USAID awards grant to Liberia young professionals program

Johnson

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a new grant to the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP) to support the recruitment, training, and mentoring of qualified young Liberian professionals to assume key positions in the Liberian Civil Service.

The grant also aims at building the capacity of young Liberians to promote good public sector governance.

This is the first direct grant from USAID to the PYPP. Under its concluded Governance Economic Management Support (GEMS) project, implemented by IBI International, USAID provided financial support and professional guidance to 24 young professionals who were part of class IV and V of the PYPP.

Speaking during the post grant award ceremony, USAID Liberia mission director, Dr. Anthony S. Chan, said the United States was committed to helping Liberia develop the capacity of its young professionals to meaningfully contribute to their country’s development. He said the grant underscores the that commitment to strengthening the organizational capacity of local organizations such as PYPP.

Launched in 2009 by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, PYPP is a competitive two-year program that places recent Liberian university graduates in key civil positions where they receive mentoring and leadership training from experienced members of the Liberia Civil Service.

To date, the program has trained and placed over 100 college graduates. Forty-five of the graduates are currently serving at 21 ministries, agencies and commissions of the Liberian government.