Published: January 12, 2026
MONROVIA — The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission has announced the rollout of a new US$150,000 African Union–backed initiative aimed at strengthening the resilience of refugees, returnees, and flood-affected communities across three counties.
LRRRC Officer-in-Charge Jackson Paye said the eight-month project, titled “Strengthening and Supporting the Resilience of Refugees/Returnees Flood Victims in Liberia,” will deliver education support, reintegration assistance, psychosocial care, and limited medical interventions in Grand Cape Mount, Montserrado, and Bong counties.
Speaking at a news conference Friday, January 9, at the Commission’s headquarters in Cong Town, Paye said the program will provide school materials to 350 children from flood-affected households and reintegration assistance to 150 vulnerable heads of households, each receiving US$150.
“We are very cognizant of the fact that leaving your homes to another place can be traumatic and challenging,” Paye said. “The project is also structured to provide psychosocial counseling, workshops, and medical support to affected communities.”
Focus on education and recovery
The initiative was officially launched in Robertsport on November 7, drawing local authorities, development partners, and community residents. According to Paye, the education component is designed to keep children in school while easing the financial burden on families displaced or affected by flooding.
Beyond immediate relief, the project seeks to promote social cohesion and long-term recovery. Paye said the intervention aligns with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, particularly the pillar on human capital development, while also reflecting Liberia’s commitment to the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
“This project reflects Liberia’s commitment to inclusive growth,” he said. “It will promote community integration, expand access to education, reduce poverty, and build long-term resilience.”
Roots in AU engagement
The program was conceptualized under former LRRRC Executive Director Patrick Worzie following engagements with the African Union’s Desk for Refugees and Returnees. In November 2024, an AU delegation led by Anna Nembe Uaieke, chair of the AU Subcommittee on Refugees, Returnees, and Internally Displaced Persons, visited Liberia to assess conditions in refugee-hosting and flood-affected communities.
Paye said distribution of materials and reintegration support is expected to begin within days and will include targeted medical assistance to select health facilities in the beneficiary counties.
Broader institutional gains
Highlighting progress made by the Commission, Paye said LRRRC has strengthened service delivery and internal controls, including the operationalization of its Service Delivery Charter. During the past year, the Commission registered about 100 asylum claims in the ProGres system and conducted two asylum sittings, resulting in 55 refugee status grants at first instance.
He said the Commission also facilitated access to civil documentation for integrating refugees, including work and residence permits for Ivoirian nationals.
On repatriation and reintegration, Paye noted that with support from the International Organization for Migration, LRRRC assisted the voluntary return of 104 Liberians from the sub-region and beyond, while partners such as Samaritan’s Purse supported additional returnees with reintegration packages and small business assistance.
Looking ahead, Paye disclosed that the Commission is developing a Five-Year Strategic Plan covering 2026 to 2030, aligned with the ARREST Agenda. He said staff capacity-building efforts are ongoing to improve technical competence and service delivery.
While thanking the Liberian government and development partners for their support, Paye called for increased budgetary allocation to enable the Commission to expand its interventions and reach more vulnerable people.
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