The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Liberia’s youth through the Youth Eco-Brigade program.
The program, according to a release, promotes environmental protection and economic opportunity.
At the official launch in Tubmanburg, Bomi County on August 20, 2025, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Louis Kuukpen, congratulated the newly selected Eco-Brigade members for their resilience and dedication.
Kuukpen said that their role goes beyond volunteering as it represents leadership, and a commitment to community service aimed at keeping neighborhoods safe, clean and green.
“This program is transformative,” Kuukpen said, adding: “it targets vulnerable youth, women, and persons with disabilities, offering them opportunities for environmental stewardship and sustainable livelihoods.”
Participants will receive business training, and a US$400 start-up grant to launch income-generating projects. Kuukpen shared success stories from previous cohorts in Zwedru, Voinjama, Buchanan and Robertsport, where young people turned modest grants into thriving businesses; some even expanding across borders.
“Liberia’s youthful population presents both a challenge and an opportunity,” he noted. “This initiative addresses unemployment, while promoting eco-friendly jobs, urban forestry, and improved waste management. It is about building a clean, green and healthy Tubmanburg.”
Kuukpen called the government and local authorities to take ownership of the program, expand it nationwide, and integrate it into national development and youth employment strategies.
He also called for dedicated funding through county development funds, and the national budget to ensure sustainability across all 15 counties.
“UNDP will continue to support the program, but its long-term success depends on national leadership, local government involvement, and active youth participation,” he said. “Together, we can nurture a generation of environmentally conscious entrepreneurs and community leaders.”
Anthony Kollie, who represented the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), praised the launch as a vital step toward addressing country’s environmental challenges and empowering youth to build sustainable futures.
“This initiative links environmental care with economic empowerment,” Kollie said, adding: “It equips youth, women, and persons with disabilities with training, toolkits, and start-up grants to create green jobs and reduce poverty.”
The program, he said, is designed for lasting impact by training participants in environmental protection in seven of the 15 counties.
He added: “we are cultivating a new generation of leaders committed to preserving Liberia’s natural resources.”
Supported by international partners, including Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Korea, Sweden and Switzerland, the Youth Eco-Brigade, teaches skills in environmental management and entrepreneurship, enabling participants to protect their communities while building sustainable livelihoods.
Kollie encouraged participants to embrace the opportunity, collaborate and innovate. “Are you ready to lead the way toward a sustainable future?” he rhetorically asked, urging the youth to step forward as agents of change.
UNDP Project Coordinator Abraham Tumbey, described the Eco-Brigade as a transformative volunteer movement that blends community service with livelihood development.
“This program is not for UNDP, it is for the people of Tubmanburg,” Tumbey said. “Our role is to inspire, support and build your capacity.”
Since its inception in 2019, the Eco-Brigade has expanded to Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Grand Bassa, and Grand Cape Mount. The Tubmanburg launch marks the third cohort of volunteers, who recently completed training in environmental management, tree planting, waste disposal, and business skills.
Over the next 20 days, participants will lead clean-up campaigns and community awareness activities before receiving their US$400 start-up grants. Tumbey shared inspiring stories of past participants who used their stipends to invest in education, transportation businesses, and small-scale trade.
“You will eat some and save some. You’ll use part to pay school fees and support your families. Through this program, some of you could even become millionaires,” he said, reminding volunteers that the heart of the initiative is service to the community.
Tumbey also called on the EPA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the City Corporation to provide oversight and support.
Implemented by the government with support from UNDP and partners, the Eco-Brigade aligns with President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes youth empowerment, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
The program is part of Liberia’s broader effort to promote inclusive growth, environmental stewardship, and community resilience building a culture of responsibility and opportunity across the country.