ciata Stevens d’Almeida, Executive Director of PYPP said:
“Investing in the next generation of public service leaders is imperative. Over the last 15 years, PYPP has showcased the critical role young public servants play in transformative public administration in Liberia by actively training young public service leaders and building a new generation of policymakers. As a PYPP alumna, I am especially proud to lead the program that has greatly impacted my professional journey.”
At the start of their fellowship, the 20 graduates were placed in full-time employment positions in ten government ministries and agencies. After two years of mentorship, professional development, immersive policy work, soft and technical skills training, and performance monitoring; each young professional meaningfully contributes to the overall achievements of their respective institutions. At the graduation ceremony, Honorable Boakai Jaleiba, Vice President for Administration at the National Oil Company of Liberia and PYPP alumnus of Cohort II, gave the keynote address. Mr. Amos Tubor, Deputy Director for ECOWAS National Office, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and PYPP alumnus of Cohort I gave the anniversary statement. Other alumni played key roles in the program including the master of ceremony, Honorable Sarah M. Mulbah, Assistant Minister for Budget at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (Cohort IV), and musical performances by Margaret M. Cephas (Cohort XII) among others.
Members of the Cabinet as well as Honorable Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., Director General of the Civil Service Agency and Chair of PYPP Board of Directors; other officials of government and dignitaries representing embassies and foreign missions in Liberia; and national stakeholders in both the private and public sectors were in attendance.
In 2016, Emerging Public Leaders was established to replicate and adapt PYPP’s approach in a Public Service Fellowship program model for other African countries.
Ms. Abigail Kajumba, Executive Director of Emerging Public Leaders, who attended the 15th celebrations, said:
"As we mark the 15th Anniversary of the President’s Young Professionals Program and honor the accomplishments of Class X, we proudly reaffirm our commitment to developing capable and ethical leaders throughout Africa. By breaking down the barriers that have historically hindered young people’s and women’s leadership, we are paving the way for a new generation of leaders who embody the rich diversity of their countries and our continent. Our graduates are prepared to lead with passion and innovation, ensuring that we move towards our vision of a prosperous and equitable Africa, fostered by good governance - together."
Today, Emerging Public Leaders serves as a global network for the flagship public service fellowship program in Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi with more than 400 alumni, 46% women, across the continent. Cohort XI, XII and the upcoming Cohort XII in Liberia continue to adapt and expand upon the proven program model to expand impact to national and subnational levels of the public sector in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. By 2027, Emerging Public Leaders with the support of their partners, aims to have recruited, placed, and trained a total of 1,000 Fellows, at least 50 percent women, into public service across six African countries.
Media Contact:
Vermon Washington, President’s Young Professionals Program
Email: vermon.washington@pyppliberia.com
Telephone: +231 77 020 3471
Penelope Mawson, Director of Sustainability and Communication, Emerging Public Leaders
Email: penelope@emergingpublicleaders.org
Telephone: +44 7940 705097
About the President's Young Professionals Program:
The President's Young Professional Program was launched in 2009 by H.E. former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The two-year fellowship provides opportunities for top-achieving Liberian university graduates to join the civil service. The fellowship equips them with the tools necessary to make lasting contributions to good governance and beyond through mentorship, training, and career development opportunities. More than 200 young professionals have graduated from the training and continue to be transformative leaders in Liberia’s public sector, of which 46% are women.
For more information about the President’s Young Professionals Program please visit: www.pyppliberia.com.
About Emerging Public Leaders:
Emerging Public Leaders is a public service leadership organization preparing the next generation of competent and effective public sector leaders in Africa. EPL partners with governments and local organizations to rigorously identify young public service professionals who are committed to practicing and promoting good governance throughout Africa. With our support throughout their career journeys, this diverse network of leaders influences and strengthens their country’s institutions for delivering democracy with excellence, care, innovation, and integrity.
For more information about Emerging Public Leaders please visit: www.emergingpublicleaders.org.
