Liberia has taken an important step toward strengthening its ability to finance national development priorities following the conclusion of a three-day Technical Review and Validation Workshop on the country's Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), convened by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) in partnership with the United Nations, with support from UNDP. 

Bringing together representatives from government institutions, development partners, academia, civil society organizations, financial institutions and the private sector, the workshop served as a platform for collective reflection on how Liberia can better mobilize, align and utilize financing to achieve the goals of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and Liberia's climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while ensuring policy coherence.

The workshop reviewed three key analytical products: the Draft Development Finance Assessment (DFA), the MSME Assessment under the EQUANOMICS initiative, and the Fiscal Policy Coherence Mission Report. 

It also undertook a rapid assessment mapping of the state of climate budget tagging with the view to identifying steps in supporting Liberia’s NDC 3.0

Together, these assessments provide an evidence-based picture of Liberia's financing landscape and offer practical recommendations to strengthen development financing, policy coherence, institutional coordination and gender and disability inclusion.

Opening the workshop, Louis Kuukpen, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Liberia, described the INFF as more than a technical exercise, calling it "a strategic national instrument for connecting our development aspirations with the resources and reforms needed to achieve them." 

He noted that while Liberia has set out an ambitious development agenda through the ARREST Agenda, translating those ambitions into tangible improvements in people's lives will require stronger financing systems, sound policies and effective institutions.

"Development ambitions must be matched by credible financing, sound policies, capable institutions and measurable results," said Kuukpen. 

According to Kuukpen, Liberia's development aspirations come at a time when countries are facing increasingly constrained global financing environments, making efficient resource mobilization and utilization more important than ever. 

He highlighted the significance of Liberia recently reaching a historic milestone of US$1 billion in domestic revenue collection, describing it as evidence of what can be achieved through strengthened institutions and collective national commitment. 

However, he cautioned that revenue generation alone is not enough.

"Every dollar mobilized must work harder for Liberia. Every financing decision must advance our national priorities. And every public resource must deliver value for the people," he emphasized. 

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in detailed technical discussions on domestic resource mobilization, public expenditure and investment, debt sustainability, private sector financing, development cooperation and financing gaps.

Working groups carefully examined data quality, policy assumptions and recommendations to ensure that the final outputs accurately reflect Liberia's realities and priorities.

Representatives from civil society welcomed the participatory approach of the review process, emphasizing that national financing decisions must remain rooted in transparency, accountability and the needs of citizens.

Participants noted that broad stakeholder engagement strengthens ownership of the reform process and helps ensure that financing strategies are responsive to community priorities.

Private sector representatives underscored the need for stronger support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), highlighting access to finance, investment incentives and an improved enabling environment as critical factors for job creation and economic growth. 

The MSME Assessment under the EQUANOMICS initiative generated particular interest in its focus on expanding economic opportunities for women-owned businesses and underserved entrepreneurs.

Academics and technical experts stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking, noting that robust data and sound analysis are essential for designing financing policies that are both effective and sustainable.

Echoing these perspectives, Kuukpen called for financing frameworks that serve all sectors of society.

"Women-owned enterprises, micro, small and medium-sized businesses, young entrepreneurs and communities that remain underserved must not be peripheral considerations. They must be part of the financing solution," he said. 

Participants also discussed the growing importance of ensuring that financing policies support climate resilience and environmental sustainability.

Conversations highlighted the need to align public finance management and budgeting processes with Liberia's climate commitments, including efforts toward climate budget tagging and climate-responsive investment planning.

The workshop concluded with the development of a consolidated INFF Technical Action Matrix and Roadmap, final steps toward the development of the national financing strategy, outlining priority recommendations, responsible institutions and indicative timelines for implementation. 

The roadmap is expected to guide the finalization of the analytical reports and support the preparation of Liberia's National Financing Strategy.

In his closing message, Kuukpen urged participants to focus on practical outcomes that move beyond analysis and recommendations.

"Let us leave this workshop with more than validated reports. Let us leave with agreed priorities, clearly assigned institutional responsibilities, realistic timelines and a practical action roadmap that informs Liberia's National Financing Strategy." 

He challenged stakeholders to maintain momentum as Liberia advances its financing reform agenda.

"Let us move decisively from evidence to policy, from policy to financing, and from financing to results”. 

The workshop's outcomes reaffirm Liberia's commitment to strengthening national ownership of development financing and ensuring that public and private resources are mobilized and directed toward sustainable growth, greater economic inclusion and improved opportunities for all Liberians. 

With validated assessments and a clear roadmap in place, the country is positioned to take the next steps toward building a financing framework capable of delivering on its development ambitions.   

_END_