Tweah Meets New UNDP Liberia Boss; Commitment to Impactful Interventions

Monrovia, Liberia - Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister Hon. Samuel D. Tweah Jr., has held a meeting with the new Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme to Liberia, Stephen Rodriques.

The meeting which took place on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, was about strengthening the existing partnership between the UNDP and the Government of Liberia.

Speaking at the courtesy meeting, Finance Minister Hon. Samuel D. Tweah Jr., expressed the government's commitment to working with the UNDP and all partners within the country to deliver impactful development under President George M. Weah administration.

Min. Tweah informed the UNDP Chief about the difficult economic environment the government inherited and the level of reforms being initiated to stabilize the economy. Min. Tweah expressed his optimism about the direction of the country, while working with the partners to foster meaningful development

For his part, Resident Rep. Stephen Rodriques in a statement assured the government of accelerated interventions which will be very impactful in the country.

Mr. Rodriques, who replaced Pa Lamin, also outlined his vision for Liberia; stating that it will focus on large scale development projects, which will yield tangibles for Liberians. He thanked his predecessor Pa. Lamin for the level of partnership forged during his tenure in Liberia.

The UNDP Resident Rep. Rodriques disclosed that he will focus on supporting the Emergency Community Development Programme (PUDC) to promote and ensure accountable and participatory delivery of services to the far-to-reach segment of the population; livelihood activities to benefit the ordinary people in terms of access to finance for business development, and job creation projects, including supporting agriculture, youth and women development, as well as the decentralization programs of the country which focus on strengthening the County Service Centers to be successful, and economic dialogues to promote the Government’s efforts to boost savings and domestic revenues, among others.

Mr. Rodriques expressed optimism over the economic development and social welfare of the Liberian people as a result of the impactful level of engagement between the UNDP and the Government of Liberia.

Mr. Rodriques praised President George Manneh Weah for his leadership in upholding and promoting democracy in the country, especially the maturity and the peaceful nature at which the just ended December 8, 2020 midterm election was conducted by the country.

He lauded the government for what he termed “the macroeconomic reforms that it is undertaking in the country to establish the economic foundations for sustainable development, even in the midst of the enormous challenges the country is facing”.

Moreover, He welcomed the engagement of the IMF and the favorable reports issued by the Fund for the progress that Liberia is making under the IMF Program.

Mr. Rodriques recently served as the UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda for the past five (5) years. He brings vast experiences and knowledge to the country.