GoL, World Bank sign project valued $40M

Monrovia, Liberia - The Government of Liberia represented by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the World Bank on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, signed a $40 million project known as the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP).

 Hon. Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. Minister of Finance and Development Planning represented the Government of Liberia, at the signing while Mr. Pierre Frank Laporte, Country Director represented the World Bank.

Of the forty million facilities, $20 million is a grant, and the other $20 million is given as a loan.

 

Speaking at the Ceremony, Hon. Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. said the bank resources are performing immensely in Liberia.

 

He named the Energy, Education, Roads Infrastructure, Youth Empowerment, and Agriculture sectors as major developments the bank continues to support in Liberia.

 

He said the bank is a major partner to road infrastructure development, and revealed that funding is now available for the construction of the Saclepea – Zwedru road corridor.

Minister Tweah said the 40M Liberia Urban Resilience Project is a clear manifestation of the bank’s confidence in the leadership of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah.

 

Minister Tweah notes that communities and cities have to take responsibility to ensure a clean city of Monrovia. 

 

‘’We ourselves are the ones bringing the dirt in the streets, and we have to change our attitudes, he added.

 

For his Part, World Bank Country Director, Mr. Pierre Frank Laporte , said he’s happy to have the opportunity to participate in the signing ceremony of the Liberia Urban Resilience Project in Monrovia.

Mr. Laporte said the project was approved by the bank’s Board on May 17, 2022, and seeks to mitigate climate and flood risks and provide basic services and infrastructure in underserved neighborhoods.

 

The Country Director said the project will benefit 200,000 people, with focus being on community infrastructure and access to basic services in poor and vulnerable communities and market areas.

 

‘’Now that the financing agreement has been signed, I hope we can move quickly with the ratification by the Legislature so that the project can become fully effective for implementation to start.’’ He added.

The Liberia Urban Resilience Project was birthed as a result of a request by His Excellency President George Manneh Weah, in line with the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) to support a program that would impact the lives of ordinary Liberians.

 

This Project seeks to address some of the challenges of the urban environment like drainage construction to mitigate flooding, improve spatial planning capacity of our cities and national authorities, improve waste management activities of the city and approved Government’s capacity to respond to current climate change challenges affecting the city while developing proper plans for possible future impact.

 

The Signing Ceremony was attended by the Acting President Hon. Nathaniel F. McGill, Minister, Deputies and Assistant Ministers of Internal Affairs, Public Works amongst others.