The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance has developed a national strategic development plan that seeks to positively impact the country for the next seven years in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The national development plan was derived during a two-day national validation and consultation on the commitment to the Acceleration of the SDGs aimed at preparing Liberia for the upcoming global #SDGs Summit with support from the United Nations in Liberia.

The two-day exercise held at the Monrovia City Hall on September 7-8, 2023, was intended to prepare Liberia's report on the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the implementation of its #SDGs. 

Stakeholders used the opportunity to address SDGs priority areas, including the benchmark on poverty and equality to explore ideas on strengthening institutions to implement, monitor, report, and deliver the SDGs.

The consultation was held under the theme “Amplifying the Voices and Actions for SDGs and Committing to Inclusive and Sustainable Transformation for Shared Prosperity”. 

Technocrats from various government Ministries, Agencies, Commissions, as well as civil society organizations, began the process of developing an SDGs Acceleration Roadmap, highlighting a set of commitments to deliver over the next seven years up to 2030, which is expected to be presented at an SDGs Summit in New York later this month.

The discussions facilitated by a technical working group from the MFDP and a national consultant, supported by the UN in Liberia and led by UNDP Liberia, centered on the issues of political will, planning, data, resource mobilization, peace and development, investments, domestication, food security, building blocks, deliberate and intentional approaches and actions, budget and finance, ownership, accountability, monitoring and reporting, collaboration and partnership, reforms as well as social protection systems among others.

Speaking at the opening of the consultation, the United Nations Resident Coordinator to Liberia, Ms. Christine Umutoni admonished the Government of Liberia to make a more genuine commitment towards transformational change across the country. 

Ms. Umutoni said Liberia has made modest progress in some structural and socio-economic reforms implemented by the government and supported by partners that have improved Liberia’s position in the global 2023 SDGs Index but not enough to make progress in achieving the SDGs. 

“There is a need for Liberia to make more commitment towards transformational changes,” The UN Envoy added and urged the Government and civil society to treat the implementation of the SDGs as an “Emergency” as was done during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic in its plan to accelerate the little progress made so far.

At the same time, she commended the government and all Liberians for maintaining 20 years of peace, and for committing to peaceful democratic elections in October 2023. 

During the consultations, participants were divided into groups to discuss key interventions and requirements on the draft roadmap document considering government priorities. 

These include acceleration and scaling up actions for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, mobilizing finance and investment through partnership, and accelerating social protection systems to achieve the SDGs.

Stakeholders recommended that the government should increase access to energy for all, shift to renewable energy, secure food, water, and sanitation systems, protect biodiversity and natural resources, prevent new and reduce existing vulnerabilities, make digital transformation work for all, adopt a life–long learning course for essential services and invest in peace. 

On behalf of development partners, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Louis Kuukpen, mentioned that Liberia has a better and stronger case to make during the UN summit in New York, which he believes will attract more development and opportunities to the country. 

“We are committed to supporting Liberia and we want to thank you for the validation process. We all have identified our weaknesses and strengths with strategic recommendations on Liberia’s achievement towards the SDGs,” he concluded. 

Deputy Finance and Development Minister Augustus Flomo applauded the support and partnership from the international community, adding that Liberia is prepared to achieve more of the SDGs.

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