By Jamesetta D. Williams
MONROVIA-Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has called for stronger collaboration, greater transparency, and increased accountability among development partners as Liberia implements its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) amid shifting global development priorities.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2026 United Nations Country Team Annual Retreat under the theme, “Catalyzing Impact & Collective Action in a New Development Reality: Through the UN Cooperation Framework 2026–2030,” Minister Ngafuan said Liberia remains committed to achieving sustainable development despite growing global economic and geopolitical challenges.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the United Nations system and Liberia’s development partners for their continued support, particularly following the drawdown of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which occurred shortly after the launch of the ARREST Agenda.
According to him, the support, flexibility, and solidarity demonstrated by the UN and its partners enabled Liberia to navigate a period of uncertainty while sustaining key national development programs.
Ngafuan also thanked the United Nations for its technical and financial assistance in preparing Liberia’s Third Voluntary National Review, which was recently presented at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York.
Addressing changes in the global development landscape, the Finance Minister observed that international development cooperation is increasingly shifting from traditional aid to trade- and investment-driven partnerships. While acknowledging the opportunities presented by this transition, he stressed that the international community must remain committed to the principle of “leaving no one behind.”
He warned against allowing vulnerable populations to be neglected, emphasizing that development efforts must continue to prioritize poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, youth development, and inclusive economic growth.
Highlighting Liberia’s economic performance, Ngafuan said the country’s economy has demonstrated resilience despite global economic headwinds, citing improvements in domestic revenue mobilization, fiscal reforms, and prudent macroeconomic management.
He disclosed that Liberia’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth increased from 4.0 percent to 5.5 percent between January 2024 and June 2026, bringing the country closer to its target of 6.0 percent by 2029.
The Minister further noted that nominal GDP expanded from approximately US$4.8 billion to US$5.64 billion, while GDP per capita increased from US$861 to US$964, reflecting steady improvements in economic activity and national income.
He attributed the progress to stronger institutions, improved governance, enhanced domestic resource mobilization, and reforms aimed at creating an enabling environment for private sector investment.
Ngafuan urged the international community to view Africa not as a continent defined by poverty and need, but as a region rich in natural resources, innovation, and youthful potential.
“Partnership with Africa is not an act of charity—it is a strategic investment in our shared global future,” he said.
Turning to Liberia’s development agenda, the Minister called on development partners to provide clear and predictable information regarding their financial commitments under the ARREST Agenda.
He requested that partners specify the total value of their support, identify the sectors, flagship programs, counties, and projects to be funded, and provide regular implementation reports to improve coordination, eliminate duplication, identify financing gaps, and strengthen accountability.
According to Ngafuan, development should be measured not by the amount of money comitted but by the number of lives transformed.
He called for partnerships built on trust, transparency, accountability, and measurable results, stressing that every investment should align with Liberia’s national priorities and produce meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Liberians.
Concluding his address, the Finance Minister urged all stakeholders to move beyond coordination to genuine collaboration, beyond commitments to implementation, and beyond ambition to lasting impact.
“The people of Liberia deserve nothing less,” Ngafuan declared, expressing confidence that through collective action and sustained partnership, Liberia can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more prosperous future.
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