BUCHANA, Grand Bassa – The Unity Party (UP)-led government has launched its highly ambitious plan aimed at transforming Liberia’s negative narratives of poor infrastructure, weak functioning systems, and nonexistent testimonials of poverty reduction caused by high unemployment rates and a poorly performing private sector.
Yesterday (January 15, 2025), the government launched the US$8.38 billion ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) in the presence of international partners, local authorities, civil society organizations, and a host of other persons and organizations of interest. However, this launch came with a caveat: the government admitted it has the capacity to raise only 30 percent of the total amount needed for the plan’s execution.
Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), told his audience gathered in the port city of Buchanan that while the plan is ambitious and not merely a document, its objectives will only be realized if development partners, the private sector, and other sources take keen interest in supporting the government with 70 percent of the proposed US$8.38 billion over the remaining five years of the six-year mandate granted through the 2023 Legislative and Presidential elections.
“The successful implementation of the AAID requires an estimated US$8.38 billion. Of this, at least 30 percent will be funded by the Government of Liberia, while the remaining 70 percent will potentially come from development partners, the private sector, and others,” Ngafuan disclosed.
The Finance Minister’s statement raises concerns about the government’s preparedness to fully take ownership of its responsibility to generate sufficient revenue to cover a significant portion of its proposed budget instead of relying on donor funding and other external sources.
Ngafuan, however, outlined measures the government would employ to actualize the plan.
To ensure the financing of the development plan, the government will develop an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF); finalize a new Domestic Resource Mobilization Strategy (DRMS); and explore climate-related financing and emerging funding options.
Minister Ngafuan added that the UP-led alliance administration will allocate public expenditure to prioritize investments in key sectors, emphasizing that the success of the AAID requires robust coordination and accountability.
“A multi-tiered framework will guide implementation, with oversight from the National Steering Committee, operational management by the National Coordination Committee, and technical monitoring by the Technical Committee. We are committed to institutionalizing results-based planning through the National Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (NMEL) system to ensure transparency and continuous improvement,” he said.
He noted that the AAID is not merely a document but an actionable plan that calls for rethinking the government’s approach, embracing innovation, and prioritizing the well-being of every Liberian.
“It emphasizes local ownership, cause-consequence analysis, and digital transformation as critical drivers of change,” Ngafuan said, further noting that “The journey ahead will require unwavering collaboration among all stakeholders. The government will provide leadership, but the private sector, civil society, development partners, and Liberians at home and abroad must play their part.”
He expressed hope that everyone—whether in government or the private sector—can contribute to the transformation of Liberia into a lower-middle-income country by 2030, ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity for all.
“As we launch the AAID, let us reaffirm our collective commitment to this vision. Let us work tirelessly to overcome the barriers to development and unlock the full potential of our nation. Together, we will build a Liberia that offers hope, opportunity, and dignity to all its people.”
The government’s fiscal affairs office head stated, “From an economic perspective, the plan envisions, among others, a 37 percent increase in GDP, growing the economy from US$4.75 billion to US$6.5 billion. This growth will also bring about a 23.6 percent increase in per capita GDP, from approximately US$850 to US$1,050, while creating new jobs and formalizing existing ones.”
“On the human capital front,” the Minister said, “the plan aspires to extend life expectancy from 60 to 65 years, reduce the maternal mortality rate from 742 per 100,000 to 440 per 100,000, and lower the multidimensional poverty rate from 45 percent to 36 percent.”
According to the Finance Minister, these and other socioeconomic achievements are expected to improve Liberia’s ranking on the SDG index by seven places, moving from 152 out of 166 countries to 145 out of 166. Such progress will significantly contribute to Liberia’s development journey toward achieving lower-middle-income status by 2029 and improving the lives of its citizens.
Liberia, especially in its post-war era, has not lacked beautiful national plans, but each has been tied to a specific political era and its objectives.
There was the “Vision 2030” agenda under the administration of former and jailed President Charles Taylor, who led the country from July 1997 to August 2003. Taylor’s plan, like the UP’s now, was ambitious, but he soon ran into trouble with the United States when he failed to align with the world superpower. Taylor shifted focus to doing business with Taiwan and some Asian countries.
When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became President following the tumultuous days of Taylor—a former rebel leader who headed the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)—she introduced the “Poverty Reduction Strategy” (PRS). Her approach to governance failed to satisfactorily reposition Liberia for true post-war development.
In 2018, former football star George Weah assumed the office of President but failed to address the pressing “bread and butter” issues during his administration, which was further plagued by serious security concerns. His administration introduced the Pro-Poor Agenda, a plan that failed to allow market women to send their children to quality schools or improve wage and salary payments. In fact, salaries were harmonized, a decision that significantly reduced people’s standard of living.
Now comes the ARREST agenda, which encompasses primary elements such as agriculture, road construction, rule of law, education, and science and technology. It has taken off, with high hopes for success—though success is not guaranteed.
“The AAID and the CDAs provide us with the strategic framework and a clear roadmap for unlocking the great potential buried deep within the collective Liberian will to succeed. These frameworks fundamentally emphasize collaboration among all stakeholders, including the private sector, to drive innovation, investment, and job creation,” Ngafuan stated.
Within the national plan (ARREST) Agenda for Inclusive Development, there are sub-plans known as County Development Agendas (CDAs). Each county’s plan was presented to its representatives at the occasion in Bassa.
The Finance Minister called on Liberian diaspora communities to contribute through investments, remittances, and knowledge. He also urged civil society organizations to lead advocacy efforts on accountability and inclusivity in the plan’s implementation.
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