Promotes Job and private sector
Monrovia, Liberia – The World Bank Group and the Government of Liberia have unveiled a new five-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) that highlights the creation of jobs as a primary goal of the country’s development agenda. This shows a greater commitment to economic transformation, the development of human capital, and the expansion of the private sector.
At a ceremony held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, senior government officials, development partners, leaders of civil society, members of the commercial sector, and youth activists were present to announce the framework, which spans 2025 to 2030.
The CPF, which was created to help Liberia achieve its objective of producing more and better jobs, focuses on investing in human capital, increasing energy access, putting governance reforms into place, and encouraging private sector growth, with a particular focus on agro-industry and forestry as pathways to sustainable economic development.
The new CPF, according to World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen, is an important development for the nation. According to her, the framework’s main objective is the development of jobs.
“Work is the most reliable route to success, so it will be the driving force behind everything we do over the next five years,” she stated. According to Wallen, Liberia’s capacity to create jobs on a large scale will be shaped by basic education, dependable and reasonably priced electricity, robust accountability frameworks, and a more active private sector.
The Boakai administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which places a high priority on infrastructure, public-sector reform, agriculture, and human capital, is well aligned with the framework, she added.
Senior Presidential Advisor Dr. Augustine Konneh welcomed the CPF as a revitalized and pragmatic commitment to national advancement on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. According to Dr. Konneh, Liberia is prepared to develop, rise, and guide its citizens into a prosperous future.
He cautioned that one of Liberia’s most pressing national issues is still the country’s growing youth unemployment rate. He claims that every development intervention is expected by the government to demonstrate the creation of jobs. Every project we start has to address the question of how many employment it will provide for Liberians, particularly our youth. He uttered those words.
Dr. Konneh reiterated the government’s dedication to completing the CPF and furthering the country’s Vision 2030 objectives. As Liberia moves into a new stage of its development collaboration with the World Bank Group, he called for unity, urgency, and shared responsibility, saying, “Let us think Liberia, love Liberia, and build Liberia.”
Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, commended the World Bank Group for continuing to be a reliable partner in an unpredictable global environment. He disclosed that although a significant contributor abruptly withdrew earlier this year, the World Bank did not back down at a crucial juncture, a move he characterized as proof of true cooperation.
In order to draw investment and promote the expansion of the private sector, Ngafuan stressed that increasing energy access and enhancing infrastructure are essential. He stated that the private sector is driven by accessible and affordable energy, and that Liberia intends to greatly expand the country’s access to electricity during the next five years.
He reiterated the necessity of accelerating project implementation, pointing out that delays in certain donor-supported programs have lasted for years. Large numbers need to be translated.
According to Nathalie Kouassi Akon, Director of the IFC Division, the CPF launch shows Liberia’s preparedness to turn economic potential into quantifiable results. She stated that this is not just an occurrence. It is an indication that Liberia is prepared to translate national aspirations into observable outcomes for its citizens.
Nearly 90% of jobs in Africa are created by private businesses, according to Akon, who underlined the importance of the private sector in job creation. According to her, the CPF is intended to boost prospects for women, young people, and small enterprises by means of better market conditions, focused investments, and easier access to funding.
The goal of the new CPF is to help Liberia transition from a concession-dependent economic model to a contemporary, inclusive growth strategy that is fueled by the development of human capital, stronger public institutions, and the expansion of the private sector. The framework identifies enhanced governance institutions, skill development, agricultural modernization, and women’s and youth empowerment as important pillars of the nation’s long-term economic goal.
The CPF represents broad consensus on Liberia’s most pressing development needs and was created after months of meetings with government departments, civil society, academics, development partners, and the corporate sector. The success of the framework will depend on improved coordination, prompt implementation, and stringent accountability across all implementing institutions, as stakeholders have frequently stressed.
Aliou Mamadou Dia, UNDP Resident Representative, praised the CPF for being in line with the government’s aims and the future framework for UN engagement. “This collaboration has the potential to significantly impact economic transformation, human capital, and governance,” he said.
In order to address Liberia’s long-standing structural weaknesses, Dia said the CPF’s emphasis on resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability is essential. He restated the UN’s commitment to promoting capacity-building, evidence-based planning, and institutional changes.
