MONROVIA — The Government of Liberia has secured a €2 million grant from UNICEF and the European Union to overhaul its education data systems and expand access to technical and vocational training, in a move officials say will transform how education is planned, funded and delivered across the country.
The agreement, signed Wednesday at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Monrovia, brings together the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and the European Union in a joint effort to modernize the country’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) and strengthen evidence-based decision-making in the sector.
Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah described the grant not just as a financial package but as a strategic investment in Liberia’s future.
“This is a reaffirmation of the value we all place on evidence-based policymaking—on data that tells the real story of our schools, teachers, staff and administrators,” Jallah said during the ceremony. “It enables us to make informed decisions and implement effective solutions.”
Jallah praised the EU for its generous support and lauded UNICEF for its continued collaboration with the government in addressing challenges in the education sector. She said the grant will help enhance national capacity to collect, analyze and use data to improve school planning, transparency and student performance.
The minister emphasized that one of the major components of the funding will target Liberia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, which has long lacked adequate data to drive development.
“TVET provides a pathway to opportunity for thousands of young Liberians,” she said. “But to fully unlock its potential, we must understand where the needs are, identify the gaps, and invest smarter and more strategically.”
According to Jallah, the ministry will use the funds to establish systems that track enrollment, graduation, employment outcomes and resource distribution across TVET institutions nationwide. She added that the initiative will also promote stronger collaboration between the ministries of Education and Youth and Sports to ensure a unified approach to education and youth development.
“When we invest in data, we invest in better decisions—and when we make better decisions, our children and youth are the ultimate beneficiaries,” she said.
European Union Ambassador to Liberia Nona Deprez reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting education in Liberia, noting that access to accurate and timely data is vital for improving student learning outcomes and ensuring accountability.
“This is about evidence-based policymaking,” Deprez said. “It’s about having quality data that captures learning outcomes not just for students, but also for teachers and school administrators.”
She said the EU has invested over €50 million into Liberia’s TVET sector and channeled an additional €90 million into basic education through the Global Partnership for Education. Of that, more than €30 million has gone directly to improving teacher education.
Deprez called for stronger coordination between development partners to ensure that education investments are aligned and impactful.
“We can all work together toward a common goal—supporting education by working hand in hand with all sector partners,” she said.
UNICEF’s Country Representative in Liberia, Andy Brooks, said the initiative represents more than just a funding arrangement—it reflects a shared commitment to equity and excellence in education.
“Data and evidence are critical to achieving such a program,” Brooks said. “With data comes authority, credibility, objectivity—and influence.”
He noted that Liberia’s education system continues to face serious structural challenges due in part to the lack of reliable and actionable data. Measuring performance, he said, is essential to directing limited resources to the areas of greatest need and delivering results that matter.
“These are the kinds of dividends we expect from this investment, and we’re truly grateful for it,” Brooks said.
The €2 million grant is expected to be rolled out over the coming months, with the Ministry of Education leading implementation in coordination with partner agencies and stakeholders across the education sector.
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