Monrovia, Liberia – The European Union (EU) has awarded Liberia a substantial financial boost with €21 million (about US$24.6 million) in direct budget support after the government successfully completed key reform benchmarks in public financial management, transparency, and natural resources governance.
The distribution, which was announced in Monrovia on Friday, December 19, 2025, demonstrates the strong international confidence in Liberia’s reform strategy. It is the first installment in a three-year €56 million EU budget support scheme, and it comprises the entire amount allotted for 2025.
According to EU Head of Delegation to Liberia Ambassador Nora Deprez, the allocation of funds is performance-based and connected to specific indicators and “triggers” that have been decided upon with the Liberian government.
These include enhanced budget credibility, accountability mechanisms, domestic income mobilization, particularly in the natural resources sector, transparency in the forest sector, and a more favorable business climate for regional rice value chains, she explained.
The EU Ambassador stated, “This very high disbursement reflects that Liberia has delivered,” citing advancements in ministries’ timely budget submissions and improved public access to forestry data via the Forestry Development Authority’s website.
Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, expressed his gratitude for the support, characterizing it as a vote of confidence at a time when international development aid is declining. The Minister recounted how the EU supported election observation during the Nimba County by-election and continued investments like the Light Up the Southeast electricity project when the global aid architecture became shaky.
After the 2025 National Budget was passed late on Wednesday night, Minister Ngafuan said that the €21 million has already been credited to government accounts at the Central Bank of Liberia, relieving financial strain and enhancing cash flow for ministries and agencies.
He warned that if EU reform requirements had not been met, there would have been significant cuts and delayed allocations, emphasizing that the monies are resources previously envisaged in the budget rather than additional funding.
The minister commended staff members of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, particularly those in the Department of Economic Management, for going above and above to meet the EU’s strict reform demands.
He proclaimed that the department will now be regarded as a core revenue-generating arm due to its role in mobilizing foreign resources. Under the agreement, Liberia might get up to €18 million in 2026 and €17 million in 2027 if improvements continue.
President Joseph N. Boakai has praised the accomplishment, describing it as a clear sign that reforms are effective and that foreign partners are still engaged in Liberia’s development, according to Ngafuan. With a focus on accountability, outcomes, and better service delivery for the Liberian people, the EU and Liberian authorities promised to maintain close cooperation in order to sustain reform momentum and guarantee future disbursements.
