𝗖𝗦𝗔 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿-𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

𝐋𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢, 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 – 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – The Civil Service Agency (CSA) of Liberia successfully participated in day one of the Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) 2026 Alumni Gathering, organized by the President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP), held at the Royal Ambassador Hotel in Lower Margibi County under the theme, “From Learning to Leadership: Young Public Servants Scaling Youth Transitions and Inclusive Growth.”

The two-day event has brought together leaders from across Africa who are alumni of the Emerging Public Leaders programs in Malawi, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, and soon Sierra Leone.

Established in 2016, the Emerging Public Leaders Initiative expanded on the Public Service Fellowship model of Liberia’s President’s Young Professionals Program (PYPP), creating a network of highly trained young public sector leaders equipped with the technical skills and leadership capacity to advance meritocracy, good
governance, and efficient service delivery across Africa.

The 2026 Alumni Network Gathering is built on previous engagements by bringing together emerging leaders to connect, share experiences, and exchange insights on governance innovations, inclusive leadership development, and strengthening state institutions and public leadership.

Representing CSA’s Director-General and PYPP Board Chairperson, Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., was the Deputy Director-General for Administration and Finance, Hon. Dahnu Mianyen, who is serving as Acting Director-General of the Civil Service Agency (CSA).

In his remarks, Hon. Mianyen emphasized that Africa’s transformation depends on deliberate investments in competent, ethical, and visionary young leaders. “Leadership does not happen by accident. It is cultivated, mentored, practiced, and strengthened through deliberate investment in people,” Hon. Mianyen stated.

He described the PYPP and EPL initiatives as critical platforms for mentorship, professional development, and leadership cultivation. He urged governments and development partners to create enabling environments that will empower young professionals to drive institutional strengthening and inclusive governance.

Drawing from his own experiences as a PYPP alumnus, Hon. Mianyen stressed the importance of professionalism, integrity, transparency, accountability, humility, and service above self-interest. He called on young leaders to embrace innovation over complacency and integrity over corruption.

Delivering the keynote address, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Marjon V. Kamara, challenged young African professionals to embrace discipline, lifelong learning, multilingualism, institutional responsibility, and regional collaboration.

She underscored the importance of integrity, humility, intellectual independence, and critical engagement with technology while promoting inclusive growth and responsive governance that serves marginalized populations.

The gathering featured solidarity messages, cultural performances, spoken-word presentations, and strategic discussions focused on advancing youth leadership and strengthening governance across the continent.

The Emerging Public Leaders Initiative evolved from Liberia’s President’s Young Professionals Program, which was launched in 2012 to identify, mentor, and prepare talented young professionals for leadership roles in public service.

The Civil Service Agency reaffirmed its commitment to merit-based governance and initiatives that empower young people to contribute meaningfully to national development and institutional transformation.