–Finance Minister Says Development Must Be Measured by Lives Transformed, Not Dollars Spent, as UN, Government, Partners Chart New Financing Strategy
MONROVIA – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has called for a fundamental shift in how Liberia and its development partners pursue sustainable development, declaring that investing in people—not merely funding projects—must remain at the heart of national and international efforts to transform the country.
Speaking at the opening of the United Nations Country Team Retreat financing session in Monrovia, Ngafuan said Liberia’s development journey must move beyond fragmented initiatives and traditional aid models toward strategic investments, stronger partnerships, greater accountability, and measurable results that directly improve the lives of ordinary Liberians.
The retreat, held under the theme of financing the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030, brought together senior government officials, UN agencies, development partners, international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to identify innovative approaches for mobilizing resources to support Liberia’s national development priorities.
Panelists included representatives of the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Embassy of Ireland in Liberia, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), and Liberia’s private sector.
Development Must Remain People-Centered
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Ngafuan emphasized that while the global development architecture is rapidly changing—with concessional assistance increasingly giving way to trade, investment and new financing models—the international community must not lose sight of the people development is intended to serve.
“The Sustainable Development Goals are more than policy objectives,” he said. “They are a moral commitment to human dignity, equity and shared prosperity.”
He warned that geopolitical interests and shifting financing priorities should never overshadow the responsibility to protect vulnerable populations, empower women and young people, and ensure development remains firmly centered on improving human lives.
According to Ngafuan, investing in people is ultimately the surest pathway to accelerating sustainable development.
Liberia Showing Economic Resilience
Despite mounting global uncertainties, Ngafuan said Liberia continues to demonstrate encouraging economic resilience through prudent fiscal management and sustained reforms.
He highlighted improvements in domestic revenue mobilization, stronger tax administration and better macroeconomic management, noting that economic indicators have continued to strengthen over recent years.
According to the Finance Minister, Liberia’s real GDP growth has increased from about 4 percent to 5.5 percent, while nominal GDP has expanded significantly, accompanied by rising per capita income—developments he said reflect improving economic opportunities for Liberians.
“These achievements demonstrate that Liberia is doing its part,” Ngafuan said.
“We are strengthening our institutions, improving governance, expanding domestic and global partnerships, and creating an enabling environment for investment and private sector growth.”
Africa Is an Investment Destination
Ngafuan urged international partners to change the narrative surrounding Africa.
Rather than viewing the continent through the lens of poverty and aid dependency, he argued that Africa should be recognized as one of the world’s most promising investment frontiers.
“Africa should never be viewed simply through the lens of need,” he said.
“It should be recognized for its immense potential.”
He pointed to Africa’s abundant natural resources, youthful population and expanding innovation ecosystem as compelling reasons for increased global investment.
“Partnership with Africa is therefore not an act of charity,” Ngafuan stressed. “It is a strategic investment in our shared global future.”
Call for Better Coordination and Accountability
Ngafuan also challenged development partners to improve coordination with government institutions to ensure donor resources are aligned with Liberia’s development priorities.
He said development interventions should clearly identify their intended beneficiaries and geographic focus, allowing government to avoid duplication, identify financing gaps and maximize the impact of every dollar invested.
He further urged implementing partners to provide regular progress reports detailing achievements, lessons learned and measurable development outcomes.
“Development is not measured by the amount of money committed,” he declared, “but by the lives that are transformed.”
The Finance Minister concluded with a call for deeper collaboration anchored in transparency, trust and mutual accountability.
“History will not remember how many meetings we convened or strategies we endorsed,” Ngafuan said.
“It will remember whether we changed lives, expanded opportunities, reduced poverty and gave hope to future generations.”
Foreign Minister: Diplomacy Must Drive Development Financing
Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti echoed the need for innovative financing, arguing that diplomacy should become an active instrument for mobilizing investment and advancing Liberia’s development agenda.
She reflected on Liberia’s transformation from once being a recurring subject of UN Security Council deliberations to now occupying a non-permanent seat on the Council—a development she described as symbolic of the country’s renewed international standing.
Nyanti said Liberia’s foreign policy is increasingly centered on economic diplomacy, stressing that traditional development assistance alone will not be sufficient to finance the country’s ambitions.
“When aid contracts,” she observed, “diplomacy should expand.”
She called for Liberia’s diplomatic missions abroad to actively promote investment opportunities, attract new financing partners and help mobilize resources needed to implement the country’s development priorities.
The Foreign Minister further urged stronger alignment between foreign policy and national development planning, emphasizing that international partnerships should be driven by Liberia’s own priorities rather than external agendas.
UN Resident Coordinator: Development Is About Creating Opportunities
UN Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni also challenged governments and development institutions to rethink how success is measured.
She said development should ultimately be judged by whether people have greater opportunities—not simply by the number of projects completed or reports produced.
Recalling a conversation with a young Liberian woman who simply wanted “an opportunity” to contribute to her country, Umutoni said the experience underscored the true purpose of development.
“Our citizens are demanding something very simple—not more policies or more processes, but results,” she said.
She noted that people care most about whether electricity reaches their communities, roads connect them to markets, healthcare improves, jobs are created and living conditions become better.
According to Umutoni, the evolving global development landscape requires governments, the United Nations, international financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to work together in new ways.
“No single institution can finance the Sustainable Development Goals alone,” she said, calling for stronger partnerships, innovative financing models and integrated investment frameworks capable of delivering transformative impact.
The retreat forms part of preparations for implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026–2030, which seeks to align the work of the UN system and its partners with Liberia’s national development agenda through innovative financing, stronger partnerships and coordinated investments designed to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development.
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