Cabinet, Development Partners Endorse ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and County Development Agendas

 This endorsement of the two plans AAID and CDAs (2015-2029) marks an important step in shaping Liberia's National Development.

 

On July 18, President Boakai launched the consultative process leading to the crafting of the AAID and CDAs. 

 

The Ministries of Finance and Development Planning and Internal Affairs coordinated the District and County consultations across the 15 counties with wide range of stakeholders including local government officials, women, youth, elders, civil society organizations, representative from the business community, religious leaders and the County Legislative Caucuses.

 

The ARREST Agenda focuses on six key areas: Agribusiness value chain (to ensure food security and job creation), Roads (Infrastructure) (to facilitate better connectivity), Rule of Law and Governance (to combat corruption and strengthen institutions for better services delivery), Human Capital (strengthening the education system and empowering youth), Sanitation (access to clean water and improved health), and Tourism (promoting Liberia’s natural beauty and cultural heritage).

 

At a ceremony on Tuesday at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex, President Boakai presented his vision to address Liberia’s challenges with bold and inclusive strategies to leave no one behind.

 

His Excellency pointed out that “The ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development is a plan to fix food insecurity, poor access to services, governance issues, and economic problems”. He stressed that the AAID and CDAs will help reduce poverty, improve lives, and ensure progress across the country.

 

The President indicated that the AAID is a call to action for all Liberians—government, private sector, diaspora, international partners, civil society, and communities—to unite in pursuit of our shared goals. Collaboration will be vital in revitalizing critical sectors such as agribusiness, tourism, digital technology, infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

 

In concluding, the President highlighted that the AAID and CDAs are not blueprints that will remain static. He further that these plans will evolve with our changing needs, and we will ensure that their execution is flexible and adaptive to new challenges and opportunities.

Delivering a special statement earlier, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said the National Development Plan is a big step toward building Liberia's future with the ARREST Agenda and the 15 County Development Agendas for the period 2025-2029.

 

The Minister noted “Now, as we prepare to endorse this plan and the accompanying CDAs, it is imperative that we ensure that every element of these development frameworks is aligned with the actual needs, aspirations, and challenges facing the Liberian people”.

 

Minister Ngafuan said that the National Development Plan and CDAs were developed through a collaborative process, using data and feedback from government, private sector, civil society, and citizens.

 

 He informed the gathering that the objective of the validation exercise was to make sure these plans meet the real needs of Liberians. He outlined the main goals of the plans as Inclusive Growth, Sustainable Development, Infrastructure and Innovation, Social Wellbeing, and Governance.

The Finance and Development Planning Minister placed the estimated cost of the plan at US$8.4 billion. 

 

According to him, “The government will contribute 30 percent, with the remaining 70% coming from the private sector, development partners, and diaspora investments. Minister Ngafuan highlighted that the Government is committed to enhancing its domestic resource mobilization measures through improvements in tax administration, tax policy reforms especially minimizing tax expenditures as well as cutting down unnecessary public spending. 

 

The Finance Minister informed members of the Cabinet and National Steering Committee that the National Development Plan is not just a government project; it is the vision of all Liberians. 

 

“This National Development Plan is not just a government document—it is the collective vision of our country’s future. It is a blueprint for how we address the challenges of poverty, inequality, unemployment and underdevelopment as we advance our society,” Minister Ngafuan heralded. 

 

In closing, Minister Ngafuan thanked President Boakai for his leadership in guiding the development of the plans and emphasized the importance of working together to create a better future for Liberia.

 

For her part, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Christine Umotoni congratulated the government and people of Liberia for this important milestone and for make the preparation process very inclusive.

 

She noted that as members of the steering committee, partners and friends of Liberia the endorsement of the AAID and the CDAs marks a transformative step towards inclusive development. 

 

She concluded by pledging the United Nations and others development partner fullest support to the implementation of the plans. 

 

The Cabinet and the National Steering Committee overwhelmingly endorsed the AAID and the CDAs in preparation for the official launch of these plans in January 2025.