Published: October 16, 2025
MONROVIA – As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the UN and the Government of Liberia have unveiled a new five-year Cooperation Framework (2026–2030), designed as a shared roadmap to advance inclusive development, strengthen governance, and promote sustainability across the country.
The announcement was made by UN Resident Coordinator Christine N. Umutoni during a media breakfast in Monrovia, ahead of formal celebrations in Kakata, Margibi County. She described the framework as a “co-created vision” between the UN and the Government of Liberia to guide collaboration over the next half-decade.
“It is anchored in three strategic priorities: Human Capital Development, Good Governance and Rule of Law, and Economic Development and Sustainability,” Madam Umutoni said. “These pillars reflect our shared commitment to inclusive growth, institutional strengthening, and environmental stewardship.”
Four Flagship Programs to Drive Impact
To operationalize this agenda, the UN Country Team will roll out four integrated programs aimed at strengthening learning and job-ready skills, empowering adolescent girls, enhancing governance through digital transformation, and promoting climate-smart agriculture for women farmers.
Madam Umutoni emphasized that these programs embody the United Nations’ pledge to leave no one behind and to catalyze sustainable development across Liberia.
Celebrating 80 Years of the UN and Liberia’s Role
Reflecting on the milestone, the UN Resident Coordinator hailed Liberia’s historic role as a founding UN member and now, once again, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“For Liberia, this anniversary holds profound meaning,” she said. “Liberia has stood proudly on the side of peace, justice, and global cooperation.”
She underscored that the UN@80 celebration—under the global theme “Building Our Future Together” and Liberia’s local theme “One Liberia, One UN, One Future: 80 Years of Partnership and Progress”—aims to honor Liberia’s contribution to global peace while reinforcing their shared development vision.
UN Support and Liberia’s Development Progress
Madam Umutoni highlighted the country’s economic recovery, noting that Liberia’s economy grew by 5.1% in 2024 and is projected to expand by 5.8% in 2025, driven by mining, agriculture, and services under President Joseph Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
She said the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework supported Liberia through four key outcomes that have advanced human development, improved governance, enhanced peace and security, and strengthened the economy.
The UN’s efforts, she added, contributed to better access to health and education, expanded family planning services, climate resilience initiatives, women’s empowerment in agriculture, peace and human rights campaigns, and governance reforms, including progress toward the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
“The United Nations is proud to stand with Liberia—yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” Madam Umutoni affirmed.
UN Agencies Reflect on Progress and Challenges
During the event, heads of various UN agencies in Liberia shared progress updates and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the government’s development goals.
UNICEF Country Representative Andy Brooks reflected on the difficult periods of Liberia’s past, including the civil unrest and the Ebola and COVID-19 crises, highlighting UNICEF’s role in protecting children and promoting education through the “Back to School” campaign.
Christian Mukosa, Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), emphasized the UN’s strong support for accountability, transparency, and the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court.
Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, underscored the agency’s longstanding collaboration with the Government of Liberia to reduce maternal deaths, expand family planning access, and eliminate harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation.
Mary Njoroge, Representative of the World Food Programme (WFP), explained that the agency is working with local farmers and cooperatives to enhance food production and security, while supporting the government’s efforts to improve nutrition and human capital under the ARREST Agenda.
Liberia Commends the UN for Decades of Partnership
Representing the Government of Liberia, Lawrence Fahnbulleh, Acting Assistant Minister for Information Services at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), lauded the UN for its decades-long support to Liberia’s peace, governance, and development agenda.
“What more can Liberia say than to commend the UN for its role in maintaining peace and supporting our development agenda?” he asked.
Fahnbulleh assured that the government will make the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefings available to UN agencies to showcase their ongoing work.
He further praised the UN’s collaboration with key government institutions, noting that the UN continues to play a major role in helping the government combat drug abuse, advance gender equality, strengthen agriculture, improve education and health services, and ensure justice and accountability.
“The UN remains a cornerstone of our national progress,” Fahnbulleh affirmed.
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