Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has described the World Bank as Liberia’s “biggest multilateral partner.

“If we look back, from where we came, from war, recovery and now on the part of development, we cannot write Liberia’s story without delegation pages and chapters to the role of the World Bank,” Minister Ngafuan said.

Speaking during the visit Monday, January 13, 2025 at the Ministry of Finance in Monrovia, Minister Ngafuan said the visit of the World Bank came at the time when the country is gearing up to launch its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and the County Development Agenda; adding that the World Bank has decided to align its new program with the AAID.

He narrated that the World Bank has done and is doing well in all of the sectors, not only roads.

The finance minister further said that the projects span critical sectors such as: infrastructure (roads & energy), health systems strengthening & disease surveillance, agriculture and fisheries, education, social protection, governance, water, women empowerment and finance.

He stated that the World Bank has been a development partner to Liberia since 1962, with a current portfolio of 19 active projects amounting to US$922 million.

Minister Ngafuan applauded the World Bank for their support to the energy sector; adding that the energy access in Liberia is around 33%, but there is an ambition to go about 80%.

The Minister described the ambition as a “huge” one, but said working with the World Bank will be achievable.

“Thank you for the extraordinary support in making sure that the budget support funding was released in December. 40 million on budget for which 20 million was set aside to deal with disaster,” he noted.