Following its opening sessions on Tuesday, May 26, the Youth Leadership Forum in Haiti (FLJH) concluded on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Hotel Montana. The final day of the summit was highlighted by the presentation of nationwide project findings and a dedicated job and public services fair designed to bridge the gap between young professionals and institutional employers.
The two-day summit was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) alongside the State University of Haiti (UEH), with financial backing from the Canadian government. The closing ceremony was attended by the Minister for Women’s Affairs and Rights, Pédrica Saint-Jean, and the Director General of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Panel Paulémont, alongside hundreds of youth delegates. A diverse group of public and private institutions, including Capital Bank, Brasserie Nationale d’Haïti, the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC), and the National Identification Office (ONI), established booths across the venue to offer career counseling, explain administrative services, and recruit young talent.
The final day of the forum served as a powerful advocacy platform for youth inclusion in national governance. UNDP Resident Representative Xavier Michon addressed the severe underrepresentation of young people in executive roles, stating, “Haitian youth are not asking for space to be made for them; they are asking to be trusted.” He urged government officials to establish permanent mechanisms ensuring youth-led policy proposals are integrated into national strategies. A key outcome of the forum was the formal submission of a policy brief to ministry officials calling for the creation of a Youth Advisory Council. Spearheaded by Sonel Joseph of Koze Jèn Yo, the proposed council aims to institutionalize youth participation in public decisions, improve the accessibility of public services, expand access to business financing, and rebuild civic trust.
