A youth led think tank and empowerment organization founded in 2005, building capacity for peace, human rights, health, and sustainable development.
From a grassroots idea in 2005 to a national voice for youth, follow how our story branches into practice.
The Youth Partnership for Peace and Development (YPPD) is a youth led think tank and empowerment organization founded in Sierra Leone in 2005. In a national context where youth are both the most vital asset and a demographic facing significant challenges, YPPD exists to unlock the potential of young people as powerful agents of transformative change. We are dedicated to building the capacity of youth and their communities to champion sustainable development, peace, human rights, and health, with a commitment to including the most marginalized.
Registered with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and recognized by the National Youth Commission, YPPD has spent nearly two decades fostering a generation of informed, engaged, and socially responsible citizens. We work at the critical intersection of grassroots empowerment and national policy, ensuring that the voices of young people are not only heard but are instrumental in shaping a more equitable, peaceful, and prosperous society.
A Sierra Leone where every young person, regardless of social background, is empowered, capable, and actively leading change. We see a future where youth have equal access to opportunities and are recognized as essential stakeholders across all sectors of national development.
To partner with young people and their communities to overcome exclusion and poverty. We build capacities, ignite agency, and transform the systems and structures that hinder development, inspiring sustainable transformation from the ground up.
At the heart of YPPD's work is a firm belief in the power of an empowered young generation. Our theory of change is simple:
WHEN young people are equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and platforms to engage, THEY become the foremost drivers of an inclusive and peaceful society.
Whether we are influencing national policies on climate change or bringing essential health services to rural communities, our programs are designed to meet the emerging needs of the people we serve. We facilitate dialogues for action, amplify marginalized voices, and create forums where the most vulnerable can be heard and respected, directly addressing the root causes of conflict, crime, and social exclusion.
YPPD's programs are built on a theory of change that recognizes the need for an actively empowered young generation with credible pathways to engage society and its governance systems. We enrich youth experiences, creating opportunities for participation, leadership, and learning, and the tools and voice to engage on their own issues while building an inclusive and peaceful society.
While we currently focus on grassroots empowerment, we are increasingly incorporating civic engagement and policy advocacy into our programs, directly reducing the risk factors that lead to crime.
As more young people, men and women, become engaged, they become obvious leaders of change, contributing to an inclusive, peaceful, and just society.
Our methodology is participatory, evidence based, and centered on long term sustainability, branching into four practices.
Participatory media campaigns, documentary production, and direct policy engagement.
Equipping youth and institutions with skills to demand accountability from duty bearers.
Anchoring our work in the lived realities of young people and their communities.
Pioneering coalitions like the Youth, Peace and Security Coalition.
YPPD's work is inspired by the daily struggles and resilience of Sierra Leonean communities. In a vibrant but challenging civil society landscape, we stand out through our unwavering commitment to genuine youth leadership, our people centered approaches, and our ability to connect grassroots realities with national and global agendas.
We are not just working for youth; we are working with them to build the inclusive, peaceful, and just Sierra Leone they deserve.
See the four thematic areas and seven key program areas driving our impact across Sierra Leone.
