Praises UN as a crucial development ally.
Monrovia, Liberia – Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has commended the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) for its continuous collaboration and steadfast assistance to Liberia, from the initial creation of the County Development Agenda and the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) to the present phases of implementation.
Speaking at the commencement of the UN Country System’s two-day Strategic Retreat in Monrovia, Minister Ngafuan praised the UN’s commitment to matching its strategic goals with Liberia’s national development frameworks. He praised the UNCT for incorporating the AAID’s vision and goals into its Country Framework.
“Yes, the UN is a partner. The United Nations has been a strong and reliable ally from war to peace,” Minister Ngafuan stated, highlighting the vital role the organization has played in Liberia’s path toward stability, prosperity, and recovery.
The retreat, with the theme “United in Action: Building a Resilient Liberia,” brings together important stakeholders to assess the UN’s collaboration with the Liberian government and look at global development trends.
The aim is to create a paradigm change that encourages more transformational and successful approaches to development—projects that have a significant, quantifiable impact on Liberians.
Minister Ngafuan urged more urgency and creativity in funding national development, emphasizing the need to look for alternate funding sources in order to effectively execute the AAID.
“Yes, the UN is a partner. The United Nations has been a strong and reliable ally from war to peace,” Minister Ngafuan stated, highlighting the vital role the organization has played in Liberia’s path toward stability, prosperity, and recovery.
The retreat, with the theme “United in Action: Building a Resilient Liberia,” brings together important stakeholders to assess the UN’s collaboration with the Liberian government and look at global development trends.
The aim is to create a paradigm change that encourages more transformational and successful approaches to development projects that have a significant, quantifiable impact on Liberians.
Minister Ngafuan urged more urgency and creativity in funding national development, emphasizing the need to look for alternate funding sources in order to effectively execute the AAID. “To make sure that our plans and frameworks are not only well-thought-out but also carried out on schedule, we need to act quickly,” he said.
He urged all development partners to be more visible and results-driven in delivering projects that directly benefit the people such as improved roads, water systems, electricity, and human capacity development.
“It’s not enough for us to start construction on white elephant projects. He underlined, “What we need are meaningful, life-changing projects.”
The Minister’s remarks were mirrored by UN Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni, who emphasized the significance of enhancing cooperation and unity within the UN system. In order to effectively assist and execute the AAID, she emphasized the necessity for all UN agencies working in Liberia to reorganize and realign their programming frameworks.
“This retreat offers a special chance to examine and implement cohesive tactics that foster collaboration and yield outcomes,” Umutoni stated.
It is anticipated that the two-day meeting would provide the groundwork for a revitalized collaboration between Liberia and the UN system, one that is more equipped to provide long-term development results for all Liberians, more responsive to new issues, and more in line with national interests.
