A week after the launch of Liberia’s ambitious five-year development plan, the Agenda for Resilient, Equitable, Sustainable, and Transparent (ARREST) Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the French Embassy in Monrovia convened a strategic roundtable discussion with international development partners. This timely meeting aimed to synergize efforts and align partner contributions with the core tenets of the AAID and its complementary County Development Agendas (CDAs). The roundtable, chaired by French Ambassador Isabella Le Guellec, hosted key figures from prominent international institutions, including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and United Nations Development Program, alongside Liberian government representatives, fostering a collaborative environment for impactful development initiatives.
The primary objective of the roundtable, held under the umbrella of the French Local Development Council, was to delineate strategies for French bilateral cooperation with Liberia. Through collaborative dialogue and presentations from participating organizations, the roundtable sought to identify key priority sectors within the AAID framework that aligned with French development objectives. This strategic alignment aims to maximize the impact of development interventions by harmonizing international support with the Liberian government’s vision for inclusive and sustainable growth. Furthermore, the discussions sought to coordinate existing and planned projects by development partners, ensuring coherence and eliminating redundancies in development initiatives.
Ambassador Le Guellec emphasized the annual nature of the French Local Development Council meetings, highlighting their importance in tracking ongoing project implementation and refining priorities within Liberia’s development agenda. The ambassador noted the broad alignment of development partners with the AAID, given their existing involvement in supporting projects across various sectors. The French government’s commitment to Liberia, outlined in its three strategic priorities, emphasizes education, health, and environmental sustainability, encompassing crucial areas like forest preservation, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. These priorities strategically intersect with the AAID’s comprehensive development goals, creating opportunities for impactful collaboration.
The AAID, launched in Buchanan on January 15, 2025, represents Liberia’s roadmap for comprehensive socioeconomic transformation over the next five years. Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan, during the plan’s presentation, acknowledged the nation’s existing challenges and underscored the critical need for focused interventions to address them. The AAID sets ambitious targets for economic growth, projecting a 37% increase in GDP, elevating the economy from US$4.75 billion to US$6.5 billion. This projected growth translates to a 23.6% increase in per capita GDP, enhancing individual economic well-being.
Beyond economic indicators, the AAID prioritizes human capital development, aiming to improve health outcomes and reduce poverty. Specifically, the plan targets an increase in life expectancy from 60 to 65 years, a significant reduction in the maternal mortality rate from 742 to 440 per 100,000 live births, and a decrease in the multidimensional poverty rate from 45% to 36%. These targets reflect the AAID’s commitment to holistic development, addressing both economic and social well-being to ensure inclusive progress.
The roundtable discussion, facilitated by the French Embassy, served as a crucial platform for coordinating international development efforts in alignment with Liberia’s national development plan. By bringing together key stakeholders, including international partners and government representatives, the meeting fostered a shared understanding of priorities and ensured efficient resource allocation towards achieving the ambitious goals set forth in the AAID. This collaborative approach, driven by the French Local Development Council, strengthens the prospects for successful implementation of the AAID and contributes to Liberia’s journey towards sustainable and inclusive development.
