WASHINGTON, D.C. — Liberia’s economic management team has held a high-level “deep-dive” engagement with the World Bank aimed at improving the performance of ongoing development projects and unlocking expanded support for the country’s priority sectors.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C., bringing together senior Liberian officials and the World Bank Country Team for Liberia.
The Liberian delegation was led by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, while the World Bank team was headed by Robert Taliercio, Regional Director for West Africa, alongside Georgia Wallen, Country Manager for Liberia.
The meeting provided a platform for both sides to critically assess the implementation of World Bank-financed projects in Liberia, with a focus on identifying bottlenecks, improving execution rates, and ensuring measurable development outcomes.
Minister Ngafuan emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing project delivery across key sectors, noting that efficient implementation is essential to maximizing the impact of concessional financing and technical support from development partners.
“The Liberian government is determined to address longstanding implementation challenges and accelerate the pace of results,” a member of the delegation noted, highlighting ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening public financial management and institutional capacity.
On the World Bank side, officials underscored the importance of improved coordination among implementing agencies and adherence to project timelines, while reaffirming the institution’s readiness to deepen its partnership with Liberia.
The talks also explored opportunities for scaling up World Bank assistance in critical sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and human capital development—areas considered central to Liberia’s long-term growth and poverty reduction strategy.
Among senior Liberian officials participating in the discussions were Henry F. Saamoi, Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia; Roland L. Giddings, Minister of Public Works; Alexander Nuetah, Minister of Agriculture; and Cyrus Saygbe, Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority.
Also in attendance were Jerolinmek M. Piah, Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism; Mohammed Ali of the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation; Nyekeh Forkpa, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Education; and Charles Umehai, Deputy Minister for Energy, among others.
Observers say the “deep-dive” format reflects a growing emphasis by both Liberia and its development partners on results-based engagement—moving beyond commitments to ensure that funded projects deliver tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
The World Bank remains one of Liberia’s largest multilateral partners, financing a wide range of initiatives spanning roads and urban development, agriculture value chains, energy access, and social services. However, like many developing countries, Liberia has faced persistent challenges related to project implementation, including procurement delays, capacity constraints, and coordination gaps.
Thursday’s engagement is expected to inform a new phase of collaboration between Liberia and the World Bank, with a sharper focus on performance, accountability, and scaled-up investments aligned with the country’s national development agenda.
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