By: Archie Boan
The Young Political Leadership School Africa, a flagship initiative of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, has successfully concluded a weeklong Alumni Peer Reflection and Learning Exchange Mission in Sierra Leone aimed at strengthening democratic governance, youth inclusion, and regional collaboration across West Africa.
Held from May 4–8, 2026, in Freetown, the mission brought together YPLS Africa alumni from Liberia and Sierra Leone for peer learning, institutional engagement, and cross-border dialogue centered on peacebuilding, civic education, electoral integrity, women’s political participation, and democratic governance.
During the exchange, participants engaged several key Sierra Leonean institutions, including the Parliament of Sierra Leone, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, the National Youth Commission, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
At the Parliament of Sierra Leone, alumni reflected on the country’s landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act of 2022, signed into law by Julius Maada Bio on December 23, 2022. The legislation guarantees at least 30 percent representation for women in public decision-making while also promoting equal pay, access to training opportunities, and improved financing for women.
Participants noted that Sierra Leone’s progress on inclusion demonstrates that meaningful reform is driven by sustained advocacy, strategic organizing, and collective political action.
At the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, alumni received practical lessons on electoral integrity, civic education, and the use of technology in promoting accountability and inclusion. Officials demonstrated how digital candidate registration systems enforce gender requirements by preventing political parties from finalizing submissions unless at least one in every three candidates is a woman.
Commission officials also emphasized the importance of combining digital civic engagement with grassroots outreach in markets, schools, and rural communities to build informed and participatory electorates.
The delegation later visited the National Youth Commission, where alumni explored Sierra Leone’s youth governance framework and the complementary roles played by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Commission itself.
Speaking during the engagement, Commissioner Joseph Maada Lahai stressed the importance of youth participation in policymaking.
“Policies change actions, and only politicians approve policies. So, if you want to change the actions of people, you must be part of the group of people who craft and approve policies,” Lahai said.
The mission also featured a high-level engagement with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, who praised the impact of YPLS Africa and reaffirmed his commitment to attend the program’s upcoming 13th Cohort and 10th Anniversary celebration in Liberia.
“The generation before us faced societal challenges. Today, we come forward with greater passion and broader experience. We are the ones we have been waiting for we represent hope for young people to lean on. We bring professionalism, access to government, and meaningful public engagement,” Minister Sannoh stated.
Reflecting on the significance of the mission, Alphia Faith Kemokai said the initiative represents more than a simple exchange program.
“When young people from different countries sit, reflect, and learn together, we are not just exchanging ideas — we are building a shared future for Africa,” she noted.
Similarly, Mohamed Harass Barrie emphasized the need for action-oriented youth engagement.
“Real change happens when youth move beyond conversation into collective action that influences institutions and transforms societies,” Barrie said.
Over the last decade, YPLS Africa has expanded its footprint across the continent, producing more than 1,200 alumni in 14 African countries. Alumni of the program are increasingly serving in leadership roles within political parties, civil society organizations, student governments, legislative institutions, media organizations, and community structures.
The program has also gained recognition as a continental leadership platform supporting the goals of Africa Agenda 2063, the ECOWAS Vision 2050, and the Sustainable Development Goals through youth empowerment and democratic participation.
Organizers said the Sierra Leone mission comes at a critical period as West Africa prepares for a series of important elections, with young people making up a significant portion of the region’s electorate.
The exchange strengthened regional cooperation around civic education, electoral integrity, social cohesion, non-violence advocacy, and youth leadership while laying the foundation for future collaboration through the proposed Democracy Hub initiative and the YPLS Africa Alumni Association.
The organization said the upcoming 13th Cohort and 10th Anniversary celebration in Liberia will further deepen regional dialogue on democracy, governance, and inclusive youth participation across Africa.
