Launch of Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank in Liberia to Boost Youth Employment

Strategic Insights -

The Government of Liberia, in partnership with the African Development Bank Group, will launch the first Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) in Liberia, marking a significant step towards addressing youth unemployment on the continent. The inauguration ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, will be preceded by an expanded cabinet meeting hosted by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. The YEIB, an innovative initiative brainchild of African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, will provide a platform for youth-led enterprises to access funding, technical assistance, and risk-sharing mechanisms.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) is a $17.8 million initiative launched by the Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank Group to address youth unemployment in Liberia and beyond.
  • The YEIB will help establish over 150 youth-led enterprises, create jobs, and unlock more than $500 million in additional lending over the next decade.
  • The initiative targets youth aged 18-35, a critical demographic in Liberia, where 60% of the population is under 35.
  • The banks will adopt an innovative model combining an early-stage investment fund, a Technical Assistance Fund for business development services, and a Credit Guarantee Fund for risk-sharing mechanisms.
  • The YEIB is jointly financed by the African Development Fund ($15.9M), Korea Africa Economic Cooperation ($0.7M), and the Government of Liberia ($1.2M in-kind).
  • The launch of the YEIB in Liberia marks the first of several establishments across the continent, with plans to expand to Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Côte d'Ivoire.
  • President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., and African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina will be in attendance at the launch ceremony on July 22, 2025.

Statistics:

  • $17.8 million: The total investment for the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) initiative.
  • 150+: The number of youth-led enterprises expected to be established through the YEIB over the next decade.
  • $500 million+: The amount of additional lending expected to be unlocked over the next decade through the YEIB.
  • 18-35: The age range targeted by the YEIB initiative.
  • 60%: The percentage of Liberia's population under the age of 35.
  • 4: The number of countries where the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Banks will be established, in addition to Liberia: Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Sources:

  • African Development Bank (2025)
  • AllAfrica Global Media (2025)