Community Youth Network Program (CYNP) is a community-based non-governmental, humanitarian youth organization in Liberia created to increase youth participation in issues that affect them. These include health, agriculture, good governance at the community level, youth empowerment, and networking to contribute to the sustenance of peace and development. CYNP’s efforts focus on educating Liberia’s youth about agriculture while working to encourage youth employment in this sector. As part of their activities, CYNP hosts a young farmers’ forum and works with local community leaders to ensure ownership of their programs. CYNP’s young farmers’ forum activities also extends to communities in neighboring Sierra Leone.
CYNP’s collaborative efforts have led to significant successes in the generation of government-led and supported programs that promote youth involvement in agriculture. As a result of their advocacy work, there is now a section in the government’s poverty reduction strategy that focuses on youth involvement in agriculture. In addition, the Liberian Ministry of Youth and Sports has developed a pilot program involving youth in agriculture.
