UNDP and the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) have reaffirmed a strong partnership to address persistent land disputes and improve the administration of customary land rights across the country.

UNDP Liberia’s Resident Representative, Aliou Dia, and key officials from the LLA, including the Chairman, Commissioners, and Director of Planning, and the UNDP Land Governance project team, in a strategic meeting held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at the office of the LLA in Monrovia, discussed the promotion of sustainable land governance in Liberia.

“UNDP is not just a partner to the Government of Liberia, but an extension of the Land Authority in its mission to ensure equitable and peaceful access to land for all Liberians,” Mr. Dia said. He underscored the progress made through UNDP’s support since 2020, particularly in reducing land disputes in targeted project counties, but also acknowledged areas that require further improvements.

Dia encouraged the LLA to focus on project implementation and maintain a strategic view of the broader challenges facing land governance in Liberia. 

He reaffirmed UNDP’s support to the LLA and the government of Liberia's ARREST agenda, stating that there are both success stories and areas that are not working well. 

“Let’s not just manage activities — let’s solve problems,” Dia added, calling on the Authority to continue innovation and collaborative efforts toward lasting solutions.

LLA Commissioner Samuel F. Kpaiko provided an overview of the Authority’s evolution, noting that the Liberia Land Rights Act, enacted in 2016 under the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, remains a cornerstone of land reform in the country.

Kpaiko praised UNDP’s consistent technical and financial support over the years, especially in developing the Land Rights Policy and related institutional reforms.

Commissioners also recounted that UNDP supported solar installations in four counties of facilities, noting that only one remains operational. They requested UNDP’s assistance in repairing and restoring these vital infrastructures and expanding sub-offices in the counties to enhance decentralization and accessibility of land services. 

UNDP’s Land Governance Project team acknowledged the funding constraints the project is facing, as UNDP is the sole financier since the launch of the new phase. 

The team also reported significant progress, with 21 land deeds soon to be turned over to communities and 10 additional surveys pending, reflecting ongoing efforts to formalize customary land ownership.

The meeting ended with both parties committing to strengthening cooperation and mobilizing new funding avenues to ensure the sustainability of the Land Governance Project, which is critical to Liberia’s peacebuilding, development, and decentralization agenda.