The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), has officially launched its Youth Professional Internship Program (YPIP).
The YPIP, is a strategic capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping recent university and high school graduates with hands-on experience as they prepare to enter the job market.
The official launch ceremony, according to a release, held on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, marked a renewed effort by the Ministry to strengthen country’s human resource base, particularly in the public sector.
In a special remark, Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, spoke of the reintroduction of YPIP as part of a broader government strategy to empower young Liberians with practical skills, professional exposure, and a deeper understanding of public service.
Of his own early experience as an intern, Mr. Ngafuan shared personal stories of how internships shaped his path to public service, building his confidence and competence at a critical time in his life.
“Working hard means showing up with the right attitude and the passion to make a difference,” he told the interns. “If you’re arrogant or rude, you will not go far. Hard work and the grace of God, that is the formula.”
He further highlighted the role of integrity in public service, noting that the Ministry, as the steward of country’s fiscal resources, must uphold the highest ethical standards.
“Our Ministry is responsible for managing the country economy and fiscal space.
That comes with a high level of responsibility. We allocate money, and we see money, but even if we’re broke, we are not allowed to take it.
That is the kind of discipline and integrity you must cultivate.”
Deputy Minister for Administration, Bill McGill Jones, shared his own professional journey.
Jones recounted how an internship opportunity 15 years ago, helped set him on a path to public service.
“This program is more than just an internship,” he said. “It reflects government’s broader commitment to youth empowerment and institutional development.”
Mr. Jones said YPIP is designed to expose interns to key areas such as public financial management, budgeting, policy execution, and administrative operations, thereby laying a strong foundation for future careers in the public sector.
He encouraged the interns to embrace a culture of service, accountability, and ethical behavior, adding that Liberia’s development depends on the emergence of a competent and principled generation of public servants.
The Ministry Youth Professional Internship Program will see youths also being placed at other ministries and agencies, providing structured mentorship, on-the-job training, and career development support.
The Ministry believes that investing in young talent today, it is laying the groundwork for a more effective and resilient public administration system tomorrow